Day 8 - Arrival in Bundi

My 0430 alarm got me to a train (only 2 services a day) which brought me to Bundi - the wedding venue - by 9am, 150 miles further east of Udaipur. Bundi is a much smaller town, perhaps more typical than the previous tourist stops, but it too has a massive palace & fort overlooking it.

I’d ordered some Kurta Pyjamas to wear at the wedding, but the host texted to say they were not going to be here on time, so I stepped into a shop and bought some! I then got a text later to say they’d arrived after all, so it looks like I’ll have a choice of outfits for 1 of the wedding’s 4 phases.

Met a young Portuguese couple, who were also on my train and happened to be in my guesthouse too. Together we wandered around the palace and to the fort above. This palace, constructed from around 1600, was nothing like the others I’ve seen. Bundi (or Garh) Palace is a pretty tired place, vast but empty of treasure and sadly in gradual decline.

Monkeys are also prolific here, both langur monkeys, and rhesus macaques, so our accommodation is surrounded by razor wire and doors need to be kept shut!

Off out tonight with a couple from the UK, here for the wedding too. I think we 3 will be the only non-Indians in the 800 strong party on Saturday. The fun starts tomorrow from midday…Read more