Last Updated on: 14th December 2025, 10:41 am
Bundi, while not totally obscure, is still somewhat of a hidden gem in Rajasthan. It has everything that draws tourists to the state – a hilltop fortress, an ornately decorated palace, ancient cenotaphs, and fascinating stepwells – all of which can be explored with few tourists and little hassle. The following guide to the top things to do in Bundi will let you know what not to miss.
While Bundi would be a great place to take things slow, its highlights can be explored in a day or two.
For more information on reaching Bundi and where to stay in town, be sure to check the end of the article.
Everything featured in the guide below can be accessed with the purchase of two separate tickets: an Rs 600 ticket for Garh Palace, Taragarh Fort, and the Kshar Bagh cenotaphs, and a Rs 350 combo ticket for Ranji Ki Baori, the 84 Pillar Cenotaph, and Sukh Mahal. Various other attractions around town, meanwhile, are free.
Garh Palace & Taragarh Fort
Garah Palace and Taragarh Fort should be the main focus of your visit to Bundi. While officially, the palace doesn’t open until 9:00 (daily), I arrived at 8:45 and they let me in early, allowing me to avoid crowds for much of my visit.
Confusingly, Garh Palace is managed by two different entities. Most of it, along with Taragarh Fort on top of the hill, is managed by the Tourism Department of Rajasthan.
Visiting these sections requires an entry ticket of Rs 600 for foreigners (Note: this ticket also includes entrance to the Kshar Bagh cenotaphs – more below).
On the other hand, the palace’s top highlight – the painted Chitrashala – is run by the Archaeological Institute of India (ASI), and entrance to it is free!
Though I did purchase the ticket, you can supposedly just tell the guards that you’re only visiting the Chitrashala and they should allow you to walk through the palace to get there.
It’s an odd system indeed, but considering how I’d go and visit the Kshar Bagh cenotaphs later in the day, I was glad to have purchased the ticket.
Garh Palace
Garh Palace was established in the 16th century, with later rulers continuing to add to it for the next few hundred years. The palace, in fact, underwent six main phases of construction.
After passing through the elaborate Hathia Pol, or ‘Elephant Gateway,’ I entered a spacious courtyard. And walking up to the second floor, I encountered the Chattar Mahal.
The Chattar Mahal was commissioned in 1631 by Rao Chatrasal. The murals here predate those of the better-known Chitrashala, and clearly set the stage for what was to come.
Interestingly, one of the reasons that Garh Palace features so many ornate paintings is that the serpentine stone it was built with does not lend itself very well to carving.
A corridor led me to Phool Mahal, established in 1607 by Rao Raga Bhos Singh Ji, ruler of Bundi from 1585-1607. Designed as a pleasure palace for Bundi royalty, it’s largely decorated in floral frescoes and ornamental motifs.
Also nearby is the Badal Mahal, which is supposed to be one of the palace’s highlights. But it unfortunately appeared to be closed at the time of my visit.
Next, I entered an additional courtyard featuring a beautiful carved swing. This part of the palace was reserved for the women of the family, and it’s likely one of Garh Palace’s oldest areas.
As nice as some of these rooms were, the palace had a noticeable cleanliness problem, with all sorts of animal droppings on the floor. For Rs 600, visitors should not have to worry about stepping in dog poop while they’re trying to admire the art!
It’s not as if the place was understaffed, either, as there were plenty of guards on duty, repeatedly asking me to sign my name in their book.
The Chitrashala
The Chitrashala, in contrast, was spotless. As mentioned above, this one section is run by the national ASI.
Throughout my travels around India, it wasn’t that uncommon to encounter attractions that were partially divided between ASI and state authorities, the latter always being the better-maintained of the two.
Anyway, let’s take a look at what you can find inside.
Despite being a relatively small arcaded gallery, the Chitrashala is where you’ll want to spend most of your time at Garh Palace.
The ‘Hall of Paintings’ was established in the 18th century, with the last paintings dating to the 19th century.
This room houses some of the finest examples of the Bundi school of art, which itself is considered one of the prominent schools of miniature painting in Rajasthan.
But what makes it special? First of all, let’s take a step back and talk about the Mughal influence over Rajasthani art as a whole.
In the medieval period, many cities of the modern Indian state of Rajasthan were independent city-states, often referred to collectively as the Rajput kingdoms. And kingdoms like Bundi pledged allegiance to the Mughals.
Though the Rajputs were largely Hindu, intermarriages between Mughal and Rajput families were nonetheless common, and lots of cultural exchange took place, especially regarding art.
The Mughal dynasty was founded by Babur (1483-1530), a Turko-Mongol who was himself a descendant of Timur (1336-1405), founder of Central Asia’s Timurid Empire.
The Timurids had conquered much of what was Greater Iran, thus absorbing many aspects of Persian culture. And Babur would later import Central Asian–Persian traditions to India, with his descendants also actively patronizing Persian art.
Rajasthani art, therefore, was heavily influenced by Persian art due to connections between the Rajputs and Mughals. But the Rajputs took the Persian miniature style and adapted it to Hindu and regional themes.
The Bundi school of art, in particular, often relied heavily on the legends of Krishna as subject matter. Accordingly, numerous scenes of Krishna and the Gopis during his time in Vrindavan adorn the walls of the Chitrashala.
Various court scenes and animal motifs also make appearances here, along with some elaborate hunting and battle scenes.
In terms of style, the Bundi school of art is generally considered both softer and more detailed than Mewar (Udaipur) art, and it generally relies less on formal court scenes than Jaipur art.
I walked back and forth through the Chitrashala numerous times, hoping I hadn’t missed any details. Eventually satisfied, it was finally time to move on to the next part of the complex.
Taragarh Fort
Situated atop the hill, Taragarh Fort predates Garh Palace, having been established in 1354. It was commissioned by none other than Rao Deva, Bundi’s first ruler.
On my way up, I had to sign in with yet another guard. He implored me to take a stick due to ‘monkey problems,’ but I declined. In fact, I didn’t encounter any until the return journey.
Reaching the fort itself, I encountered two more guards, and sure enough, I had to sign my name in a book once again. One of the guards explained that the structures were in poor condition and unsafe, so he wanted to accompany me.
I normally prefer to explore on my own, but took him up on the offer, as parts of it did indeed look quite rough.
The fort is home to additional palace areas, but it was sad to see the sorry state that they’re in now. Some of the walls have also been painted, but much of the paint has long faded.
The Taragarh Fort complex also features a large pool and it’s home to numerous bastions. Though I spotted some more buildings in the distance, the guard told me that those structures were too weak and that they were currently off-limits to the public.
I could, however, access an ancient Shiva temple situated atop the hill. This guard also wanted me to take a stick, but this time ‘in case of lions.’
While the temple is no longer in active use, it supposedly used to be the most important one in Bundi.
Around Central Bundi
As we’ll cover shortly, another top thing to do in Bundi is to hire a driver for several hours to take you to some of the city’s outlying attractions. But there are also a few more things to see within walking distance of the city center on foot.
The historical district of Bundi is centered around Nawal Sagar, an artificial lake dating back to the 17th century. Within it is a partially submerged temple dedicated to Varuna, the ancient Vedic god of rain.
Fascinatingly, Nawal Sagar feeds water into Bundi’s stepwells, of which there are a staggering 50 or so!
Coming in the evening, you’ll likely encounter friendly locals who simply want to chat. I found Bundi to be much more hassle-free compared with other parts of Rajasthan, and the locals typically just want to talk without having any product or service to offer.
Another landmark within walking distance from the center is only for those with some extra time on their hands. Mordi Ki Chhatri is a pavilion situated atop a hill that offers a view of historical Bundi.
It’s a bit tricky to find, but you should first walk uphill along the highway for a while. Then you’ll need to make a sharp right onto a slippery dirt path and keep walking up that until you find the structure.
Unfortunately, the haze that plagues much of Rajasthan (well, India) put a damper on the view. Coming here on my first evening, I just decided to return to my hotel rather than stick around for sunset.
The Tuk Tuk Tour
Bundi has plenty more attractions in store besides Garh Palace. And as you walk along the main road of the compact tourist district, tuk tuk drivers will likely approach you offering to take you around town.
I settled on a price of Rs 600 with a driver, which I felt was more than fair considering how it takes several hours to see everything.
Some of the following attractions require a Rs 350 combo ticket (valid for two days) while some are free. Also be sure to have your Garh Palace ticket on you, as it will give you access to the Kshar Bagh cenotaphs.
Raniji Ki Baori
As mentioned above, Bundi is home to no less than fifty or so stepwells! But among them, Raniji Ki Bari is the most well-known. The site is open daily from 9:45-17:00 and it’s one of the three sites accessible with the combo ticket.
Constructed around 1700 AD, it’s famous for its exquisitely carved gate featuring elephants and floral motifs.
Raniji Ki Bari is 46 m deep, and like all stepwells, its main function was water storage. But it also served as a much-needed refuge from the extreme Rajasthan summer heat, hence why it was so ornately decorated.
Unfortunately, the water was rather filthy during my visit.
Dabhal Kund
Next, my driver took me to Dabhal Kund, yet another impressive stepwell. Access to this one is free.
Constructed in the 17th century, this stepwell demonstrates a much more open style than Raniji Ki Bari.
I only spotted a few locals during my visit, and Dabhal Kund seems like a great place to come and relax if you’re taking things slower in Bundi.
Rajgarh Darbar
Our next destination was so obscure that it doesn’t even appear on Google Maps. But according to the on-site sign in Hindi, it appears to have been associated with a noble named Thakur Shri Karan Singh Ji Maharaj.
The place is hard to describe, as it seems to combine multiple shrines with a small stepwell.
According to my driver, one of the shrines is dedicated to a former Bundi Rajput. And another shrine even features a small bed of nails that holy men use to demonstrate their spiritual power.
The other side of the stepwell, meanwhile, features a shrine dedicated to the goddess Kali. And it’s near here that the king or noble would sit and perform rituals while having a clear view of Taragarh Fort’s hilltop Shiva temple!
The 84 Pillar Cenotaph
The 84 Pillar Cenotaph is the next site that’s accessible with the combo ticket. Located south of the city, it’s quite a detour considering how the following locations are located far to the north.
The large cenotaph was constructed by Rao Raja Aniruddh Singh in 1683 in memory of one of his sons named Deva.
True to its name, the cenotaph does indeed feature 84 pillars beneath multiple domes. Be sure to look up at the ceiling of the main one, where you’ll see a colorful painting featuring fish and damsels.
Arguably the most interesting section, however, are the carvings at the side of the staircase that depict various animals.
Sukh Mahal
The third and final destination accessible with the combo ticket is Sukh Mahal. Established by Rao Raja Vishnu Singh in 1776, it sits alongside Jait Sagar Lake and served as a residence for Bundi rulers.
Today, the palace is best known for its association with Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), author of The Jungle Book and various short stories. Kipling, in fact, wrote parts of The Jungle Book while staying here for a couple of nights.
Behind the structure, you can also find a sizeable museum. It contains ancient Hindu sculptures, some examples of Bundi miniatures, and also a collection of weapons used by the Bundi military.
As far as I can tell, this is the only such historical museum that Bundi has, so it’s well worth a quick visit.
Kshar Bagh
Further north still are the Kshar Bagh cenotaphs. As mentioned above, you can access it with the same ticket for Garh Palace, so be sure to bring it with you. The royal cenotaphs are open daily from 10:00-17:30.
These beautiful carved cenotaphs are dedicated to various members of Bundi’s royal family. Nearby Kota has its own Kshar Bagh with cenotaphs also dedicated to Bundi royals, as Kota was originally part of the Bundi Kingdom.
But Kota’s Kshar Bagh is officially closed, and only a small portion of its cenotaphs can be seen from above. This site, in contrast, is not only fully accessible, but you’re likely to have the whole place to yourself.
There are 66 cenotaphs in total. And while most of them appear similar at first glance, take a closer look and you’ll see how some of them contain unique carvings.
Look out for carved horses, for example. If the horse’s leg is raised, it means that the individual died in battle.
Even More
I was very fortunate that the tuk tuk driver I hired in Bundi turned out to be an honest, patient, and generous man (the exact opposite of my driver in my next destination, Chittorgarh).
Though I was already satisfied, he still wanted to take me to a few extra sites further north. While I just viewed it from below, near Kshar Bagh is the hilltop temple of Chauth Matha Mandir.
And beyond that was yet another ancient structure that, while rather dilapidated now, was clearly impressive in its prime. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the name, nor does it appear on Google Maps.
Additional Info
If you’re coming from nearby Kota, you can simply hire an Uber. That’s what I did, and the ride cost me roughly Rs 900.
Arriving from elsewhere in Rajasthan, Bundi is directly connected with Chittorgarh (2.5 hours) and Udaipur (5.5 hours).
Unfortunately, Bundi is not directly connected by rail with Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, or Bikaner. From most of those places, you’ll have to transfer in Kota first. If you have the time, that city is worth a full day of exploration.
Regarding transport to and from Bundi’s railway station, Uber doesn’t work in the city, so you’ll need to haggle. I paid Rs 200 for a tuk tuk driver to take me there from the center, which my hotel manager confirmed was a fair deal.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
Bundi’s historical center is very compact, but it has everything you’d expect to find at a tourist district in Rajasthan. The small area is home to Western-style cafes and plenty of places selling real coffee. After having traveled off the tourist trail for over a month and eating nothing but Indian food, finally having some variety (and a proper Americano) was a real treat.
Regarding accommodation, you’ll be fine as long as you stay within walking distance of Garh Palace. Bundi is both compact and affordable, even by Rajasthan standards.
I spent a few nights at Haveli Taragarh Palace and had a good experience there. The manager, Michael, was very helpful and accommodating, and while my private room was basic, the covers kept me warm during the cold winter nights.
If you’re not on such a tight budget, other popular options include The Castle View Homestay and Hotel Bundi Haveli, among others.