 |
Bundi is a city and a municipality of
approximately 88,000 inhabitants (2001) in the
Hadoti region of Rajasthan state in northwest
India. It is of particular architectural note
for its ornate forts, palaces, and stepwell
reservoirs known as baoris. It is the
administrative headquarters of Bundi District.
History
In ancient times, the area around Bundi was
apparently inhabited by various local tribes, in
which the Meenas were prominent. Bundi and the
eponymous princely state are said to derive
their names from a former Meena king called
Bunda Meena
Princely Bundi
The Hadoti region in which Bundi stands takes is
named for the Hada Rajputs, an offshoot of the
Chauhan clan. The Hadas settled in the region in
the 12th century and dominated the area for
several centuries thereafter. Bundi was
conquered by them in 1241 and nearby Kota in
1264. At one time, the Hada-ruled state of Bundi
encompassed the present-day districts of Baran,
Bundi, Kota, and Jhalawar. |
The importance of
Bundi state diminished over the years: as early as
in 1579, it was deprived of the region which became
Kota state; the alienated area included all of what
later became Jhalawar state in 1838. However, Bundi
state did remain an independent entity, if only
nominally, up to and during the British Raj. After
the independence of India in 1947, it became part of
the Dominion of India (later the Union of India).
Coat of arms:
Bundi’s coat of arms is a shield depicting Garuda,
the mount of Vishnu, flanked by winged griffins. The
shield is flanked by bulls representing dharma or
righteousness; it is crowned by a warrior emerging
from flames, signifying the creation-legend of the
ruling Chauhan clan, which was supposedly created
from fire.
An alley in the old town. Many of Bundi's houses are
painted blue.
The Taragarh Fort, or 'Star Fort' is the most
impressive of the city's structures. It was
constructed in AD 1354 upon a steep hillside. The
largest of its battlements is the 16th century
bastion known as the Bhim Burj, on which was once
mounted a particularly large cannon called Garbh
Gunjam, or 'Thunder from the Womb'. The fort is a
popular tourist viewpoint of the city below. the
fort has three tanks which never dry up. These tanks
are right on top of the fort which sits on top of
one of the hills surrounding the city. The technique
is long since lost but the tanks survive as a
testament to the advanced methods of construction
and engineering in medieval India.
The Bundi Palace is situated on the hillside
adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and is notable for its
lavish traditional murals and frescoes. The
Chitrashala (picture gallery) of the palace is open
to the general public.
The largest of Bundi's baoris or stepwells is the
intricately-carved Raniji ki Baori. Some 46 m deep,
it was built in 1699 by Rani Nathavatji. The steps
built into the sides of the water-well made water
accessible even when at a very low level. The baori
is one of the largest examples of its kind in
Rajasthan.
The Nawal Sagar is a large square-shaped artificial
lake in the centre of Bundi containing many small
islets. A temple dedicated to Varuna, the vedic god
of water, stands half-submerged in the middle of the
lake. the lake feeds the numerous bavdis in the old
city by creating an artificial water table.
The Nagar Sagar twin step wells are identical step
wells crafted in pristine masonry on either side of
the main spine of Bundi town. The kunds (pools) are
currently full of waste from the ancient vegetable
market in the vicinity.
The Dabhai Kund also known as the jail kund, is the
largest of the kunds in Bundi. Though slightly
overgrown, it is well worth a visit for the
spectacular carvings on the numerous steps leading
down to the water level.
The Stepwells
There are over 50 stepwells in Bundi, of which only
a handful have been maintained. They used to be the
only source of water for the town until a piped
water system was introduced. After that these
stepwells were abandoned and the monuments fell into
disrepair. Most of the former stepwells inside the
town have become garbage dumps, and are slipping out
of the public consciousness. |
