It is a rustic but colorful town located in the south of Rajasthan, India’s largest state. Bundi is agriculturally very prosperous as it is irrigated by the canals from the Chambal river. Farms of Soybean, Wheat, Maize and Mustard as well as lush green paddy fields border Bundi. The Amruts of Bundi are also as good as you can get’em.
Our stay at Ishwari Niwas was pleasant, never mind a bit of artificial Rajasthani touch given to it. It was built to house the Dewan of Bundi during the reign of Maharao Ishwari Singh and was later turned into a guest house. Bundi, remains a vastly unexplored splendour but one which although isolated has a lot to offer. There are hardly any Indian tourists who come to Bundi and sadly it is only frequented by foreigners, for they are aware of the tranquility & rich history it offers.
Our stay at Ishwari Niwas was pleasant, never mind a bit of artificial Rajasthani touch given to it. It was built to house the Dewan of Bundi during the reign of Maharao Ishwari Singh and was later turned into a guest house. Bundi, remains a vastly unexplored splendour but one which although isolated has a lot to offer. There are hardly any Indian tourists who come to Bundi and sadly it is only frequented by foreigners, for they are aware of the tranquility & rich history it offers.
We met Mr.Om Prakash Sharma aka Kukki at his residence. A humble man with a number of stories to tell, a grocery shop to run & a consuming passion towards history. Two decades of his life have been spent exploring the hills and river banks around Bundi. Without any fundings or governmental support he has found evidence of unknown civilizations. Prehistoric rock paintings, weapons of stones,shards of pottery, utencils made out of terracota and coins from various dynasties that ruled in India, constitute his vast wealth of findings. It is commendable for a man who is educated till class 8.
These rock paintings are an unwritten story of evolution. According to Kukkiji, they said a silent prayer towards the animals the cavemen had killed or also a form of demonstration of danger for their younger ones to understand. The prehistoric man would also draw on the rocks when at leisure, manifesting his ideas through the shades of ochre. The colors were taken from powdered rocks or colored earth available at the nearby mounds and hills. The caves depicted paintings belonging to the Mesolithic period showing animals like the bisons, tigers, dogs and antelopes, hunting scenes, daily life episodes of that period, dancing postures, flocks of deer etc. The discovery at Namana on the 4th December, 1993 was a milestone. It is a copper period mound and contained a civilization older than the Harappan and Mohen-jo-daro period.
There needs to be awareness about these finds and they should be protected from vandals and natural corrosion. I agreed with him when he called them our national wealth. There are archeological mounds waiting there to be explored and the answers they might bring to us might well rewrite history. The second day took us to the Golpur & Bhimlat rock painting sites. It was a short walk through the canyon and spring water streams passed us. As we sat there gazing at the art, I drifted far away and visualized the settings back then, felt the presence of an ancestry. Bhimlat equally exalted my imaginations. A cascading waterfall adds to the picturesque beauty of this area and makes you want to reconfirm the fact that you are in desert land-Rajasthan.
We had to cut our travel short as we had to catch the 6pm bus to Nainwa, a town within the district of Bundi. It was a bumpy journey with peanuts for company and we were there by night-fall. I find something very beautiful about the people of Rajasthan; they are not just hospitable they are also benign and very warm. I felt I could have stayed long months with them without feeling homesick.
Next morning I was all set for exploring the interiors of Rajasthan.. We went through miles of sarson ke khet, posed for a few snaps, crossed a number of tractors carrying dozens of people and men on cycles with turbans, the colours of the sun. Joyous children greeted us, all wanting to squeeze into the camera frame; we met a humble but prosperous farmer and fourteen peacocks.
On our last day in Bundi, we explored the exquisitely carved chatris and also visited the Taragarh Fort. Built in 1345, from locally quarried stone, it stands as a fine example of Rajput architecture with its imposing structure of stone and massive battlements and ramparts. Some parts of the fort are heavily vandalized by treasure-hunters and in need of immediate restoration. But, the fort still defines the royal grandeur of a bygone era. The view from the top is breathtaking; it gave me a feel of a magnificent canvas with pale hues of blue, dotted with impressive havelis, temples and a vibrant bazaar. The entire journey was one to remember, as I walked through the pages of pre-history and in the fields of gold, this winter never felt too cold as I had warm memories from Bundi.
In the simplicity of my surroundings, every moment spent was splendid & yet again here, I found the best of me.
How to Reach Bundi: The best way is to contact Mr. Prateek Deo!
- written by Prachi Pednekar
These rock paintings are an unwritten story of evolution. According to Kukkiji, they said a silent prayer towards the animals the cavemen had killed or also a form of demonstration of danger for their younger ones to understand. The prehistoric man would also draw on the rocks when at leisure, manifesting his ideas through the shades of ochre. The colors were taken from powdered rocks or colored earth available at the nearby mounds and hills. The caves depicted paintings belonging to the Mesolithic period showing animals like the bisons, tigers, dogs and antelopes, hunting scenes, daily life episodes of that period, dancing postures, flocks of deer etc. The discovery at Namana on the 4th December, 1993 was a milestone. It is a copper period mound and contained a civilization older than the Harappan and Mohen-jo-daro period.There needs to be awareness about these finds and they should be protected from vandals and natural corrosion. I agreed with him when he called them our national wealth. There are archeological mounds waiting there to be explored and the answers they might bring to us might well rewrite history. The second day took us to the Golpur & Bhimlat rock painting sites. It was a short walk through the canyon and spring water streams passed us. As we sat there gazing at the art, I drifted far away and visualized the settings back then, felt the presence of an ancestry. Bhimlat equally exalted my imaginations. A cascading waterfall adds to the picturesque beauty of this area and makes you want to reconfirm the fact that you are in desert land-Rajasthan.
We had to cut our travel short as we had to catch the 6pm bus to Nainwa, a town within the district of Bundi. It was a bumpy journey with peanuts for company and we were there by night-fall. I find something very beautiful about the people of Rajasthan; they are not just hospitable they are also benign and very warm. I felt I could have stayed long months with them without feeling homesick.
On our last day in Bundi, we explored the exquisitely carved chatris and also visited the Taragarh Fort. Built in 1345, from locally quarried stone, it stands as a fine example of Rajput architecture with its imposing structure of stone and massive battlements and ramparts. Some parts of the fort are heavily vandalized by treasure-hunters and in need of immediate restoration. But, the fort still defines the royal grandeur of a bygone era. The view from the top is breathtaking; it gave me a feel of a magnificent canvas with pale hues of blue, dotted with impressive havelis, temples and a vibrant bazaar. The entire journey was one to remember, as I walked through the pages of pre-history and in the fields of gold, this winter never felt too cold as I had warm memories from Bundi.
In the simplicity of my surroundings, every moment spent was splendid & yet again here, I found the best of me.
How to Reach Bundi: The best way is to contact Mr. Prateek Deo!
- written by Prachi Pednekar
