Orchha

Locations :

Lattitude: 25.35° N,
Longitude: 78.64° E
Best Time to Visit : October to March

Weather :

Summer : 23°C to 42°C
Winter : 09°C to 25°C
Monsoon : 18°C to 33°C

The laid back and relaxed town of Orchha was once the seat of mighty Budela Rajputs. Founded in 16th century by Bundela chieftain Rudra Pratap, Orchha with all its architectural abundance nestled lazily on the banks of river Betwa which spilts into Saptdhara or seven channels here in veneration of its seven one-time lords. To visit this time is to visit some moment in the bygone medieval era because this hamlet with all its patrimonial wealth seems frozen in time.

Main Attractions
  • Ram Raja Temple: The queen of Orchha was an adherent of Lord Rama they say and with the aim to convincing his lord to come with her [as a lad] to her kingdom took the pilgrimage to Ayodhya. The deity was so pleased with her devotion that he decided to grant her the wish but on one condition that once there he will be invariable and not move from place to place or temple to temple and would stay where once rooted. The queen brought the boy God to her palace and the pleased king started erecting a huge temple in the glory of lord. Though once the temple was ready lord Rama refuse to leave the palace because of the invariability clause the queen agreed upon. The deity therefore continued to live and worshipped in the palace, which is thus called the palace that became a temple. Lord Ram is worshipped here both as a God and celebrated as a king.   
  • Sawan Bhado: A Tehkhana or basement with fountains, close by The Ram Raja Temple was the summer refuge of royalty. The tehkhana is armed with parallel wind catching towers or Destagirs build like a Persian style cooling unit. The lower end of the columns is attached to an underwater reservoir and the tops were punctured allowing the wing to pass. The towers were christened Sawan and Bhado after the two monsoon months of Indian calendar.   
  • Chhatris Cenotaphs: Fourteen Chhatris or Cenotaphs have been erected in Orchha on the Kanchana Ghat of River Betwa to commemorate the memory of its erstwhile rulers. All the chhatris except are build in Hindu Temple like style with spires. Bir Singhs Cenotaph alone has mughal architectural imprints. Bir Singh Deo aided king Jahangir [prince Salim at that time] during his rebel against his father mughal emperor Akbar when Salim gained the throne the favor was well remembered and returned. 
  • Orchha Fort: The foundation stone of fort complex was laid right after its discovery in 16th century by Raja Rudra Pratap Singh and as the years passed palace, temples, pavillions and other edifices like Sheesh Mahal, Raja Mahal or Mandir, Jahangir Mahal were added by subsequent rulers.
  • Jahangir Mahal: Jahangir Mahal is a garrison fort built by Vir Singh Deo in 17th century as a symbol of reception of Jahangir though he stayed there for but one night alone. The three stories structure has walls adorned with turquoise tiles and artistic entrances.
  • Chaturbhuj Temple: The temple was constructed by Bundela Raja Madhukar Shah to enthrone Lord Rama whom her queen brought back with her from Ayodhya however, the lord already deified in the palace by the queen refused to budge from his initial abode because of the condition he had laid. Chaturbhuj Temple thus remained idol less in its sanctum sanctorum where as palace became the permanent abode and temple of Lord Rama.
  • Rai Parveen Mahal: Rai Parveen the consort of Raja Indrajit was famed for her sensuous looks as well as her intelligence and mastery of music and poetry. It is said that enamored by her glamour mughal emperor Akbar summoned to her court and when asked to recite a something, chanted a couplet the summary of which was, that it is below the dignity of an emperor to associate himself with a woman already used. Akbar an intelligent ruler immediately caught the essence of Rai Parveen’s couplet and set her free with dignity. Among here many admirers was renowned poet Keshavdas who compared her allure to that of Mrignayani and Roopmati. Rai Parveen Mahal is a three storied building erected by Raja Indrajit Singh. The walls are adorned with life size portraits of Rai Parveen in her many moods and revealing outfits.
 



Shopping
  • Orchha Square
  • Village Bazaar
 
Things To Do
Places of Worship:
 
  • Ram Raja Temple
  • Laxmi Narayan Temple
  • Siddh Baba ka Sthan
  • Janki Mandir
  • Chhaturbhuj Temple
  • Radhika Raman Temple
  • Vanvasi Temple
Places of Entertainment:
 
  • Orchha Palace & Convention Centre
  • Local Cine & Multiplexes 
 
Getting There
  • By Air – Nearest serving airport to Orchha is Gwalior approximately 108 kilometers away
  • By Railway – Closest railway station to Orchha is Barwa Sagar in Uttar Pradesh 8 kilometers from Orchha town and Jhansi Junction at a distance of 14 kilometers
  • By Road – Orchha does not have a bus terminus of its own and the closest one is Jhansi.
 
Shown Map

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