6 Historical Places To Explore In Bundi, Rajasthan

Bundi was one of the first stops on my two month backpacking trip in India, and I’m so glad I didn’t skip out on this cute and charming little town in Rajasthan. Although small, there are actually so many worthwhile things to do in Bundi. We instantly fell in love with the friendly people, delicious restaurants, and chill vibes throughout this historic town.

If you’re headed to Rajasthan, you won’t want to miss Bundi. And I’ve got you covered with the best things to do, places to eat, and where to stay. For more India travel tips, peep my other guide!

# Garh Palace

The Garh Palace is definitely one of the best places to visit in Bundi. The entrance fee is 500 rupees / $7 USD and it’s open between 8am – 5pm. We had so much fun sneaking up all of the many staircases that led to dilapidated upper floors. Many areas of the palace have been left to deteriorate naturally so it was cool to see how parts of the building has fared over the years.

Once you’re in the palace, you aren’t allowed to leave without marveling at Chitrashala (a room of well-preserved historical paintings), Ratan Daulat (a huge white marble pavilion overlooking the palace/city) or the Elephant Gate (I think the name speaks for itself)! These are some of the most famous ‘landmarks’ inside the palace. They’re not super well marked or mapped out, but they’re not hard to find with a good wander.

# Taragarh Fort

From the palace, there’s a trail that leads to the Taragarh Fort, built in the 14thcentury. It’s free / included in the palace fees as far as we could tell! It’s about a 20+ minute “hike” up a steady incline so bring lots of water and wear good walking shoes. Beware of the naughty monkeys that run around the trail and the overgrown, scratchy brush.

The fort was also such a cool thing to do in Bundi. Here everything has truly been left to nature and between the various structures and cracks, plants have grown free – so don’t expect a single epic intact fort. It’s a great place for the imagination to run wild while wandering between the ruins.

# Sadar Bazar and Markets

For as small as Bundi is, there was an abundance of street stalls lining most of the city center streets. There were all different things to buy from Indian gold jewelry (I got a cute nose ring here!), cheap clothes, cute trinkets, various foods and more.

Walking the streets taking in the amazing architecture and checking out the shops was really enjoyable. I highly recommend it as one of the top attractions in Bundi.

# Visit one of many stepwells

Bundi has been dubbed the city of stepwells, and has more than 50 of these ancient wells for visitors to see. The most popular one is Raniji Ki Baori and has an entrance fee of either 100 or 200 rupees. I swear we were told 200 in person but when I googled to confirm, it says 100. Sorry for the uncertainty folks!

Best to prepare for both possibilities – we actually encountered many price discrepancies for tourist attractions since the government has recently increased the fees in early 20u19. But price confusion aside, Raniji Ki Baori is famous for its stunning stone carvings and intricate design and is well regarded as the best in the city.

# Nawal Sagar

Nawal Sagar is a picturesque lake in Bundi located at the base of the fort and palace and you can actually see it from above while on the palace grounds. Built in the middle of the lake, completely surrounded by water is the ancient temple of Lord Varuna. If you’re up for it, we were told you can hire a boat to take a ride around the temple.

# Sukh Mahal

An ancient summer palace built during the reign of Umed Singh, this lake side palace has been left to ruins. It’s a pretty sight to behold and is well worth the 15-minute walk to get there from the city center. A good addition to any 2 day Bundi itinerary.