Bundi (Princely State)

Information

DynastyChauhan
ClanHada
StateRajasthan
Gun Salutes17
AgencyRajputana Agency
Accession7th April 1949
Revenue₹ 33,000,00 (1946)
Area5,750 km²
Privy Purse₹ 281,000
ReligionHinduism
Hindi Nameबुंदी
Last Updated29th Dec, 2023

Present Head/Ruler

H.H. Hadendra Shiromani Deo Sar Buland Rai Maharajadhiraj Maharao Raja Shri Vanshvardhan Singh Hada, 26th Maharao of Bundi, installed on gadi on 2nd April 2022 in Moti Mahal; born on 8th January 1987, son of Maharaj Balbhadra Singhji of Kapren; educated at Daly College, Indore, M.P., and did his graduation from De Montfort University in Leicester, U.K., he represented his school in cricket, football and Rifle Shooting, and won a gold medal in the state championship and represented the Madhya Pradesh team in the Shooting Nationals, three times, he also represented his University for cricket in Leicester, U.K; married on 12th February 2016 to Mayurakshi Singh of Dhanani (Marwar) and has issue, one son.

  • Maharajkumar Shri Vajrnabh Singh, Yuvraj Sahib Bahadur

Short History

The Maharao of Bundi is the head of the Hada lineage of the great clan of Chauhan Rajputs, and the country occupied by this clan has for the last six centuries been known as Hadoti. The Chauhans came from Northern India to Sambhar about the beginning of the 8th century, and after ruling there and at Ajmer, gained the Kingdom of Delhi, which was taken by Muhammed Ghori in 1192. While the Chauhans were ruling at Sambhar towards the end of the 10th century, Lashman Raja alias Manil Rai I, set out to found a kingdom for himself and proceeded south-west to Nadol, where his descendants ruled for two centuries, when Manik Rai II, migrated and settled down in the south east corner of Mewar. Rao Hado or Har Raj, sixth in descent from Manik Rai II, was the eponymous founder of the Hada clan. About 1342, Rao Deva or Deoraj, took the town now called Bundi from the Minas and was acknowledged as their Raja, and is thus considered to be the founder.

His Highness the Maharao Raja maintains a military force of 446 cavalry, 1835 infantry, 144 Guns and is entitled to a Salute of 17 Guns (as of 1892). 

Styles & Titles

H.H. Hadendra Shiromani Deo Sar Buland Rai Maharajadhiraj Maharao Raja (personal name) Bahadur, the Maharao of Bundi, in Rajasthan, India, with the style of His Highness.

Rules of Succession

Male primogeniture, with the right of adoption by the recognized head of the family, on the failure of natural heirs.

Succession of Vanshvardhan Singh as Maharao Raja of Bundi

After the demise of H.H. Maharao Raja Ranjit Singhji Bahadur in 2010, the gadi (throne) had been vacant, so the Rajput biradari (brotherhood) decided to choose the Maharao Raja of Bundi. According to the larger Hada Rajput community and prominent family members close to the Royal Family of Bundi, Rajkumar Vanshvardhan Singh of Kapren was chosen and installed as Maharao Raja of Bundi on 2nd April 2022.

  • Statement of H.H. Maharao Raja Brijraj Singh of Kotah (View)
  • Statement of H.H. Maharaja Jitendra Singh of Alwar (View)
  • Statement of Maharaj Balbhadra Singh of Kapren (View)

Predecessor

  • Rao DEVAJI, 1st Rao of Bundi 1342/1343, founder of Bundi in 1342, married and had issue.
    • Rao Napuji (qv)
    • Rao Harpal, married and had issue.
    • Rao Jaetsi
  • Rao NAPUJI, 2nd Rao of Bundi 1343/- ; married and had issue.
    • Rao Hamuji (qv)
  • Rao HAMUJI, 3rd Rao of Bundi 1384/1400, married and had issue. He died 1400.
    • Rao Birsinghji (qv)
    • Rao Lalla, married and had issue.
      • Rao Novarma, married and had issue.
      • Rao Jaita, married and had issue.
  • Rao BIRSINGHJI, 4th Rao of Bundi 1400/1415, married and had issue.
    • Rao Biruji (qv)
    • Rao Nima
    • Rao Jubdu, married and had issue.
      • Rao Bacha, married and had issue.
        • Rao Sewaji, ancestor of the Mewawat Hada Chauhan clan.
        • Rao Seranji, ancestor of the Sawant Hada Chauhan clan.
  • Rao BIRUJI, 5th Rao of Bundi 1415/1470, married and had issue. He died about 1470.
    • Rao Banduji (qv)
    • Rao Sanda
    • Rao Aka
    • Rao Udoh
    • Rao Chanda
    • Rao Samar
    • Rao Amar
  • Rao BANDUJI, 6th Rao of Bundi 1470/1491, married and had issue. He died 1491.
    • Rao Narayan Das (qv)
    • Rao Nirbudh [Narbad Singh], married and had issue.
      • Rao Raja Surjan Singh (qv)
      • Rani Lakhu Devi, married (as his first wife), Maharana Sangram Singhji I of Udaipur (Mewar), and had issue.
      • Rani Karmavati Devi, married (as his second wife), Maharana Sangram Singhji I of Udaipur (Mewar), and had issue.
  • Rao NARAYAN DAS, 7th Rao of Bundi 1491/1527, married and had issue.
    • Rao Suraj Mal (qv)
    • Maharani Suja Bai, married Maharana Ratan Singhji of Udaipur (Mewar).
  • Rao SURAJ MAL, 8th Rao of Bundi 1527/1531, married (amongst others), a daughter of Maharana Sangram Singhji I of Udaipur (Mewar), and had issue.
    • Rao Surtan Singh (qv)
  • Rao SURTAN SINGH, 9th Rao of Bundi 1531/1544, married (amongst others), (a), Rani Sahiba Sisodniji, daughter of Kunwar Shakta Singh of Udaipur (Mewar). He died sp.
  • Rao RajaSURJAN SINGH, 10th Rao of Bundi 1544/1585, married and had issue.
    • Rao Raja Bhoj Singh (qv)
    • Rao Duda
    • Rao Raimal, ancestor of the Raimalot Hada Chauhan clan, married and had issue.
      • Rao (name unknown), married and had issue.
        • Rao Hari Singh, married and had issue.
          • Thakur Daulat Singh of Kachnaoda
  • Rao Raja BHOJ SINGH, 11th Rao of Bundi 1585/1608, married and had issue.
    • Rao Raja Ratan Singh (qv)
    • Rao Narayan Singh, married and had issue.
      • Rao (name unknown), married and had issue.
        • Thakur Khushal Singh of Karwar, fl.1649. Emperor Shah Jahan in 1649 bestowed upon him pargana of Phasud. He divided the fief into four equal portions between himself (Karwar) and his cousins Amar Singh (Gainta), Jagat Singh (Phasud), and Daulat Singh (Pipalda). 
      • Rao (name unknown), married and had issue.
        • Maharaj Amar Singh of Gainta
          • GENERATIONS
            • Maharaj Nathji of Gainta, distinguished himself in the victory gained at Bhatwara in 1761 by Kotah over Jaipur.
              • Maharaj Sheodan Singh of Gainta. He was one of the Kotah representatives who helped negotiate the treaty with the British Government in 1817. He was rewarded by Government for his services by the gift of an elephaut, ahorse, a robe of honor, and a sword.
                • Maharaj Indar Sal of Gainta
                  • Rao Bahadur Maharaja Madho Singh of Gainta. Born in 1870; educated at Mayo College, Ajmer. He succeeded by adoption in 1881.
                    • Son (name unknown; could be Akhairaj Singh), married and had issue. He died in 1929.
                      • Maharaj Tej Raj Singh, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married Rani Krishna Kumari, daughter of Maharaj Madho Singh, Rawat of Bhindar.
                      • Thakur Jaswant Singh
                • Thakurani Mahtab Kanwar, married Thakur Prem Singh of Sarthal.
                • Thakurani Chiman Kanwar, married Thakur Shaktidan Singh of Ahor.
        • Maharaj Jagat Singh of Phasud
        • Maharaj Daulat Singh of Pipalda
    • Rao Kesho Das, ancestor of the Dhipri family.
  • Rao Raja RATAN SINGH, 12th Rao of Bundi 1608/1632, married and had issue. He died 1632.
    • Kunwar Gopinath Singh, married and had issue.
      • Rao Raja Chhatra Singh (qv)
      • Kunwar Indra Sal of Indargarh, married and had issue (Jalodi, Indargarh and Nimola families).
        • Maharaj Gaj Singh of Indargarh, married and had issue.
          • Maharaj Amar Singh, founder of Khatoli.
      • Maharaja Shri Bairisal Singh Hada, fought and captured the Balwan fort from Gaur Rajputs. He also captured Raidhan, Falodi and Pipalda (1662 A.D.) and spread the area of Bundi Kingdom, married and had issue.
        • Maharaja Shri Fateh Singh Hada of Balwan, married and had issue.
          • Several Generations
            • Maharaj Indar Sal of Raidhan (conferred in 1759, Revenue: 10,550Rs in 1893), born about 1833.
        • Maharaja Shri Jait Singh Hada of Bada Khera. He captured Bada Kera and established it as a separate estate (1692 A.D, Revenue 25,000Rs).
      • Kunwar Mokham Singh of Anterdeh and Maghana, married and had issue.
        • Several Generations
          • Maharaj Balwant Singh, married and had issue.
            • Maharaj Hanwant Singh of Maghana (conferred in 1824, Revenue: 5,251Rs in 1893), (adoptive son), born 1836, Kiladar of Nainwa, Member of the State Council, married and had issue.
              • Maharaj Kalyan Singh, born 1868.
      • Kunwar Maha Singh of Thanoh.
      • Kunwar Mohan Singh of Jitgarh, married and had issue.
        • Maharaj Gordhan Singh, married and had issue.
          • Maharaj Daulat Singh of Rajgarh, married and had issue.
            • SON, married and had issue.
              • Maharaj Nath Singh, married and had issue.
                • SON, married and had issue.
                  • Maharaj Deo Singh of Rajgarh
    • Rao Madho Singh of Kotah.
    • Kunwar Hari Singh of Googore.
    • Kunwar Jaganath Singh, dsp.
  • Rao Raja CHHATRA SINGH, 13th Rao of Bundi 1632/1658, married and had issue. He died 1658.
    • Rao Raja Bhao Singh (qv)
    • Kunwar Bhim Singh of Googore, married and had issue.
      • Kunwar Kishen Singh of Googore, married and had issue.
        • Rao Raja Anirudh Singh (qv)
    • Kunwar Bhagwant Singh of Mow.
    • Kunwar Bharat Singh, died 1658.
    • Maharani Ganga Kunwar, married Maharana Amar Singhji II of Udaipur (Mewar).
    • Rani Lakshman Kanwar, married Raja Bahadur Singh of Khandela.
  • Rao Raja BHAO SINGH, 14th Rao of Bundi 1658/1682, died 1682 sp.
  • Rao Raja ANIRUDH SINGH, 15th Rao of Bundi 1682/1696, married and had issue.
    • Rao Raja Budh Singh (qv)
    • Kunwar Jogh Singh, [married a daughter of Raja Bhim Singhji I of Banera.]
  • Rao Raja BUDH SINGH, 16th Rao of Bundi 1696/1735, married 1stly, a daughter of Raja Bishan Singhji of Amber, married 2ndly, a Chundawat Princess, daughter of Rawat Devi Singh ji of Begun, and had issue (by 2nd wife). Rao Raja Budh Singh lived in Begun for 12 years and died 1739 at Begun. His cenotaph is situated at Baghpura about 09 kms away from Begun. On important occasions the royal family of Bundi still visits and seek blessings at the cenotaph near Begun.
    • Rajkumar Padam Singh, dvpsp.
    • Rao Raja Umaid Singh (by Maharani Chundawat ji of Begun) (qv)
    • Rajkumar Dip Singh, born 173x, he was granted the estate of Kapren and the title of Maharajdhiraj, and succeeded there as Maharajdhiraj Shri Dip Singhji of Kapren; married and had issue.
      • Several generations
        • Maharaj Sahib Dhanurdhar Singh of Kapren, married and had issue.
          • Rajkumar Bahadur Singh, adopted by Major HH Maharao Raja Shri Sir Ishwari Singhji Bahadur in 1933, and succeeded there as Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri Bahadur Singhji Bahadur of Bundi (see below)
          • Capt. Maharaj Kesri Singh of Kapren, adopted by Major HH Maharao Raja Shri Sir Ishwari Singhji Bahadur of Bundi in 1933, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 1946, Rani Devendra Kanwar, born 1928, elder daughter of Rawat Himmat Singhji of Bhainsrorgarh, and his first wife, Rani Suraj Kanwar, and had issue.
            • Maharaj Balbhadra Singhji of Kapren, married Rani Rohini Kumari of Baghera, and has issue, one son and three daughters.
              • Rajkumar Vanshvardhan Singh, educated at Daly College, Indore, M.P., and did his graduation from De Montfort University in Leicester, U.K., he represented his school in cricket, football and Rifle Shooting, and won a gold medal in the state championship and represented the Madhya Pradesh team in the Shooting Nationals, three times, he also represented his University for cricket in Leicester, U.K.
              • Rajkumari Mridula Kumari, married Rajkumar Prabal Pratap Singhji of Banswara, and has issue, one son.
              • Rajkumari Kaushika Kumari, married Kunwar Shakti Singh of Dungarpur, son of Maharaj Anirudh Singh of Dungarpur, and his wife, Baiji Lal Veena Kumari of Diggi.
              • Rajkumari Kritika Kumari, educated at Daly College, Indore, M.P., and did her Masters degree in Economics from Bangalore University, she is a keen squash player and has represented her state at the national level.
            • Thakurani Shrimati Narendra Kumari, married Thakur Narendra Singhji of Bidwal, and has issue.
    • Rajkumar Bhawani Singh, born 1720, putative son of the first wife, but the paternity was questioned and eventually the child was put to death in 1729.
  • Rao Raja DALEL SINGH, 17th Rao of Bundi 1735/1749, son of Maharaj Salim Singh Hada of Karwar, married (amongst others), a daughter of Sri Sawai Maharaja Jai Singhji I of Jaipur.
  • Rao Raja UMAID SINGHJI, 18th Rao of Bundi 1749/1770 and again 1773/1804, born 14th June 1729, married and had issue. He died 1804.
    • Rao Raja Ajit Singhji (qv)
    • SON, married and had issue.
      • Several generations
        • SON, married and had issue.
          • Maharaj Onkar Singh of Dugari (conferred in 1874, Revenue: 20,000Rs in 1893), born about 1867, married and had issue.
            • Maharaj Shiv Singh, born about 1883.
        • Maharaj Shivdan Singh, married and had issue.
          • Maharaj Shivraj Singh
  • Rao Raja AJIT SINGHJI, 19th Rao of Bundi 1770/1773, married and had issue. He died 1773.
    • Rao Raja Bishen Singhji (qv)
  • Rao Raja BISHEN SINGHJI, 20th Rao of Bundi 1804/1821, married (amongst others), a Princess of Kishangarh (as well as three others), and had issue. He died 1821.
    • HH Maharao Raja Ram Singhji Sahib Bahadur (by Kishangarh Rani) (qv)
    • Maharaj Gopal Singh, born 1812.
  • HH Maharao Raja RAM SINGHJI Sahib Bahadur, 21st Maharao of Bundi 1821/1889, born 1811, married (amongst others) (a), HH Maharani Gulab Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Shyam Singh of Bissau, married (b), HH Maharani Chandrabhan Kunwari, daughter of Raja Balbhadra Singh of Nagod, married (c), another Maharani from Nagod, and had issue, as well as natural issue. He died 1889.
    • HH Maharao Raja Raghubir Singhji Sahib Bahadur (by a Nagod Maharani) (qv)
    • Maharaj Rangraj Singh of Bamangaon (conferred in 1884, Revenue: 20,000Rs in 1893), born 1871, married and had issue.
      • HH Maharani Kalyan Kanwar, married (as his third wife), HH Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Sir Jawahir Singhji Bahadur of Jaisalmer, and had issue.
    • Maharaj Raghuraj Singh of Bansi (conferred in 1884, Revenue: 20,000Rs in 1893), born 1875, married Rani Suraj Kanwar, daughter of Maharaj Shri Zorawar Singhji of Raoti, and had issue.
      • Major HH Maharao Raja Shri Sir Ishwari Singhji Bahadur (qv)
    • Maharaj Arjun Singh of Gudha (natural son) (conferred in 1884, Revenue: 10,000Rs in 1893), born 1831, married and had issue.
      • Maharaj Ranbir Singh, born 1882.
    • Maharaj Gordhan Singh of Nimana (natural son) (conferred in 1886, Revenue: 10,000Rs in 1893), born 1835.
    • Maharaj Jagannath Singh of Matonda (natural son) (conferred in 1854, Revenue: 10,000Rs in 1893), born 1850, married and had issue.
      • Maharaj Harnath Singh, born 1872.
      • Maharaj Randhir Singh, born 1882.
  • Colonel HH Maharao Raja Shri Sir RAGHUBIR SINGHJI Sahib Bahadur, 22nd Maharao of Bundi 1889/1927, born 21st September 1869, K.C.I.E. [cr.1894], K.C.S.I. [cr.1897], G.C.I.E. [cr.1.1.1901], G.C.V.O. [cr.10.1.1912], G.C.S.I. [cr.3.6.1919], married 1stly, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of HH Maharaja Takhat Singhji of Jodhpur, married 2ndly, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Rathore Maharaj Mohabat Singh of Jodhpur (a niece of the first wife), married 3rdly, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Rathore Raja Gopal Singh of Jhabua, married 4thly, 1902 in Jodhpur, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Maharaj Kishor Singh of Jodhpur (a niece of the first wife and cousin of the second wife), married 5thly, 2nd February 1903, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, she died 31st December 1904 at Bundi, a daughter of HH Maharaja Raghuraj Singh Bahadur of Rewah. married 6thly, in August 1906, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Bhati Thakur Himmat Singh of Bhawad in Jodhpur State in August 1906. married 7thly, in August 1906, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Bhati Thakur Jagat Singh of Phali in Jodhpur State, married 8thly, 3rd January 1910, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Solanki Thakur of Aklera in Bundi State, married 9thly, before 1916, HH Maharani Parmariji Sahiba, a daughter of Thakore Shri Takhatsinhji of Mohanpur, married 10thly, HH Maharani (name unknown) Sahiba, a daughter of Rathore Maharaj Arjun Singh, a son of Maharaj Kishor Singh of Jodhpur, and had issue. He died 26th July 1927.
    • Maharajkumar Raghuvendra Singh (by his first wife), born 1890, died 5th March 1899.
  • Major HH Maharao Raja Shri Sir ISHWARI SINGHJI Bahadur, 23rd Maharao of Bundi 1927/1945, born 8th March 1893, G.C.I.E. [cr. 11.5.1937], Aide-de-Camp (Honorary) to His Majesty the King [25.1.1946], he adopted in 1933, the two sons of Maharaj Dhanurdhar Singhji of Kapren (see above). He died sp on 23rd April 1945.
    • (A) Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri Bahadur Singhji Bahadur (qv)
    • (A) Capt. Maharaj Shri Kesri Singh of Kapren, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 1946, Rani Devendra Kanwar, born , elder daughter of Rawat Himmat Singhji of Bhainsrorgarh, and his first wife, Rani Suraj Kanwar, and had issue (see above).
  • Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri BAHADUR SINGHJI Bahadur, 24th Maharao of Bundi 1945/1977, born 17th March 1920, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; awarded the Military Cross by the British Military for gallantry during WWII; married April 1938, a daughter of Major-General HH Maharaja Sir Sajjan Singhji Bahadur of Ratlam, and had issue. He died 24th December 1977.
    • HH Maharao Raja Shri Ranjit Singhji Bahadur [Prince Peter] (qv)
    • Maharajkumari Mahendra Kumari (Yuvarani Mahendra Kumari of Alwar) [Princess Kitten], born 6th February 1942, Member of the Tenth Lok Sabha 1991/1996 representing Alwar Parliamentary Constituency of Rajasthan; Member of the Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests 1993/1996 and House Committee 1993/1995; a former champion of women?s pistol shooting and had special interest in tennis, swimming and riding; Member of the Indian Parliamentary Group of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995; she married 26th April 1962, Yuvaraj Pratap Singhji of Alwar, and had issue, one son. She died 27th June 2002 in New Delhi.
  • H.H. Hadendra Shiromani Deo Sar Buland Rai Maharajadhiraj Maharao Raja RANJIT SINGHJI Bahadur, 25th Maharao of Bundi 1977/2010, born 13th September 1939, married 11th December 1969 (div.1971), Rajkumari Durga Kumari [Princess Pinky], born 2nd April 1946 at Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, died sp 8th April 1978 in Chamba, daughter of HH Raja Saheb Shri Lakshman Singh of Chamba, and his wife, HH Rani Devendra Kumari. He died sp after a long illness on 8th January 2010 in New Delhi.
  • H.H. Hadendra Shiromani Deo Sar Buland Rai Maharajadhiraj Maharao Raja VANSHVARDHAN SINGH Bahadur, 26th Maharao of Bundi (see above)

Other Members

  • Rani Sardar Kunwar, married (as his 16th wife), Raja Bhim Singh I, Raja Saheb of Banera.
  • Thakurani Saheba Hadiji, married Thakur Jashwant Singh of Bidwal, and had issue.