Bundi Utsav 2026: Dates, Programme and Rajasthan Travel Guide

Featured image: Daniel Villafruela / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized).

Bundi Utsav 2026 is scheduled for 27 to 29 November 2026 in Bundi, the Hadoti town in south-east Rajasthan known for its hillside Garh Palace, Taragarh Fort and carved stepwells. The dates come from Rajasthan Tourism's official fairs and festivals calendar, and a local report from 18 October confirms that the tourism department kept those dates even after the district asked to move the festival.

This guide covers what is confirmed, what the festival usually includes, how Bundi fits into a late-November Rajasthan trip after the Pushkar camel fair, and the practical details that make a short visit work. The detailed day-wise programme is normally released close to the festival, so treat event timings as unconfirmed until the district or tourism office publishes them.

Bundi Utsav 2026 dates: what is confirmed

• Dates: Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November 2026 (Rajasthan Tourism calendar 2024-2030).
• Place: Bundi town, with events traditionally spread across the old city, palace area and lakes.
• Organisers: Department of Tourism, Rajasthan, with the Bundi district administration.
• Entry: public festival events are generally open; check individual shows locally.

Why the confirmation matters: according to a report in Nagrik Abhivyakti dated 18 October 2026, the district administration had proposed shifting the festival to 5-7 December because officials were busy with Panchayati Raj elections. The tourism department declined, citing bookings already made by domestic and foreign visitors and the flow of travellers who come on from the Pushkar fair. So the published 27-29 November window stands.

Rajasthan Tourism describes the festival as being held "after three days of Kartik Purnima". In 2026 Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday 24 November, which lines up neatly with a Friday start. Our Kartik Purnima 2026 guide has the full-moon timings if you plan to reach Rajasthan earlier in the week.

What happens at Bundi Utsav

Rajasthan Tourism's Bundi destination page lists the festival's regular elements. Exact line-ups change each year, but the core usually includes:

• Shobha Yatra: a colourful procession through the old town that opens the festival.
• Arts and crafts fair: stalls for local textiles, paintings, jewellery and handicrafts.
• Classical and folk performances: music and dance programmes in the evenings.
• Ethnic sports and competitions: turban tying, bridal costume and musical band competitions, plus traditional games.
• Cultural exhibition and a closing fireworks display.

The same page notes a ritual linked to the season: early in the morning after the Kartik Purnima full moon, men and women in festive clothes light diyas on the banks of the Chambal river. In 2026 that morning (25 November) comes two days before the official festival window, so if the lamp ritual is important to you, arrive early and check with locals where it is held.

Is it crowded?

Bundi Utsav is much smaller than Pushkar. That is a big part of its appeal: the town is walkable, the palace and stepwells are close to each other, and you can watch a procession from a street corner rather than a packed ground. Rooms in the old town are limited, though, so book once your dates are fixed.

What to see in Bundi between festival events

The festival is a reason to visit, but Bundi's monuments are why people stay an extra day. Rajasthan Tourism highlights these:

• Garh Palace and the Chitrashala: the palace complex rises above the town, and its Chitrashala gallery, built under ruler Umed Singh, holds the miniature murals Bundi is known for. The tourism page lists palace hours as 8 AM to 5 PM, with a small entry fee and optional guides.
• Taragarh Fort: built in 1354, above the palace. Parts are overgrown, so wear proper shoes and avoid going alone late in the day.
• Raniji ki Baori: a multi-storey stepwell built in 1699 by Rani Nathavati, with fine elephant carvings.
• 84 Pillared Cenotaph: commissioned by Rao Anirudh in memory of his wet nurse, Deva; folk performances have been staged here during past festivals.
• Nawal Sagar and Jait Sagar lakes: Nawal Sagar has a half-submerged temple to Varun Dev and reflects the palace; Jait Sagar sits near Taragarh.
• Sukh Mahal: a small summer palace associated, in popular telling, with Rudyard Kipling writing part of Kim.

How to reach Bundi

• By air: Rajasthan Tourism lists Jaipur (Sanganer) airport, about 206 km away, as the nearest airport.
• By rail: Bundi railway station is about 4 km south of the old city. Kota Junction nearby has many more long-distance trains.
• By road: buses run to Bundi from Kota, Jaipur, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Sawai Madhopur and other cities, per the tourism page. Kota is the easiest base if Bundi rooms are full.

Planning a late-November Rajasthan circuit

Rajasthan Tourism's 2026 calendar packs several events into the same fortnight, which makes Bundi easy to combine with other stops:

• Pushkar Fair: 17-24 November, ending on Kartik Purnima.
• Chandrabhaga Fair (Jhalrapatan, Jhalawar): 23-25 November.
• Matsya Festival (Alwar): 25-26 November.
• Bundi Festival: 27-29 November.
• Kumbhalgarh Festival: 1-3 December.

A practical loop is Pushkar for the last fair days, then south-east to Jhalawar or straight to Bundi via Kota. If you want desert scenery as well, Gujarat's Rann Utsav tent city is open through the winter. For the bigger picture, see our India festival calendar for 2026-27 and winter travel guide.

Practical tips

• Layer up: late-November days are pleasant, but early mornings and evenings in Hadoti turn cool.
• Carry cash: craft stalls and small eateries may not take cards, and networks can slow during crowded events.
• Respect temples and stepwells: remove footwear where asked and do not climb on carvings for photos.
• Ask before photographing performers and competition participants.
• Re-check the programme on the Rajasthan Tourism site or with the district tourist office a few days before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

When is Bundi Utsav 2026?

27 to 29 November 2026, according to Rajasthan Tourism's fairs and festivals calendar. A proposal to shift it to 5-7 December was not accepted, as reported on 18 October.

Where is Bundi Utsav held?

In Bundi town, Rajasthan, with events across the old city and lake and palace areas. Venues for each event are announced with the programme.

Is there an entry fee for Bundi Utsav?

Public festival events are usually free to watch. Monuments such as Garh Palace charge their own entry fees.

Can I combine Bundi Utsav with Pushkar Mela?

Yes. Pushkar Fair ends on 24 November and Bundi Utsav starts on 27 November, leaving time to travel via Ajmer and Kota.

Sources: Rajasthan Tourism Fairs and Festivals list 2024-2030 (PDF); Rajasthan Tourism Bundi destination page (festival programme, attractions, how to reach); Nagrik Abhivyakti, 18 October 2026, on the retained dates. Final event timings are set by the organisers.

Featured image: Daniel Villafruela / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Garh Palace and Taragarh Fort, Bundi (2013); not a festival photo.