1. Hadoti: The south eastern region of Rajasthan is a plateau popularly known as Hadoti Plateau. Hadoti covers the districts of Bundi, Kota, Baran and Jhalawar. The region lies between latitudes 23051’ to 25027’ and longitudes 75015’ and 77025’ and covers an area of 24185 sq km. Chambal is the main river of this region. It is a perennial river, which rises in Madhya Pradesh and thereafter, flows through steep slopes and deep gorges through Rajasthan, forming the boundary between Bundi and Kota districts, finally meandering north before meeting river Jamuna. The water and power potential of river Chambal has been harnessed by the contruction of Gandhi Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh and Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam and Kota barrage in Rajasthan. Hadoti is covered by semi-circular hill ranges and river basin formed by river Chambal and its tributaries Kali Sindh, Parwati and Mez and their feeding network of local rivers and rivulets. The hill ranges are covered by forests, whereas, the plains provide good agricultural land, irrigated by a large network of tanks and canals. The region had a flourishing civilization since pre-historic times and some of the places are mentioned in epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat. The climate of the region is sub-tropical with an average maximum temperature of 400 during summer and 300during winter. The average annual rainfall in the area is 95 cm ( 38 in ).
2. Bundi: Bundi was a princely state before independence, but after the merger of princely states and the formation of Rajasthan, it has become one of the 33 districts of Rajasthan in Kota Division. Bundi district has an area of 5500 sq km and lies between latitudes 24o 59’ and 25o 53’ and longitudes 75o 20’ and 76o 20’. The boundaries of Bundi district touch Tonk in the north, Bhilwara in the west, and Chittor in the south west. The southern and south eastern boundries of Bundi follow the course of river Chambal and form the border between Bundi and Kota. The maximum temperature is 45o C during summers and 32o C during winters. Average rainfall in the region is between 75 cm ( 30 in ) to 88 cm ( 35 in ). The main rivers of the region are Chambal and Mez fed by a large network of tributaries like Talera, Ghorapachar and Mangli. The district is full of hill ranges, forests, fertile plains and numerous places of cultural and historical interest, which attract a regular stream of tourists and other visitors.
3. Historical Background: Remnants of pre-historic ancient civilization can be traced all over the region in Bundi. However, recorded accounts of that period are not available. Bundi was perhaps under Magadh Empire during the Maurya period. After the decay of the Maurya dynasty local warlords captured power. A few centuries later, the area was captured by Samudragupta and was annexed to Gupta empire. After the end of the Gupta period, the local tribals dominated by Meenas assumed power. In the year 1342, Rao Deva who was a Hada Rajput defeated the tribals and became the first Hada Rajput ruler of Bundi. Those were very unsettled times and therefore there was a continuous fight for survival and for domination. Rana Lakha of Mewar captured the state in the year 1432. Later on, Naraindas the ruler of Bundi fought on the side of Rana Sanga against the Moghul armies of Babar at Khanwa. Subsequently, during the times of Moghul emperor Akbar, the rulers of Bundi entered into a treaty with Moghuls in the year 1569. Afterwards, Kota which was a jagir of Bundi was separted from Bundi by Moghul emperor Shahjahan in the year 1627 and was made an independent state, making Rao Madhosingh the first ruler of Kota. Maharo Raja Chatrasal of Bundi was a very valiant and distinguished ruler. He fought many battles and brought peace and prosperity to the state. Subsequently, he assisted Dara Shikoh the eldest son of Shahjahan against Aurangzeb in the war of succession of the Moghul empire. Those were very troublesome times for small princely states. They were attacked and ransacked off and on by belligerent neighboring states, Sultans of Delhi, Malwa and Gujrat, Marathas, Pindaris and local war lords. Under these conditions, from considerations of safety, security and stability, Maharao Raja Vishnu Singh, the ruler of Bundi entered into a treaty with the British in the year 1818. King George V visited India with Queen Mary and held a Durbar at Delhi in the year 1911. During that period Queen Mary found time to visit Bundi. Maharao Raja Ishwari Singh became the ruler of Bundi in the year 1927. He was succeeded by Maharao Raja Bahadur Singh in1946, who became the last ruler of Bundi before the merger of Bundi in the newly formed state of Rajasthan.
4. The City: The city of Bundi is one of the marvels of nature. It is situated between two parallel hill ranges, which form a semi-circle round the city. The hills are full of lush green forests. Taragarh fort of Bundi is located on the northern slope of the hill. The southern hill slopes are full of residential houses, shrouded by green trees, almost at all levels. The houses are served by serpentine footpaths carved in the hills. There are a number of chattries and temples at the tops of hills, which are dedicated to different gods and goddesses. Prominent among them is Suraj Chattri dedicated to sun god. There is a regular stream of visitors to these chattries for worship, excursion and picnics. The valley between the hills is narrow. The walled city is located in the valley, with hills on all sides. All bazars, offices, schools, hospitals, residential houses, palaces, tanks and parks found a place within the walled city. There was only one main thoroughfare running through the city. It was paved with stones and had shops on either side. The paved passage also served as the main drainage of the valley during monsoon. The walled city had four gates. The western gate known as Bhairon Dwar leads to Ajmer, Tonk and Jaipur via Deoli. The southern gate known as Chowgan Dwar opens into a square, which used to be the battleground in the good old days and serves now as a mandi or market place. Kota road runs through chowghan. The eastern gate is known as Patan Pole. It leads to Jaitsagar on the north side and to Kota road. on the south eastern side. There is another gate on the north side, which opens towards Jaitsagar. During the last sixty years, there has been considerable expansion of the city, outside the old walls of the city.
Bundi does not have a railhead. Nearest railway station from Bundi City is Kota Junction, which is on the main line from Delhi to Bombay and is about 42 km from Bundi. Bundi Road is a small wayside station on the main line, approachable within the territory of Bundi near Keshoraipatan. Bundi Road is about 40 km from Bundi city. Bundi is connected to Kota on the southeastern side by a highway. The distance from Bundi to Kota is about 38 km. On the north western side, the highway connects Bundi to Ajmer, Tonk and Jaipur. The distance between Bundi and Ajmer is 142 km and that between Bundi and Jaipur is 210 km. In the good old days, there was no bye-pass and all through traffic used to follow the main street of the walled city, but after the construction of the bye-pass, the highway runs through the bye-pass built over the southern side of the hills overlooking the walled city of Bundi. It provides a very beautiful and panoramic view of the whole city.
4. Forest road on the north side: Moving out from the western gate of the walled city there is a forest road, which connects the western gate of the walled city to the northern and eastern gates of the city. The road runs through deep forests in the north, along the foothills on the outer side of the northern range of hills. Lions, tigers, deer and other wild animals could be seen roaming about freely in the area. Phool Sagar is located about seven kilometres from Bundi city on the forest road. Phool Sagar palace was built in the seventeenth century with a small lake butting with it. Maharao Raja of Bundi used to stay at Phool Sagar palace for short periods during hunting expeditions. It has been a favourite place for the visitors and people of Bundi for excursion and picnics. Phool Sagar palace is now being used as the normal place of residence of the former rulers of Bundi. Next stop on the route is Shikar Burj which was built in the eighteenth century. Shikar Burj was used by Maharao Rajas during their hunting expeditions. Subsequently, it became a popular place for excursion and picnics by the people of the city. Moving further, the road follows the northern bank of Jait Sagar. Jait Sagar is an artificial lake developed by the construction of a small dam on the flow path of hill streams. Jait Sagar is located about one kilometre from the city and is a popular picnic spot of the city. It can be approached directly from the northern and eastern gates of the city. Jait Sagar was used in the good old days for filling the moats round the walled city.
5. People: Bundi was a very small state, although it ranked very high in the Rajput hierarchy. Educational facilities and municipal and health services were extremely limited. There was no electricity or piped watersupply. People drew water from the wells, baories or tanks. Due to lack of communications the opportunities for employment, trade and commerce were very few. Economy of the state was almost stagnant, which was incidentally, a reflection of the state of overall growth and development in the country. The state had a large concentration of pre-historic temples and religious places, scattered all over the state. All sections of the people congregated there for festivities, picnics and excursion throughout the year. Teej festival was a very popular festival of the state and people participated in the celebrations with all the enthusiasm, gaiety and colour. Maharao Raja of Bundi used to ride an elephant and passed through the main streets of the city in a procession with ceremonial bands and select contingents of cavalry and other services. Bundi is also known for its arts and crafts and Bundi style of paintings. The people of Bundi were simple and unassuming folk, tied to their roots and mostly dependent on agriculture, small business and modest services available in the private and public sector. There was complete harmony between different sections of the people and they freely rubbed shoulders with each other. Centuries of isolation, conflicts and struggles under adversity had more or less conditioned them and they led happy and satisfied lives, almost unaware, unconcerned and untouched by the sweeping winds of change that awaited them and most of the people in the country.
6. Our association with Bundi: Our father moved from Banswara to Bundi in the year 1930. He was responsible for the construction of roads and bridges on Bundi Kota road on the eastern side and Bundi Deoli road on west side, thereby linking Bundi to Ajmer, Tonk and Jaipur. He was also responsible for the construction of a bye-pass road on the southern hills of the town thereby facilitating movement of through traffic from Ajmer and Jaipur to Kota without entering the walled city. He was also responsible for electrification of Bundi and providing piped watersupply to the town apart from construction of some prominent buildings in the state. Our father retired from the services of the state in the year 1940.
I had all my early education commencing from Primary to High School at Bundi. Bundi was a small state, but after high school, Bundi State underwrote all may future education without any ifs, buts or bonds. Subsequently, when I was working as Principal of Ajmer Polytechnic I passed through Bundi on numerous occasions and I utilized the opportunities to revive old memories by driving through different routes through the walled city, through the forest road and through the bye-pass. The roots of people always carry an attraction and continue to keep calling.