The sight of Bundi town from the Bundi Fort was breathtaking and I could not take my eyes off the sea of blue houses surrounding a lake in front of a hill. It is also noteworthy that Bundi is as much a Blue City as Jodhpur. The blue color of the walls is a prerogative of the Brahmin families and this is a tradition.
So I stayed back for another day and went around the old town. I marveled at the various places as I roamed the streets of Bundi aimlessly since it was a joy to walk.
I passed through a series of gates some of which were carved and others painted with interesting names like Meera Gate and Lanka Gate.
As I kept walking the places became more interesting with these tiny but vibrantly painted Bangles store and the adjacent tailorâs shop.
The walls are filled with joyous and colorful figures. Some houses like the one in the photo below have their entire facade painted.
The groom on a horse or riding an elephant with âShubh Vivahâ in Devanagari script to indicate that there is a marriage ceremony in the family. The floral pattern in the border stripes that adorn both the entrance doors of this house was enchanting.
On the next turn of this lane I had a feeling full of excitement when I was walking looking for a tea shop and suddenly came across this multi-pillar temple painted with vibrant colors. I had no option but to stop dead in my tracks, marvel at the creation, and in the process delayed my eventual destination because I simply couldnât stop clicking photos of these places.
I noted that the walls of the houses and also public facilities in the town were all painted in vivid colors. Whereas in most other kingdoms of Rajasthan the royalty had patronized art in the form of paintings and sculpture, the Bundi school of paintings is not confined to the ruling classes or the elite but has spilled over to the streets. The Krishna Tea Shop is a shining example.
A unique shop that I found only in Bundi was government-authorized weed or Marijuana shops.
What sets apart Bundi is the fact that the town is like a living, breathing, art gallery. Not very far away from the Bundi fort is this compelling statue of the Shiv Prasad elephant I could not escape. The story of this royal creature is proudly painted by the residents of Bund.
All-in-all, my impression of Bundi is one of a smaller but more intimate artistic experience, compared to the more opulent palaces and forts elsewhere in Rajasthan.
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