What to See in Taragarh Fort, the Gem of Bundi Rajasthan
“Taragarh Fort in Bundi must have been built by angels not by human beings,” commented Rudyard Kipling. The guide who took us around tells this to us very proudly. We visited this fort after a good night’s rest in Brij Raj Bhavan, Kota. The fort plan is star shaped hence the name Taragarh (tara meaning star and garh meaning fort). City of Bundi situated in the Nagpahari of Aravalli range.
The majestic fort stands proudly on the top of a hill.
Bundi ka Kila – Taragarh
Palace in Taragarh Fort
History of Taragarh Fort in Bundi
Rajput rulers built this majestic fort in Bundi in 1354. It was built by Rao Singh Bar under the reign of King Ajaypal Chauhan. This fort is credited to be the first hill fort of Rajasthan and is a mute witness to several battles between Rajputs, Muslim invaders and British oppressors. During these wars Bundi kept shrinking in area. Part of it became Kota in 1264 and another part was etched out as Jhalawar in 1838.
A steep climb took us to the fort entrance of Taragarh which was adorned with sculptures of elephants. This was the carriage way for the kings to get to their palace in medieval times.
Bundi Fort Rajasthan
Bundi ka Taragarh
Architecture of Taragarh Fort
Taragarh Fort in Bundi is indeed very beautiful. The fort is at a height of 500m. A steep climb up the hill, then through enormous gates decorated with elephants which are now in ruins, we were inside the gigantic fort of Bundi. Note the three gateways the Lakshmi Pol, the Phuta Darwaza and Gagudi ki phatak as you climb up and walk into the fort. They are not in good condition though.
In its heydays this fort was well known for the tunnels crisscrossing the entire hill side facilitating the King and his men to flee in case of imminent defeat in wars. The Fort was designed with several tunnels. However, with no proper documentation of these secret paths, they still remain a secret. Most of the tunnels are blocked with rubble now so these tunnels are inaccessible today.
Fort walls of Taragarh
Taragarh Kila Bundi Rajasthan
Must See Parts of Taragarh Fort
It will take little more than an hour to tour the various interesting spots within the fort. What we get to see is actually a part of the fort which had the palaces for different kings and queens. Chhatra Mahal (palace), Badal Mahal and Ratan Daulat – Diwan-I-Aam are built by Raja Rao Ratan Singh. Do look out for the Pol Hazari or Thousand Gate, the Naubat Khana, the Hathi Pol with its ancient water clock, the Diwaan-e-Aam Hall and Throne.
Rani Mahal in the fort is a small palace within the compound. This was for the wives and concubines of kings. The lawns of the Bundi palace and one for the queens are maintained well, but the structure seems to be crumbling with age steadily but slowly.
Phool Mahal, the name translates to Flower palace, is a top tourist attraction in Bundi.
Phool Mahal – meaning flower palace
Phool Mahal with stunning artwork
Most popular part of Taragarh Fort is the largest of its battlements, the 16th century bastion known as the Bhim Burj. A large cannon called Garbh Gunjam, or ‘Thunder from the Womb’ was mounted on this.
The fort was designed with large water tanks dug into the rock that provided the palace with sufficient drinking water, which proved very helpful especially during the time of wars. Taragarh Fort of Bundi still contains three water tanks that can withstand long periods of sieges. Amazing engineering skills with which they were built, they have never dried up.
Water bodies in Taragarh Fort in Bundi
Bundi Style of Mural Painting
Taragarh fort was built with hard, green-tinged serpentine stone sourced locally. That explains why the fort has less of sculptures and more of paintings. They include the earliest and finest examples of court painting known in India. The murals have faded and the stained glasses in the windows are no longer in one piece.
When you are in Taragarh Fort I strongly recommend that you set aside some time dedicated just to see the paintings in Chitrashala (School of art) that was built in 18th century. It is also known by the name Ummed Mahal, is a part of the Garh Palace after the builder Rao Ummed Singh.
Ummed Bhavan Chitrashala Bundi art
Ummed Mahal consists of a set of rooms on an elevated podium above the garden courtyard. The painting here in the famous Chitra Shala of Bundi provides a colourful glimpse of history. Zenana Mahal and the Badal Mahal has an excellent collection of miniatures, do take a pause here to feast your eyes on this rich medieval art.
Miniature paintings
I was stunned to see the walls, ceiling of this palace all are completely covered with paintings of the Bundi School which are still in reasonably good condition. Though a lot different from the artwork I saw in Uffizi, Florence, these are splendid paintings, par excellence and can be compared with probably the best anywhere in the world.
Scenes from Lord Krishna’s life
Harem or Zanana Bundi school of art
These miniature paintings are crafted with meticulous details and brushwork .There is use of vibrant colors made from vegetable dyes, minerals like gold and silver which gives unique shine to the murals. There were precious stones studded too, but seems like the walls have been ripped of them.
Our guide highlighted how landscapes of Bundi have been depicted with paintings of flowing rivers, dense forests, and lush green fields of Bundi region. Indeed the artists are truly talented to highlight a distinctive way of depicting water by light swirls against a dark background, vivid movement and dramatic night skies.
I found the elephant theme in fort very interesting. Here are five pictures
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- Bundi art school – war scene
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- Bundi Chitrashala – war scene
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- Bundi vibrant art
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- Sculptures inside Taragarh Fort
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- Entrance to Taragarh Fort in Bundi
Nawal Sagar Lake
View of Nawal Sagar an artificial lake with a temple of Varuna (water-god) in the middle. Click on it to see the temple in the middle of the lake. View of the town from the palace windows is magical. It is the same town which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.
Taragarh Palace Bundi – View from window
Bundi ka Taragarh – Nawal Sagar Lake
Taragarh Kila Bundi – Temple of Varuna (God of Water) in Nawal Sagar Lake
Location of Bundi
Bundi can be reached from nearby big stations like Jaipur (212 km), Indore (382 km), Delhi (474 km), Ahmadabad (530 km), and Pune (1009 km).
By Rail: Kota is the closest railway station. Kota to Bundi distance is 35 km, you can hire taxis or state transport buses. Kota is a big city very well connected to almost every city of India.
By Air: The closest airport to reach Bundi is Sanganer International Airport, Jaipur at a distance of 215 km. Jaipur is connected to almost every airport of India with Domestic flights connect.
Timings: Open on all days from 8 AM to 5.30 PM
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(Updated post. This was first written on April 20th, 2009.)
I visited Bundi during my Kota trip and spent a day here exploring its attractions such as Taragarh, Sukh Niwas Palace, 84 Pillared Cenotaph and Rani ji ki baori.
These are the most amazing pictures of taragarh fort on the internet
The energy level is amazing. To travel and invade and “Capture” fort after fort..!!!! Wow 🙂
Thanks for taking us to another beautiful site. The pictures are fantastic, but I imagine they don’t do the fort justice.
Truly magical for sure. Such beauty and wish there was a way to keep the integrity and help restore such craftmanship!
Indian Culture at its best! Gorgeous pictures.
Fantastic! Kipling was absolutely right.
What a marvelous place.
There are so many wonders of the world. Thank you for sharing one…
These are glorious works!…
Very fascinating sequence of sceneries. I enjoy it very much!
Wow. How incredible. Everyone keeps commenting on how the world is getting smaller everyday… but with so much history to discover, how could anyone ever run out of places to visit?
I enlarged these and found the breathtaking! WOW! Oh, I see above you had POTD ;)! CONGRATS!!
Wow beautiful Congrats on post of the Day
Wow! It’s all simply fascinating! Glad you shared!
For the 14th century murals, they are comparatively in good condition. Lovely post Indrani. As I’ve mentioned somewhere earlier, I never tire of exploring forts of the old.
I’m glad to be able to catch up on your blog! 🙂 I love the look of this place, the fact that it is slightly crumbly seems to suit it. Oddly, I can no longer remember a single thing about ‘Kim’, except that I was reading it during a school walk to the countryside.
A paradise for photographers. Truly a spectacular place. It just stunned me.
really quite stunning
India is such a fascinating place. I HAVE got to find my way there soon. Rajasthan is at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing, this Fort is awesome. Great captures.
I am glad you went to Rajasthan, Indrani. All these treasures would have been denied us, otherwise. One has to agree with Kipling – it is the work of angels.
Candy to my soul! That is what I felt when I looked at the photos. So beautiful and different. Thank you for sharing and thanks for your visit!
Beautiful series. Love the elephants over the doorway.
I have always wondered, how people go up and down in a fort like this that too on a mountain!! The legs would sure ache! Maybe they used horses….
Destination Infinity
it looks almost like a fairytale, beutifull. thank you for sharing. Greetings from Jeany
where is this ‘Tarangarh’ place Indrani? Rajasthan too? Never heard before – Its a beautiful palace out there.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaw..
Bundi is a rich historical wealth……
I think if you staying there it is really
a comfortable and unforgettable experience!!
What a pity that the murals are faded.
But for us its BEAUTIFUL 🙂
Faded or not !!
Maybe they can restore the glass panes….
Very nice post today,
I must always take the time to read it.
It’s been such a stress day here today 😉
No time to relaxxxxx….
how the other nations must have lusted for India in the past with its treasures. it is still the same today with its huge market
Wonderful post. This is a place I would love to visit and since I may never, this is the next best thing.
I love all the photos, as they each tell a particular piece of the palace but my favorite is the second of the carved elephants touching trunks over the doorway. Stunning.
What a beautiful place – from the entrance gate to the garden and the interiors! It must have been an incredible feeling exploring the site — imagining how it was then. Thanks for sharing, Indrani. All the more I’d like to see India!
Inside Cambodia
Very informative. And Great photos. I had a short trip for few minutes. Thanks for sharing.
Simply gorgeous!
Indrani! How utterly stunning are those great photos of yours! These buildings are of an infinite beauty that I can hardly believe that they are man-made! Like R.Kipling said: They must be made by angels! Thanks for sharing! Thanks also for your visit and have a great week!
Ruins of forts have a rustic charm of their own.
What a dreamy place it is. The gardens were quite amazing. I always like gates with elephants on top of them.
Fabulously taken. The work of an expert! Thanks for sharing.
That Fort is amazing. Must have been well to withstand time and war. It would be nice if it could be maintained and protected.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow fantastic. Your blog always have amazing photos. Like the view of the city from where you are. Very beautiful.
I just love your posts, what a magnificant Fort and view!
Marvelous place. Thanks for sharing.
such beautiful place and you captured them beautifully. It’s too bad that it’s crumbling. I do hope it’ll be preserved soon.
My world is up too.
That is fantastic and does appear to have been built by angels. Your photography and posts are always so great.
It is always good to see so much history and beauty in one place.
It’s breathtakingly magical. Such buildings and structures and ornaments. It’s sad that the decay is unavoidable. No wonder Kipling was facinated either, and now we are! Thank you and have a great day!
Those little turrets look fragile! unbelievable they they do not fall down. Another very beautiful building, it seems India has an unlimited supply!
THE VIEW OF THE TOWN FROM THE PALACE IT´S MARVELLOUS.!
Kipling was right.
It’s the “fort” that counts.
These are outstanding images, all. I can’t believe how light and graceful are those elephants over the entrance. Astounding.
What a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, and wow again—exactly the sort of place I love to visit, and I hope I see it someday.
The trees and murals are my favourite. It’s got its own beauty even abandoned and crumbling, but how I would have loved to see it in its glory days!
Thanks for sharing the photos, and the views and history. Such a post!
Wow, and wow again—exactly the sort of place I love to visit, and I hope I see it someday.
The trees and murals are my favourite. It’s got its own beauty even abandoned and crumbling, but how I would have loved to see it in its glory days!
Thanks for sharing the photos, and the views and history. Such a post!
A beautiful fort and palace, the murals are so beautiful and also the covered walkway. Thank you for sharing the beauty and history of India with us.
You must have a great vantage view taking these pictures. Beautiful and breath taking. I love the murals, they maybe faded but they are part of our cultural history. Nice photos.
Indrani: Beautiful capture of this neat fort, it is so well located for protection.
What a wonderful place!! Your pictures are amazing!
Wow, what a beautiful and spectacular place. I love buildings in mountains. The architecture and art are magnificent.
beautiful photos and a fascinating commentary as always your blog is insightful…thanks for sharing.
Oh! Indrani, how absolutely beautiful! Fantastic photos and, I too, do hope the heritage of the mural painting is preserved! Wonderful post! Thank you!
I love your photographs that spread the magic of India before my eyes…Thank you! And thank you for kind words on my blog today, too…
Beautiful snaps. The mural painting look excellent. Its a heritage that has to be preserved.