State of Rajasthan

Trip Start Sep 06, 2006
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Trip End Nov 20, 2006


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Friday, October 6, 2006

Peaceful, friendly, friendly Bundi! Cool heritage town with a former Maharaja's Palace and fort on the hilltop. Built in the 1600's, the palace is all still structurally sound but has been ransacked for it's gold leaf painting, ivory mosaic and mirrorwork and reeks of monkey piss - Macaque monkeys are seriously scarey! Although, there are still amazing private Maharaja/Maharani rooms where the murals and marble mosaic and carving are really impressive - must have been over-the-top-beautiful in it's day. Was beautiful watching the sunset over Bundi from the Maharani's private balcony. Although our guide did mention to us that the monkeys get even more aggressive after dark and when they started jumping around in their big gangs and getting boisterious, we armed ourselves with rocks (our guide with an iron bar) and got outta there fast!

We stayed at a renovated, 350yr old Haveli, lovingly decorated with with an ecclectic mix of Indian paintings, murals, lamps, Hindu goodluck charms, etc
0809 Squirrel and Banana pancakes for Breakfast
0809 Squirrel and Banana pancakes for Breakfast
. The owners were a really entertaining, cheeky, young couple who stayed up late with us both nights with talk of Palace ghosts and business improvement ideas for their website. We also met a friendly squirrel on the rooftop restaurant - came right up to our plates to search for crumbs - very cute (they're minature squirrels/palm squirrels).

Another day we got a rickshaw out to an old 'pleasure palace' where Rudyard Kipling once stayed and then to the 84 pillared Cenotaph. Bundi people were so nice - was weird. Our rickshaw driver turned volunteer guide almost refused our tip and our Palace guide (who spent an hour with us) was beaming and extra thankful when he got his tip. People even greeted us on the street saying "welcome to Bundi" and "welcome to India" - then walked off - no hassling to go their shop or tour or anything! So, we left Bundi with a really nice memory of the place. It's not on the usual tourist route, so hasn't been cashed up/con-infested like all the other places we have been. Highly recommend visiting.
Bundi hotels Slideshow

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