Bundi
 | This articlepossibly containsoriginal research.(June 2024) |
Bundi | |
|---|---|
city | |
 Panoramic view of the old town and palace of Bundi. | |
  Bundi Location in Rajasthan, India  Bundi Bundi (India) | |
| Coordinates:25°26′N75°38′E/ 25.44°N 75.64°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Bundi |
| Named for | Bunda Meena |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Body | Bundi Municipal Council[1] |
| Elevation | 268 m (879 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30(IST) |
| PIN | 323001 |
| ISO 3166 code | RJ-IN |
| Vehicle registration | RJ-08 |
| Sex ratio | 922♂/♀ |
| Website | Bundi Municipal Council Bundi District |
Bundiis a town in theHadotiregionofRajasthanstateinnorthwest India.It is of particular architectural note for its ornate forts, palaces, andstepwellreservoirs known asbaoris.It is the administrative headquarters ofBundi District.Bundi has many temples, so it is called "Chhoti Kashi" (LittleVaranasi).[citation needed]
Geography[edit]
The town of Bundi is situated 35 km fromKotaand 210 km fromJaipur.It is located at25°26′N75°38′E/ 25.44°N 75.64°Eand an average elevation of 268 metres (879 feet). The city lies near a narrow gorge, and is surrounded on three sides by hills of theAravalli Range.A substantial wall with four gateways encircles the city. It is served byBundi railway stationon Kota-Chittorgarh rail line. Bundi is also known as "Choti Kashi" as there are many old temples in the city, which has been built by kings at their reign.[citation needed]
Demographics[edit]
In the 2011 Indiancensus,[2]Bundi had a population of 1,03,286. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bundi has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 75% and female literacy of 57%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History[edit]
Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 2,00,000 years were found inBundiandBhilwaradistricts of the state.[3]
In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes. Bundi derives its name from Boonda ka Naal (gorge) with a stream running between two hills called Bandhu Hills. The great Hada Rajputs established the town after diverting the rivulet as the location and terrain provided natural defensibility to their fortifications., renaming the surrounding region as Hadauti, the land of greatHadaRajputs.[citation needed]
The rulers of Bundi State belonged to Hada-Chauhan dynasty and have ruled the area since 1241 CE. Rao Devraj Singh Hada was the first ruler and presently 26th gaadipati is Brig HH Bhupesh Singh, SC, VSM.[citation needed]
Tourist attractions[edit]
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Forts and palaces[edit]
- Taragarh Fort,or Star Fort, is the most impressive of the city's structures. It was constructed in 1354 on the top of a steep hillside overlooking the city. The largest of itsbattlementsis the 16th centurybastionknown as theBhim Burj,on which was once mounted a particularly largecannoncalledGarbh Gunjam,or 'Thunder from the Womb'. The fort is a popular tourist viewpoint of the city below. The fort contains three tanks which never dry up. The technique with which they were built has been long since lost but the tanks survive as a testament to the advanced methods of construction and engineering in medieval India.[citation needed]
- Bundi Palace is situated on the hillside adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and is notable for its lavish traditionalmuralsandfrescoes.TheChitrashala(picture gallery) of the palace is open to the general public.[citation needed]
- TheNawal Sagaris a large square-shaped artificial lake in the centre of Bundi containing many small islets. A temple dedicated toVaruna,thevedic godof 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
- Sukh Mahal is a cream-coloured palace that sits on the water bank.Rudyard Kiplingstayed there and claimed that the palace inspired his novelKim[citation needed]
- Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri, Bundior Eighty four pillared cenotaph
Stepwells[edit]
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 becomerefuse dumps,and are slipping out of the public consciousness.[citation needed]
TheRaniji ki Baoriis a noted and well-maintained stepwell, some 46 metres (151 ft) 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.[citation needed]
TheNagar Sagar twin step wellsare identical step wells crafted in masonry on either side of the main spine of the town. The Dabhai Kund, also known as the Jail Kund, is the largest of the stepwells and, although slightly overgrown, still shows carvings on the numerous steps leading down to water level.[citation needed]
Murals[edit]
Murals in the typical Rajasthani Hadoti miniature style are an important attraction in the Garh Palace. They cover the walls, ceilings and niches in several of the pavilions or "mahals", depicting stories from the life ofKrishnaas well as scenes from the lives of the royalty. They have significant artistic and decorative values. The Ummed Bhavan "Chitrashala" (also in the Garh Palace, i.e. the palace premises within the Bundi fort) have especially notable murals.[citation needed]
Rock art[edit]
There are nearly 100rock artsites in and around the town, some dating back 5000 to 7000 years. They have been discovered by a local enthusiast in the sandstone escarpments and caves. These show up the typical line drawings of wild buffalo, deer, tiger, etc. as well as humans in different postures that depict the typical lives and concerns of human beings of the period.[citation needed]
Satur national geological monument[edit]
Great Boundary Fault at Saturat nearbySaturhas been declared theNational Geological Monuments of Indiaby theGeological Survey of India(GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement ofgeotourism.[4][5][6]
References[edit]
- ^"Bundi Municipal Council".27 June 2024.
- ^"Bundi Tehsil Population - Bundi, Rajasthan".CensusIndia2011. Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2019.Retrieved24 January2019.
- ^Pillai, Geetha Sunil (28 February 2017),"Stone age tools dating back 2,00,000 years found in Rajasthan",The Times of India
- ^National Geological Monument, from Geological Survey of India website
- ^"Geo-Heritage Sites".pib.nic.in.Press Information Bureau.9 March 2016.Retrieved15 September2018.
- ^national geo-heritage of India,INTACH
Further reading[edit]
- Beny, Roland; Matheson, Sylvia A. (1984).Rajasthan – Land of Kings.London: Frederick Muller. p. 200 pages.ISBN0-584-95061-6.
- Crump, Vivien; Toh, Irene (1996).Rajasthan(hardback). London: Everyman Guides. p. 400 pages.ISBN1-85715-887-3.
- Martinelli, Antonio; Michell, George (2005).The Palaces of Rajasthan.London: Frances Lincoln. p. 271 pages.ISBN978-0-7112-2505-3.
- Sodhi, Jiwan (1999).A Study of Bundi School of Painting(hardback). India: Abhinav Publications.ISBN81-7017-347-7.
External links[edit]
