VirgilBugnion41 at 06:08, 9 April 2026

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{{Short description|Princely state of India}}
{{pp-move-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox former country
| area_km2 = 5,750
| stat_pop1 = 216,722
| s1 = Republic of India
| footnotes = {{EB1911|wstitle=Bundi}}
| event_end = [[Instrument of accession|Accession]] in<br>Dominion of India
| year_end = 1949
| year_start = 1241
| stat_year1 = 1931
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| government_type = [[Monarchy]]
| today = [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
| motto = "धर्म के जीत हो, अधर्म का नाश हो"<br/>"Dharm ke jīt ho, adharm kā nāsh ho"
| englishmotto = ([[English language|English]]: Let righteousness prevail, iniquity perish)
| title_leader = [[Rai (title)|Rao]]/[[Maharao]]
| year_leader1 = 1554–1585
| leader1 = [[Rao Surjan Singh|Surjan Singh]] {{small|(first)}}
| year_leader2 = 1945–1949
| leader2 = [[Bahadur Singh Bundi|Bahadur Singh]] {{small|(last)}}
| capital = [[Bundi]]
| map_caption = Bundi State in the [[Imperial Gazetteer of India]].
| image_map = Jhalawar-Tonk map.jpg
| image_coat = Bundi State Coat of Arms.png
| image_flag = Flag of Bundi.svg
| conventional_long_name = Bundi State
| flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
}}
[[File:Bundi-Garh Palace-20131015.jpg|thumb|270px|View of the Garh Palace in Bundi]]
[[File:Bundi-Garh Palace-Chitrasala GVN-20131015.jpg|thumb|270px|Garh Palace Chitrasala]]
[[File:11 Maharao Bhao Singh riding an elephant. Ca. 1675, Bundi, Ashmolean.jpg|thumb|270px|Maharao Bhao Singh riding an elephant. c. 1675]]
[[File:21 Maharao Umed Singh of Bundi, Bundi, circa 1770 Christie's.jpg|thumb|270px|Maharao Umed Singh of Bundi]]
[[File:A Maharahja in His Harem, the ruler seated on a dais supended from the chandelier above, frolicking with six courtesans, from Bundi.jpg|thumb|270px|The Maharaja in his harem]]
'''Bundi State,''' founded by Hada Rao Devda (ruler of the [[Hada Chauhan]] dynasty), was a [[princely state]] in India. The former state was located in modern-day [[Rajasthan]]. It was ruled by [[Hada Chauhan]] Rajputs.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_086.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 80.]</ref>

The last ruler of Bundi State signed the accession to join the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]] in 1949.

==History==
[[File:The town and pass of Bundi (Rajputana).jpg|thumb|Watercolour painting of the town and pass of Bundi in Rajasthan, by an anonymous artist working in the British school, c. 1840.]]
[[File:Sukh Niwas Palace, Bundi, circa 1900.jpg|thumb|220px|Sukh Niwas Palace on the edge of the Jait Sagar tank at Bundi, c. 1900]]

===Medieval era===
The region was governed by Rao Deva, who took over Bundi in 1241, renaming the surrounding area as Haravati or Haroti. For the next two centuries, the Hadas of Bundi were the vassals of the Sisodias of Mewar and ruled by the title of [[Rao (title)|Rao]] until 1569, when Emperor [[Akbar]] conferred the title of Rao Raja upon [[Rao Surjan Singh]] after the surrender of Ranthambore Fort and his submission. In 1632, [[Rao Raja Chattar Sal]] became the ruler, he built the [[Keshav Rai Temple|temple of Keshav Rai Temple]] at [[Keshoraipatan]] and Chathra Mahal at [[Bundi]]. He became king of Bundi after his grandfather Rao Ratan Singh, as his father Gopinath died while Ratan Singh was still ruling. He saw service with the Mughal forces as head of his [[Hada Chauhan]] Rajput troop and was considered an integral part of Mughal army by [[Shahjahan]]. Rao Chattar Sal was trusted by [[Dara Shikoh]] with governorship of Delhi, a rare privilege for a [[Hindu]]. He remained loyal to Shahjahan and Dara Shikoh during the rebellion of [[Aurangzeb]] despite many temptations and even threats from Aurangzeb. Rao Chattar Sal died fighting as the head of his Hada Rajput troops<ref>{{cite book |author1=Crump, Vivien |author2=Toh, Irene |title=Rajasthan |location=London |publisher=Everyman Guides |year=1996 |isbn=1-85715-887-3 |page=291}}</ref> in the [[Battle of Samugarh]] in 1658 along with his youngest son Bharat Singh.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sodhi, Jiwan |title=A Study of Bundi School of Painting |location=India |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1999 |isbn=81-7017-347-7 |page=29}}</ref> Rao Bhao Singh (1658–1678) the eldest son of Chhattar Sal succeeded his father to the throne of Bundi. In 1707, [[Bahadur Shah I]] conferred the title of Maharao Raja upon Raja Budh Singh.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_087.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v.9, p. 80-81]</ref>

===British era===
[[File:View looking along a bazaar at Bundi taken by Gunpatrao Abajee Kale, c.1900..jpg|thumb|View looking along a bazaar at Bundi taken by Gunpatrao Abajee Kale, c.1900.]]
[[File:Palace and Fortress of Boondee.jpg|thumb|right|Palace and fortress at Bundi (1832)]]
In 1804 Rao Raja Bishan Singh (1773–1821) gave valuable assistance to Colonel Monson in his disastrous retreat before [[House of Holkar|Holkar]], in revenge for which the [[Maratha Empire]] and Pindaris continually ravaged his state and forced the kingdom to pay tribute up to 1817. Consequently, Bishan Singh made a [[subsidiary alliance]] with the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[East India Company]] on 10 February 1818, which brought him under its [[British protectorate|protection]]. was responsible for the creation of the pleasure palace of Sukh Niwas on the outskirts of Bundi.

Maharao Raja Ram Singh (1821–89) grew up to be a much-respected ruler who initiated economic and administrative reforms and established schools for the teaching of Sanskrit. On the throne for 68 years, he was described as "the most conservative prince in [a] conservative Rajputana."<ref name="Times 1927">The Times, 30 July 1927, page 12, Issue 44647.</ref> His rule was popular and beneficial; and though during the mutiny of 1857 his attitude was equivocal, he continued to enjoy the confidence of the British, being created G.C.S.I. and a counselor of the empire in 1877 and C.I.E. in 1878. He was succeeded by his adopted son [[Raghubir Singh of Bundi|Raghubir Singh]] (1889–1927), who was made a K.C.S.I. in 1897 and a G.C.I.E. in 1901. His reign was blighted by two disastrous famines. Despite his best efforts at alleviation, the population of his kingdom was reduced from some 258,000 to 171,000 by 1901 due to death and emigration.<ref name="Times 1927"/>

Maharao Bahadur Singh (1945–77) also supported the British and served in the Burma campaign, where he earned the Military Cross for his gallantry before succeeding to the throne. He was a guest at 1947 [[wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref>Royal Collection: Seating plan for the Ball Supper Room http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/royalwedding1947/object.asp?grouping=&exhibs=NONE&object=9000366&row=82&detail=magnify</ref>

===Accession to India===
At the time of the [[partition of India]] in 1947, the British abandoned their suzerainty over the princely states, which were left to decide whether to remain independent or to accede to the newly independent [[Dominion of India]] or to Pakistan. The ruler of the state of Bundi decided to [[Instrument of Accession|accede]] to India, which later became the Union of India. This brought the internal affairs of Bundi under the control of Delhi. Bundi's last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 7 April 1949.<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html Princely States of India]</ref>

==Coat of arms==
The [[coat of arms]] of Bundi was a shield depicting a warrior emerging from flames, signifying the creation-legend of the ruling [[Chouhan]] clan of [[Rajputs]] which was supposedly created from fire. The shield is flanked by cows representing [[dharma]] or righteousness; it is crowned by a hand holding a [[Katar (dagger)|Katar]].<ref>''The Princely Armory.'' Publ. by The Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. Calcutta. 1877</ref>

==Rulers==
The rulers of Bundi State belonged to [[Hada Chauhan]] dynasty of Rajputs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html#Bundi|title=Indian Princely States}}</ref>

===Rao Raja===
* 1554–1585: [[Rao Surjan Singh|Surjan Singh]]
* 1585–1608: Bhoj Singh
* 1608–1632: Ratan Singh
* 1632–1658: [[Rao Raja Chattar Sal|Chattar Sal Singh]]
* 1658–1682: Bhao Singh
* 1682–1696: Anirudh Singh
* 1696–1707: [[Budh Singh]] (b. 16.. – d. 1739)
===Maharao Raja===
* 1707–1730: [[Budh Singh]] (b. 16.. – d. 1739)
* 1730–1749: [[Dalel Singh (ruler)|Dalel Singh]]
* 1749–1770: Umaid Singh (1st time) (b. 1729 – d. 1804)
* 1770–1773: Ajit Singh (d. 1773)
* 1773–1804: Umaid Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
* 1804 – 14 May 1821: Bishan Singh (b. 1773 – d. 1821)
* 14 May 1821 – 28 Mar 1889: [[Ram Singh Bundi|Ram Singh]] (b. 1811 – d. 1889) (from 1 Jan 1877, Sir Ram Singh)
* 28 Mar 1889 – 26 Jul 1927: [[Raghubir Singh Bundi|Raghubir Singh]] (b. 1869 – d. 1927)
(from 1 Jan 1894, Sir Raghubir Singh)
* 26 Jul 1927 – 23 Apr 1945: [[Ishwari Singh]] (b. 1893 – d. 1945) (from 11 May 1937, Sir Ishwari Singh)
* 23 Apr 1945 – 15 Aug 1949: [[Bahadur Singh Bundi|Bahadur Singh]] (b. 1920 – d. 1977)
===Titular===
* : [[Bahadur Singh Bundi|Bahadur Singh]]
=== Pretender ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Reign
!Succession
!Note
!Reference
|-
|[[Ranjit Singh of Bundi|Ranjit Singh]]
|1977–2010
|Son of [[Bahadur Singh of Bundi|Bahadur Singh]]
|Adopted by [[Bahadur Singh of Bundi|Bahadur Singh]] from Kapren
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Soszynski |first=Henry |title=BUNDI |url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/b/bundi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703190306/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/b/bundi.html |archive-date=2017-07-03 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=members.iinet.net.au}}</ref>
|-
|Brigadier Bhupesh Singh, SC, VSM
|2021–present
|Installed by a Paag committee of local Rajputs. His succession was opposed by the kinsmen of [[Ranjit Singh of Bundi|Ranjit Singh]].
| rowspan="2" |Both claim to be the twenty-sixth Maharao.
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-02 |title=Brigadier Bhupesh Singh crowned in Bundi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nsg-commander-brigadier-bhupesh-singh-hada-26th-king-bundi-1887028-2021-12-12 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-03 |title=Brigadier Bhupesh Singh is the new 'King' of Bundi |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/kota/bundi/news/brigadier-bhupesh-hada-declared-26th-maharao-of-bundi-129181825.html |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rajasthan: Bundi Rajputs choose Brigadier Bhupesh Singh Hada as their ‘king’|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/bundi-rajputs-choose-brigadier-as-their-king/articleshow/88215695.cms|work=The Times of India|date=2021-12-13|access-date=2026-01-24|issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=IANS |date=2022-04-10 |title=Bundi's royal tangle sorted out with new Maharaja's coronation |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/states/1503059169-1503059169.html |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=The Statesman |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Vanshvardhan Singh]]
|2 April 2022–present
|[[Ishwari Singh]] had adopted [[Bahadur Singh of Bundi|Bahadur Singh]] and Kesri Singh, sons of Dhanurdhar Singh of Kapren. The former succeeded him as the Maharao Raja, and in turn, [[Bahadur Singh of Bundi|Bahadur]]’s son, [[Ranjit Singh of Bundi|Ranjit Singh]], followed him on the throne. Twelve years after the death of Ranjit Singh, [[Vanshvardhan Singh|Vanshvardhan]], a grandson of Kesri Singh, was chosen by the wider family and the former aristocracy to succeed him as the [[Maharao|Maharao Raja]], after a common Rajput, Bhupesh Singh, had been installed by local [[Rajput|Rajputs]].
[[Bhanwar Jitendra Singh|Jitendra Singh]], maternal grandson of [[Bahadur Singh of Bundi|Bahadur Singh]], and [[Brijraj Singh]], the [[Maharao]] of [[Kota state|Kotah]], both supported his succession.
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rajasthan: 34-year-old Vanshvardhan Singh crowned the 26th Maharao Raja of Bundi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/34-yr-old-vanshvardhan-singh-crowned-the-26%3Csup%3Eth%3C/sup%3E-maharao-raja-of-bundi/articleshow/90616870.cms?utm_source=IndianRajputs.com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Indian-Rajputs-Articles|work=The Times of India|date=2022-04-03|access-date=2026-01-24|issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|}
==See also==

* [[Kota State]]
* [[Maratha Empire]]
* [[Rajputana]]
* [[History of Rajasthan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015904/http://omstamps.com/index.php?route=blog%2Farticle&article_id=20 Silver Rupee of Bundi]}}
*{{commonscat inline}}
{{Princely states of India}}

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[[Category:Bundi district]]
[[Category:Princely states of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:1342 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1949 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:14th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1342]]
[[Category:Rajput history]]
[[Category:Hindu states]]
[[Category:Bundi State]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1949]]

Bundi State - Revision history

VirgilBugnion41 at 06:08, 9 April 2026