This palace is inside the Taragarh Fort and is also known as Bundi Palace. This is the main palace of Bundi and has many small palaces in it like Ratan Mahal, Chhatar Mahal, Badal Mahal, Phool Mahal etc. The entry to the Garh Palace is through Hathi Pol. There is a combined ticket for the fort that is Rs 80 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners. The palace is worth a visit only with a guide who will explain all places and will tell history of the palace and associated stories. We had with us the famous guide of Bundi, Kukki (Actually his son Ashwini) who explained every thing with great detail. I would recommend a guide for sure that would make your visit much more worthy. The paintings of Phool Mahal and Badal Mahal were really enchanting. Do visit the bedroom of the king which is normally locked but will be opened on request. It has exquisite wall and ceiling paintings where golden colour has been used in abundance. The guide told us that real gold has been used in these paintings. Main attraction of Bundi, worth a visit.

We had read a whole variety of things in advance both positive and negative. The building is part awesome part fairytale, maybe built by goblins as Kipling suggested! Yes it is crumbling and yes not brilliantly maintained but somehow this adds to its charm. Also please think carefully before spending out on a guide. Many reviews suggest it is essential and indeed that you won’t gain access to the best rooms with the best murals without one. We found this to be nonsense. The palace staff not only showed us to the locked rooms but opened up and talked with real knowledge about the pictures and history....without payment or request for payment. Some of the murals are damaged but many are stunning. We walked on up to the fort above. Yes a steep climb but only 15 minutes walk and we were not troubled by monkeys and though the top bit is a bit derelict and uncared for you still had a sense that you were there with the ghosts of history and a sense of ages past. So, a very good visit and very helpful and polite staff.

Such a shame that the Palace is falling into ruins whilst there is a legal dispute over ownership. The State should seize it before it turns to dust! We enjoyed our brief tour, fab views of the city below and the forts on the hills either side. The decorative murals in the only internal part which we’re allowed to access are soon to be restored (so one’s told) but what about the fabric to which they are attached? Bundi itself is a dusty and filthy town, will it pull its socks up if the Palace is restored?