Bunt is a community of erstwhile nobility, feudatory and gentry from the region of Southwest India which comprises the districts of Udupi and Mangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Bunts claim Kshatriya descent from the Nagavanshi lineage.

 

The word Bunta in the Kannada language implies a soldier. This is derived from the Sanskrit word Bhata meaning powerful man or a warrior. The Tulu equivalent is Bunte or Bunter (plural), which means Protector.

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The southern Bunts inhabiting Manglaore, northern Kasaragod, Udupi, and Karkala taluks of Udupi district are called Tuluva Bunts and primarily speak Tulu. Bunts from the northern parts, residing in northern Udupi district, Kundapura, southern parts of Uttara Kannada are called Nada Bunts and they speak a dialect known as Kundagannada.

 

Some notable Bunt clans who were sovereign of these states were the Honneyakambalis of Hosangadi, Samantha Rajas of Mulki, Bhair Arasas of Karkala, Arasas of Kumbla, Ajilas of Venur, Tolaharas of Suralu near Udupi, Heggades of Vitla, Chowtas of Ullal/Moodabidri, and the Bangas of Bangadi. The feudal life and society of Bunts began to disintegrate in the succeeding colonial British Raj period and the Bunts today are a largely urbanized community.