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Orchha town lies in the state of Madhya Pradesh in the Tikamgarh district. It was once the capital town of a Rajput ruler whose name is unknown. Orchha is located on the banks of the Betwa River and lies 15 km away from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

Founded by Rudra Pratap Singh, a Bundela chief, in 1501 AD, Orchha’s prime attraction is the Orchha Fort which was built by Rudra Pratap. The fort has many connected buildings which were built during the rule of different ones. Two of the most well known of these are the Jahagir Mahal and Raj Mandir.

Rudra Pratap is said to have perished while saving a cow from a lion, but these claims remain unverified. After him many Bundela rulers ruled the region for most part of the 17th century. One of the most influential successors of Rudra Pratap was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo. He is credited with building the Jehangir Mahal.

Royal Chattris

The Bundela rulers constructed many temples and palaces during their reign, and most of them are in unspoilt condition till date. Two of the well known temples of the town are the Chatur Bhuj temple and the Raj Mandir. The Chatur Bhuj temple was built by the Queen of Orchha.

The name Orchha is said to be derived from a sneering remark which was made by a Rajput chief when he visited the place. Literally, the word translates to ‘hidden.’ The town has a small population of 8499 people, with the majority being male.

This region experiences a temperate climate, with the summer months of April to August being not too hot and the winter months of December to February being not too cold. The months of October to March are said to be the best time to visit Orchha.

Orchha, being a small town, is not very well connected. It does not have a railway station or an airport. The nearest railway station to the place is at Jhansi, which is 18 km away. Buses and taxis are the only means of reaching this small town in the once princely state of Madhya Pradesh.
 

Orchha, situated on river Betwa, has various historical legends associated with it. However, not much of it is known before the 1501 A.D. when the city was founded by Rudra Pratap sinhg, a Rajput ruler of Bundelkhand. He was the first king of Orchha and built the Orchha Fort.

The city was attacked by the Mughal Army under the generalship of Shah Jahan, in the early part of the 17th century. The Mughals gained reign over the city and ruled here till 1641 A.D. All the attempts of the Marathas to rule over Orchha went in vain and in the year 1783, Tehri was declared as the capital of Orchha.

The city was ruled by Hamir Singh from 1848 to 1874 A.D and in the year 1865, the king gained the title of the ‘Maharaja’. Maharaja Pratap Singh sat on the throne of Orchha in 1874.

Orchha was declared as a part of Madhya Pradesh in the year 1956.

Raj Mahal:
A fine specimen of Mughal architectural marvel adorned with super stone Jali work, exquisite murals and cenotaphs in the exterior. It was Madhukar Shah who built the monuments in the fort complex.

Rai Praveen Mahal:
This palace was built in honour of the eminent personality of Orchha noted for her beauty, flair of poetry and music, Rai Parveen popularly known as 'Nightingale of Orchcha'. Maharaja Indrajit Singh built the marvellous three-storeyed palace in 1618 A.D. also known as the Anand Mandal Bagh and also as the Rai Praveen Manika Bhavan. The palce is embellished with a beauitful green garden where myriads of shrubs and flowerbeds in various artistic shapes accentuate its beauty. The most attractive part of the palace is its second floor where numerous Nriya Mudras of Indian classical dance can be seen.

Jahangir Mahal:
Adjacent to the Rai Praveen Mahal, this five-storeyed palace is a delighful example of Bundela architecture and at the same time is an ancient testimony of the bond of friendship between the Mughals and Bundelas. The interiors of the palacce are beautifully adorned with paintings of peacocks, flowers and eye-catching geometric patterns.

Ram Raja Temple:
Renowned all over the country because of its high spires and palatial structure, this temple is also the only place where Lord Rama is revered as a king.

Chaturbhuj Temple:
Located opposite the Raja Mahal, the Chaturbhuj Temple with its unique concept and luxury of space is the prime attraction of the city. Dedicated to Chaturbhuj meaning the four-armed, the temple built in 1558 and 1573 by Raja Madhukar, perched on a stone platform has marvellous exterior which is a visual delight adorned with Lotus emblems. The most striking feature of the temple is when one sees the inside of the temple one will be astonished to find the temple abounds in light and space which is unlikely of any Hindu temple.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple:
A wonderful fusion of fort and temple, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple reflects the architectural charisma of ethnic Indian royal taste .Dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi, it was built around 1622 by Vir Singh Deo. The entire structure of the temple is constructed with brick and lime mortar. The exquisite paintings and the beautiful frescos are the wonderful amalgamation of the art form of Mughal and Bundel.
 

By Air:
Gwalior which is about 120 kms is the nearest airport from the town where regular flight services having smooth access to different cities of India.

By Rail:
The most convenient and the nearest railway station to reach Orchha is the Jhansi Railway Station which is only 19kms from the town.

By Road:
Since Orchha falls on the Jhansi-Orchha road, it enjoys smooth road network.
Gwalior - 120 kms
Jhansi -20 kms
Khajuraho -180 kms

You will visit “Orchha” during the below Tour of Rajasthan.

Delightful Rajasthan and North India Tour (Group Tour) (Including Orchha)
20 Days / 19 Nights
Delhi - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Osian - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Pushkar-Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra-Gwalior-Orchha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Delhi