India 15 - Rajasthan (Chapter)

Rajasthan

SOUTHERN

R AJASTHAN

Rajasthan

TOURS

& A CT iViTiES

Rajasthan

BUND

i

T ̈Tours ̈& ̈Activities

Kukki’s ̈World ̈ TOURS
(%9828404527; http://www.kukkiworld.com; h8.30am-
5pm) Passionate amateur archaeologist OP
‘Kukki’ Sharma conducts tours of the sur-
rounding countryside, showing visitors the
numerous prehistoric rock paintings he has
found over the years, and swinging by the
odd tribal village en route. If you’re on your
own, Kukki will take you on the back of his
motorbike at no extra cost. If you are in a
group of two or more, you’ll need to hire a
car (about ₹1000 for a full day). Kukki has
a ‘pay whatever you feel is fair’ fee system.
As a guideline, other guides in Rajasthan
charge between ₹500 and ₹800 per day.

4 ̈Sleeping

Haveli ̈Elephant ̈Stable ̈HER iTAGE GUESTHOUSE $
(%9928154064; [email protected]; r
₹250-350) This basic but unique guesthouse
used to house 15 royal elephants, but is now
a shanty home-from-home for backpack-
ers with a sense of history. The six rooms
are simple affairs, with concrete walls and
floors (but 20ft-high ceilings!) and only one

has hot water in its attached bathroom. But

your hosts Raj and Neema are wonderfully

welcoming (as well as being good cooks)

and the huge garden – dotted with elephant

tether stones – is a great place to hang out.

Haveli ̈Uma ̈Megh ̈GUESTHOUSE $

(%2442191; [email protected]; r without

bathroom ₹200-350, r ₹400-650 ) Wonderfully

charming, albeit somewhat dilapidated,

this welcoming guesthouse has some pokey

rooms, but others that are bright and breezy

with lake views. The large well-kept lakeside

garden is perfect for food, tea or just lazing

around in.

RN ̈Haveli ̈ GUESTHOUSE $

(%2443278, 9784486854; rnhavelibundi@ya-

hoo.co.in; Rawle ka Chowk; s/d without bathroom

₹200/300, s/d ₹400/500, with AC ₹700/800;

a) This old, slightly rundown house, with

a cute garden where you eat your meals, has

reasonably well-decorated rooms and deli-

cious home cooking. A sound budget choice.

oHaveli ̈Braj ̈Bhushanjee ̈HER iTAGE HOTEl $$

(%2442322; http://www.kiplingsbundi.com; r ₹750-4500;

aW) This rambling, authentic, 200-year-old

haveli is run by the very helpful and knowl-

edgable Braj Bhushanjee family, descend-

ants of the former prime ministers of Bundi.

It’s an enchanting place with original stone

interiors (plenty of low doorways), splendid

rooftop views, beautiful and well-preserved

murals, and all sorts of other historic and

valuable artefacts. The terrific range of ac-

commodation includes some lovely, recently

modernised rooms that are still in tradi-

tional style.

Haveli ̈Katkoun ̈ GUESTHOUSE $$

(%2444311; http://havelikatkoun.free.fr; s from

₹350, d ₹500-1800; a) A reasonably modern

courtyard home that’s been turned into a

friendly family guesthouse with spotless

rooms, hot-water showers and some palace

views.

Kasera ̈Heritage ̈View ̈ GUESTHOUSE $$

(%2444679; http://www.kaseraheritageview.com; s/d

from ₹500/700; aiW) Friendly, welcoming

guesthouse with bright, spacious, spotlessly

clean rooms, a rooftop cafe with sweeping

views and wi-fi throughout. Its nearby sister

property, Kasera ̈Paradise, has similar ac-

commodation options (although rooms are

slightly gloomier) and is topped by the excel-

lent restaurant Out ̈of ̈the ̈Blue.

Bundi

æSights

1 BundiPalace......................................B 2

2 NagarSagarKund..............................C3

3 Raniji-ki-Baori.....................................C4

4 SukhMahal..........................................C1

5 Taragarh..............................................B 1

ØActivities,Courses&Tours

6 Kukki'sWorld.....................................B2

ÿSleeping

7 HaveliBrajBhushanjee......................A2

8 HaveliElephantStable.......................B2

9 HaveliKatkoun...................................A 2

10 HaveliUmaMegh...............................A2

11 KaseraHeritageView.........................A 2

12 NawalSagarPalace...........................A2

13 RNHaveli............................................B2

úEating

14 OutoftheBlue...................................B 2

15 RainbowCafe.....................................A2

16 Tom&Jerry........................................B2

ûDrinking&Nightlife

17 Bundi'sCoffeeComforts...................B3

ïInformation

18 BundiPalaceEntrance.......................B2

19 RoshanTour&Travel........................B 2