Royal Cenotaphs
Kshaar Bagh, the royal cenotaph garden beside Jait Sagar Lake, commemorates the Hada Chauhan rulers of Bundi. Its finely carved chhatris were raised across the 17th to 19th centuries in a quiet garden setting.
The Bundi Palace complex is built into the steep side of the Aravalli hills and dominates the town of Bundi below.
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Above the Palaces and occupying the
strategic hilltop position sits the Taragarh
Fort (Star Fort).
The Garh Palace complex and the Taragarh Fort are characteristic of Rajput settlements, with the fortified structure on top of the hill to control the territory and the palace complex overlooking the city and providing a symbol of power.
The monumental complex perched on the hillside is a succession of separate overlapping structures added to and modified by various rulers over the centuries, each one with its own characteristics.
Hada Rajputs are a major branch of the Chauhan Agnikula (fire dynasty) Rajputs.
The state of Bundi was founded 1241 AD by Rao Deva, after defeating the tribal Bunda Meena. In 1298 AD he first commissioned the fort site and Rao Bar Singh completed the main construction of the fort in 1354 AD.
Construction of the palace complex began in the 15th century and continued into the early 20th century as successive rulers added and adapted its courts, halls and painted chambers.
Read the history →
Discover Garh Palace, Taragarh Fort and the living heritage of Bundi.
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The monumental complex is a succession of separate overlapping structures added to and modified by various rulers over the centuries.
The walls and ceilings are adorned with murals painted in gold and silver leaf, executed with natural mineral pigments that have retained their brilliance for centuries.
These paintings date to around 1780 CE and depict court ceremonies, elephant combats, religious processions, musical assemblies, and moments of royal leisure.
Bundi School of Art →Four painted spaces reveal the range of Bundi's palace art, from intimate chambers to richly layered narrative walls.
The palace experience extends from the hilltop fort to the quiet royal cenotaphs beside Jait Sagar
Kshaar Bagh, the royal cenotaph garden beside Jait Sagar Lake, commemorates the Hada Chauhan rulers of Bundi. Its finely carved chhatris were raised across the 17th to 19th centuries in a quiet garden setting.
Rising high above Bundi on a rocky hill, The Taragarh Fort—built around 1354 CE—is one of Rajasthan’s oldest and most striking hill forts. Its massive serpentine-stone walls, winding ramparts, and bastioned gateways once guarded the Hada Chauhan capital and its palaces below
Kuldevi Ashapura Mataji trust was founded on the 20th Dec 2010.
The goal of our trust is to preserve and protect our heritage buildings, including conservation and restoration of these structures, bringing them to their former glory. To revive our heritage and culture by educating and training our local communities, especially the youth who can then seek employment opportunities as Guides and interpreters.
We take a pledge to promote the world renowned Bundi school of art and to encourage the spread of Hadoti miniature wall paintings.
About the Trust →The custodians guiding conservation, cultural revival and the visitor experience at Bundi
Chairman · Kuldevi Ashapura Mataji Trust
Grandson of Maharaja Bahadur Singhji of Bundi, he was elected as Member of Parliament to the 15th Lok Sabha (2009–2014) and served as Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, as well as Minister of State for Defence, Government of India. As a custodian and Sevait of the Trust, he is deeply committed to the development and revival of Bundi’s heritage
Director / Trustee · Kuldevi Ashapura Mataji Trust
Educated at INSEAD, France–Singapore, with a Master in Management. He is leading restoration initiatives at Bundi and the Garh Palace, with a focus on sustainable conservation, cultural revival and the promotion of the Bundi School of Art
Art Director · Garh Palace
Educated at Sanskriti School, with a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College and an LLB from the Faculty of Law, Delhi University. She leads conservation and curation efforts at Garh Palace, with a special focus on reviving Bundi’s painting heritage
Managing Director · Garh Palace
With decades of experience in tourism and a generational connection to Garh Palace, he oversees operations and visitor management, coordinates conservation works and supports cultural initiatives that keep Bundi’s heritage accessible to scholars, artists and visitors worldwide
Garh Palace · Taragarh Fort · Kshaar Bagh