Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years before present were found in Bundi and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan. The south‑east region of the state, known as Hadoti, is the land of the Hada Rajputs, a major branch of the Chauhan Agnikula Rajputs. They settled in the hilly terrain of Mewar at Bambaoda, near Bijoliya, in the 12th century CE.
Bundi was established in 1241 CE by Rao Deva Singh, marking the first step in the establishment of Hadauti when the Hadas moved down from the ‘Pathar’ around Bambaoda. The town takes its name from the Bando Naal, a narrow passage between rugged hills, and is nestled in a cleft of the Aravalli Range, giving it a medieval flavor untouched by time.
Prince Jait Singh of Bundi captured Kota in 1264 AD, making it part of Bundi as the Jaghir of the eldest prince. Kota later became a separate state in 1624, and the state of Jhalawar was formed in 1838 out of Kota territory.
After the siege of Ranthambore in 1568, Rao Surjan Singh of Bundi signed a treaty with the Mughal Empire, retaining significant autonomy. In 1818, Rao Raja Bishan Singh allied with the British East India Company to counter Maratha influence. During the Raj, Bundi remained a princely state with regional independence. The last ruler signed the Instrument of Accession in 1949, joining the Dominion of India.