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Information about
Orchha |
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Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen
in time, a rich legacy to the ages. In this medieval
city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the
palaces 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 stretch 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
chhatris. From here the view of soaring temple spires
and cenotaphs is spectacular.
Complementing the noble proportions of their exteriors
are interiors which represent the finest flowering of
the Bundela school of painting. |
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In the
Laxminarayan Temple and Raj Mahal, vibrant murals
encompassing a variety of religious and secular
themes, bring the walls and ceilings to rich life.The
origin of the Bundela dynasty in the 11th century is
traced to a Rajput prince who offered himself as a
sacrifice to the mountain goddess Vrindavasini; she
stopped him and named him 'Bundela' (one who offered
blood). The dynasty ruled over the area between the
Yamuna and Narmada rivers. Garhkurar, once capital of
the Bundela Rajas, fell to the Tughluqs just as that
dynasty was weakening. Into the vacuum that they left,
the Bundelas again expanded, moving their base to
Orchha (meaning hidden). Raja Rudra Pratap threw a
wall around the existing settlement and began work on
the palace building (c. 1525-31) and an arched bridge
to it. This was completed by his successor Bharti
Chand (1531- 54) who was installed in the Raj Mahal
with great ceremony. |
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What to see |
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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 chhatris
and trellis work, the whole conveying an effect of
extraordinary richness.
Raj
Mahal
Situated to the right of the
quadrangle, this palace was built in the 17th century by
Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious predecessor of Bir
Singh Ju Deo. The plain exteriors, crowned by chhatris,
give way to interiors with exquisite murals, boldly
colourful on a variety of religious themes. |
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Rai Parveen Mahal
Poetess and musician, Rai Parveen was the
beautiful paramour of Raja Indramani (1672- 76)
and was sent to Delhi on the orders of the Emperor
Akbar, who was captivated by her. She so impressed
the Great Mughal with the purity of her love for
Indramani that he sent her 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. Skillfully
carved niches allow light into the Mahal which has
a main hall and smaller chambers. |
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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 Rama that
remained in the Ram Raja Temple. 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. |
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Laxminarayan 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 contain the
most exquisite of Orchha's wall paintings.
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 excellent state of preservation, with the
colours retaining their vivid quality. |
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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 system
of water ventilation connects the underground
palace with Chandan Katora, a bowl-like structure
from whose fountains droplets of water filtered
through to the roof, simulating rainfall.
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. |
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Chhatris (Cenotaphs)
There are 14 Chhatris or Memorials to the
rulers of Orchha, grouped along the Kanchan
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 1927.
Other places worth seeing are the shrines of
Siddh Baba Ka Sthan,
Jugal Kishore,
Janki Mandir
and the
Hanuman Mandir
at Ochharedwara. |
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How to Reach |
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By Air
Nearest airport is at Gwalior (119 km), which is connected
with regular flights from Delhi & Bhopal.
By Rail
Nearest railhead is Jhansi (16 km), on the Delhi-Mumbai and
Delhi-Chennai main lines. All major mail and express trains
stop at Jhansi.
By Road
Orchha lies on a diversion from the Jhansi-Khajuraho road.
Regular bus services connect Orchha with Jhansi. Tempos and
taxis are also available. |
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Best
Season |
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October to
March |
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