Location : 16 kms from Jhansi
Attractions : Jehangir Mahal,
Laxminarayana Temple |
Tourism in
Orchha
Orchha's grandeur has been captured in
stone, frozen in time; a rich legacy to the
ages. For on this medieval city, the hand of
time has rested lightly and the places and
temples built by its Bundela rulers in the
16th and 17th centuries retain much of their
pristine perfection.
Orchha was founded in the 16th century by
the Bundela Rajput chieftain Rudra Pratap
who chose this streatch of land along the
Betwa river as an ideal site for his
capital. Of the succeeding rulers, the most
notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built
the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered
palace crowned by graceful chhatries. From
here the view of soaring temple spires and
cenotaphs is spectacular.
Complementing the noble proportions of their
exteriors and interiors which represent the
finest flowering of the Bundela school of
painting. In the Laxminarayan Temple,
Vibrant Murals encompassing a variety of
religious and secular themes, bring the
walls and ceiling to rich life.
Strewn around the area are little shrines
and memorials, each with its own poignant
history, each contributing to the nostalgic
beauty is Orchha.
What to See in
Orchha
Orchha's fort complex, approaches by a
multi-arched bridge, has threee palaces set
in an open quadrangle. The most spectacular
of thee are :
Jehangir Mahal
: Built by Raja Bir Singh Ju
Deo in the 17th century to commemorate the
visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. Its
strong lines are counterbalanced by delicate
chhatries and treillies work, the whole
conveying an effect of extraordinary
richness.
Raj Mahal : Situated to the right of the quardrangle, this palace was built by
Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious
predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo. The plain
exteriors, crowned by Chharties, give way to
interiors with exquisite murals, boldly
colourful, on a variety of religious themes.
Rai Praveen Mahal : Poetess and musician,
Rai Praveen was the beautiful paramour of
Raja Indramani (1672-76), and was sent to
Delhi on the orders of Emperor Akbar, who
was captivated by her. She so impressed the
Great Mughal with the purity of her love for
Indramani that he sent here back to Orchha.
The palace built for her is a low, two
storeyed brick structure, designed to match
the height of the trees in the surrounding,
beautifully landscaped gardens of Anand
Mahal, with its octagonal flower beds and
elaborate water supply system. Skilfully
carved niches allow light into the Mahal
which has a main hall and smaller chambers.
Ram Raja Temple : This palace - turned -
temple has a charming legend attached to it.
Following the dream visitatio of Lord Rama,
Madhukar Shah's wife, Ganesh Kunawari
brought a statue of the god from Ayodha to
Orcha. While the king was a worshipper of
Lord Kridhna, the Queen was devotee of Lord
Krishna, the queen was a devotee of lord
Rama. The image was placed in a palace prior
to its installation in a temple. When the
idol proved impossible to move, the queen
recalled, too late the deity's edict that
the image would remain in the place where it
was first installed. Today, with its soaring
spires and palatial architecture, the temple
is surely one of the most unusual in India.
It is also the only in the country where
Rama is worshipped as a king (Raja).
Chaturbhuj Temple : Built upon a massive
stone platform and reached by a steep flight
of steps. The temple was specially
constructed to enshrine the image of Ram
that remained in the Ram Raja Templ. Lotus
emblems and other symbols of religious
significance provide the delicate exterior
ornamentation. Within, the sanctum is
chastely plain with high, vaulted walls
emphasizing its deep sanctity.
Laxminarayana temple : A flagstone path
links this temple with the Ram Raja Temple.
The style is an interesting synthesis of
fort and temple moulds. The interiors
Covering the walls and ceiling of three
halls, these murals are vibrant compositions
and cover a variety of spiritual and secular
subjects. They are in an excellent state of
preservation, with the colours retaining
their vivid quality.
Phool Bagh : Laid out as a formal garden,
this complex testifies to the refined
aesthetic qualities of the Bundelas.  A
central row of fountains culminates in an
eight-pillared palace-pavilion. A
subterranean structure below was the cool
summer retreat of the Orchha kings. An
ingenious systems of water ventilation
connected the under ground palace with
Chandan Katora, a bow-like structure from
whose fountains droplets of water filtered
through to the roof, simulating rainfall.
Dinman Hardaul's Palace : Hardaul was a son
of Bir Singh Ju Deo, and died to prove his
innocence to his elder brother Jhujhar who
cast doubts on his relationship with his (Jhujhar's)
consort. This saintly prince was, after his
martyrdom, worshipped as a god, and even
today, the villages of Bundelkhand contain
platform -like shrines where Hardaul is
worshipped.
Sunder Mahal : This small palace, almost in
ruins today, is still a place of pilgrimage
for Muslims Dhurjban, son of Jhujhar,
embraced Islam when he wed a Muslim girl at
Delhi. He spent the latter part of his life
in prayer and meditation and came to be
revered as a saint.
Chhatries (Cenotaphs) : There are fourteen 'Chatries'
or memorials to the rulers of Orchha,
grouped along the Kanchana Ghat of the river
Betwa. 
Shahid Smarak : Commemorates the great
freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad who
lived and worked in hiding in Orchha during
1926 and '27
Other places worth seeing in Orchha are the
shrines of Siddh Baba Ka Sthan, Jugal
Kishore, the Janki Mandir and the Hanuman
Mandir at Ohharedwara.
How to Reach
By Rail : Nearest railhead at Jhansi (16
km), on the Mumbai - Delhi and Delhi -
Madras main lines, Al major mail and express
trains stop at Jhansi.
By Road : Orchha lies on the Jhansi -
Khajuraho Road. Regular bus service connect
Orchha with Jhansi.
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Travel Guide / States / Madhya Pradesh / Cities / Orchha Travel
