Būndi, India / Frances and Paul Hobson / Frances and Paul / Bundi Thurs 6

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Bundi Thurs 6 - Sat 8, July

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Būndi, India
25° 26' N 75° 38' E
Jul 16, 2006 10:48
Distance 166km

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Bundi Thurs 6 - Sat 8, July

Text written in: English

Bundi is a captivating small town in southern Rajasthan where Frances and I hole up for a couple of days between Jaipur and Agra. Like Jodhpur, the town is full of narrow lanes of Brahmim-blue houses, and is dominated by a huge fort. We find an extremely relaxing family-run guest house just below the fort, and consequently have an amazing view of it. Just across the road is the artificial lake Nawal Sagar, which takes on the air of a grazing field as the monsoon is yet to hit.

After the intensity of Jaipur, it is a welcome relief to be here. The locals are curious, but are not consumed by the hard sell. Even those who want a piece of us do so with lots of charm and smiles.

Attractions in Bundi include its deserted and decaying palace, which is just below the fort, and contains well preserved murals. The stately Sukh Mahal is a few kilometres out of town - it's a small palace in a tranquil setting where Kipling stayed and wrote part of Kim. There are several baoris - or wells - in Bundi. The one we get a close up view of is 46m deep and full of litter.

Another Bundi feature is its colony of monkeys, who inhabit the deserted palace and fort by night, and scramble across the roofs of the town's houses by day. The locals tell us how much of a problem they are - constantly taking clothes and food, and they're in such abundance we manage to get several photos of them. Luckily, they take nothing from us.