Taragarh Fort Bundi

Built in 1345, Taragarh is one of the most impressive structures in Bundi. While it may be a bit ramshackle and strewn with overgrown vegetation, the palace grounds are a great place for a leisurely stroll. With its curved roofs topping pavilions, excess of temple columns and elephant and lotus motifs, the palace is a tribute to Rajput style. Bundi was once ruled by the Hada Chauhans. Many historians claim that it was once the capital of the great Hadoti Kingdom, which was renowned for its art and sculpture. However, in 1624, Kota separated and became an independent state and this marked the beginning of the downfall of Bundi. Whether that may be, Bundi still retains its charismatic medieval grandeur. And just like Jodhpur and Rajput, the architecture of Bundi also possesses a noticeable bluish hue, designed to keep houses cool during hot summer, in the intricately carved brackets and pillars.

Taragarh Fort History

It is believed that the Taragarh Fort was the first Hill Fort in India. The fort is also one of the oldest forts in Rajasthan that have seen a number of battles and rulers from Rajput, Muslim, Maratha and the British conquerors till date. The fort also has a historic Dargah of Hazrat Miran Syed Hussain Asghar Khangswar who was the governor of Ajmer at the time when Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori was the ruler here. But after the death of Qutubuddin Aibak, Chauhan and Rajput rulers combined attacked the fort and Miran Syed Hussain Asghar Khangswar was killed there.

Architecture and Attractions

Taragarh Fort was very popular for its tunnels crossing the entire hillside. However, these tunnels are now unreachable for the want of proper maps of Rajasthan. The main of its ramparts is the 16th-century bastion known as the Bhim Burj, on which was once mounted a particularly large cannon called Garbh Gunjam, or ‘Thunder from the Womb’. Taragarh Fort is a mark of previous Chauhan charm and has some huge water tanks in it. These water tanks were built to store water and supply it to the residents during a time of water crisis. The water reservoirs have been fixed out of the rocky base of the fort. There is a Rani Mahal in the fort which is a small palace within the compound, and it is built for the wives and concubines of kings. The Taragarh Mahal has, however, lost most of its charm as the shine of its remarkable mural works and the marked glass windows have entirely washed-out away within the time. The Taragarh fort also has a Miran Saheb ki Dargah. He was once governor of the fort and died in an encounter. This apartment is located in Nagpahari of Aravalli ranges, and the fort describes attractive archaeology and history. The gateway to the fort is designed by wild elephants. The huge reservoirs carved out of rock and Bhim Burj, the largest battlement, on which is mounted a cannon.

Monuments in Bundi

Monuments in Bundi It is popularly believed that Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling penned part of his famous novel ‘Kim’ in Bundi. In fact, so impressed was he by the place, that this is what he wrote about the Bundi palace: ‘Jaipur Palace may be called the Versailles of India … Jodhpur’s House of strife, gray towers on red rock, is the work of giants, but the Palace of Bundi, even in broad daylight, is such a palace as men build for themselves in uneasy dreams – the work of goblins rather than of men.’ Bundi is a magnificent town located around 36 kilometres from Kota. Dotted with palaces and forts, the place has a fairy tale quality about it. Bundi’s charm lies in its location –surrounded by orchards of orange, guava, pomegranate and mango trees, flanked by the Aravalli range and rivers and lined by fields of cotton, barley and wheat. Situated far from the crowds, it is the simple rural folk that lend Bundi its allure. Bundi was once ruled by the Hada Chauhans. Many historians claim that it was once the capital of the great Hadoti Kingdom, which was renowned for its art and sculpture. However, in 1624, Kota separated and became an independent state and this marked the beginning of the downfall of Bundi. Whether that may be, Bundi still retains its charismatic medieval grandeur. And just like Jodhpur and Rajput, the architecture of Bundi also possesses a noticeable bluish hue, designed to keep houses cool during hot summer, in the intricately carved brackets and pillars.