Orchha -Tourism

There are several historic facts that enlighten readers about Orchha, a quaint little town situated in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh District. Orchha, an erstwhile princely state in the Bundelkhand region basks prettily along the banks of the Betwa River.

Located in the vicinity of the historically famous Jhansi, Orchha encompasses the latitudinal meridian of 25 degrees 35 minutes North on one hand and the longitudinal meridian of 78 degrees 64 minutes on the other.

The former Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh was the first monarch of the princely state of Orchha. It was Rudra Pratap Singh who founded the city of Orchha, way back in the 16th century. The only Bundela state that did not subjugate to the Maratha power, Orchha has many a claim to its fame. The first and foremost of the Bundela states with a 15-gun salute. The Maharajahs of Orchha were highly esteemed and were recipients of the honorable title, First of the Princes of Bundelkhand.

Orchha is also opulent in tourist attractions. The majestic Orchha fort whose origin can be traced back to the 17th century houses numerous spectacular palaces and other edifices. The chaste Raja Rammandir, elaborate and intricately decorated Jahangirmahal as well as a host of other cenotaphs, tombs and temples are peppered all over Orchha and are the must see destinations on a Central Indian sojourn. The ancient Chaturbhuj temple that rests on a stone pedestal is another big draw with erudite scholars, savant researchers and tourists sightseeing in and around Orchha.

History of Orchha- The history of Orchha sheds light on the glorious past of the Madhya Pradesh city that was famed as an erstwhile princely state in the Bundelkhand region. The legendary Bundela chieftain Rudra Pratap Singh founded the town of Orchha, way back in the 16th century.

The town of Orchha has fought against the vagaries of time. The chronicles of Orchha history record that Raja Jujhar Singh, a former Orchha monarch had renegaded against the mighty Mughal potentate, Shah Jehan in the 17th century. This tactical error met with disastrous consequences and soon afterwards, in between 1635 to 1641 AD, the Mughal army took over the princely state and caused wanton carnage and destruction.

Very soon, however Orchha grew into a powerful empire. The only state that did not succumb before the Marathas in the 18th century, Orchha has many a claim to its fame. In the year 1783, the town of Tehri ( present Tikamgarh) was established as the capital of Orchha. Tehri is also an historically eminent town that houses the majestic and crenelated fort of Tikamgarh.

In the long lineage of the Orchha emperors, Maharajah Hamir Singh was another celebrated monarch who ruled over Orchha between 1848 to 1874. The philanthropist Maharaja Pratap Singh, Hamir Singh's successor ascended to the throne in 1874 AD and worked solely for the noble cause of the sustainable growth and development of the state's engineering and irrigation facilities. In fact, Orccha reached the zenith of prosperity during his regime. 

In the year 1904, the state encompassed an area of 2080 sq. miles and marked a net populace of 321,634 people. The first and foremost of the Bundela states with a 15-gun salute, the Maharajahs of Orchha were deeply esteemed in the region and were conferred the hereditary title of the First of the Princes of Bundelkhand. The annals about Orchha state that Vir Singh had coalesced his princely state with the Union of India on 1st January 1950.

Location of Orchha- The location of Orchha or Urchha sheds light on the topography, climate and other physiographic and geographic features about Orchha, an ancient Madhya Pradesh town. Situated in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh District, the historically famous town basks prettily on the banks of the Betwa River. 

The quaint little town of Orchha encompasses the latitudinal meridians between 25 degrees 35 minutes North and 25 degrees 21 minutes North on one hand and the longitudinal meridians from 78 degrees 65 minutes East to 78 degrees 39 minutes East on the other. The town is perched at an elevation of 231 m above mean sea level.

The erstwhile princely state is a part of the terrains of the Bundelkhand region and is located in the propinquity of Jhansi (16 km away), the kingdom of the fearless Rani Laxmibai who had fought valiantly in order to protect her empire from the British during the tumultuous freedom movement. Tehri was the former capital of the Orchha during the medieval era. The other noteworthy towns and cities situated around Orchha include Simra, Baragaon, Bijoli, Pirthipur, Khailar, Hansari Gird and Barwa Saga. 

The nomenclature of the term Orchha connotes "hidden" in the local dialect. The town that was once a flourishing kingdom established by the Bundela chieftain Rudra Pratap Singh is roughly divided into two zones. As tourists approach the town from the main road, they are greeted by the grand palace area that houses a large number of imperial palaces, majestic forts and other royal edifices on the right, while the bucolic hamlets rest in the left. Numerous primordial buildings, venerable shrines and archaic gateways are peppered all over the town. 

Places to Visit in Orchha- Travel attractions in Orchha form an integral part of the tourism in Madhya Pradesh. Laxminarayan Temple, Sunder Mahal, Chattris of Orchha and Ram Raja Temple are some of the tourist sites that add delight to sightseeing in the territory. 

Laxminarayan Temple- Laxminarayan Temple is one of the three important temple located in Orchha. The temple is an amalgamation of temple and fort architecture. It is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi and built with the help of bricks and lime mortar. The temple is known to possess many beautiful frescoes and paintings on its walls.

Chattris of Orchha- Chattris of Orchha are the most popular sites in the city. The chattris are the memoirs of the Bundela kings. There are 14 chattris or cenotaphs that are laid down in a row, along the Betwa river.

Sunder Mahal- It is a beautiful palace, which was built by Prince Dhurbhajan, the son of Raja Jhujhar Singh. It is known to be a pilgrimage site for the Muslims.

Phool Bagh- Phool Bagh bears the testimony of the aristocracy of the Bundela kings. It was a summer retreat of the Orchha kings. It was built in the memory of Dinman Hardaul, who died as a martyr. 

Ram Raja Temple- Ram Raja Temple is one of the beautiful temple in Orchha. The temple had once been a palace belonging to Madhukar Shah. Legends believe that Lord Rama came to the dream of the Raja and this lead him to bring the idol of Lord Rama to the palace. After installing the idol in the palace, the king transformed the palace into a temple.

Dinman Hardaul's Palace- Dinman Hardaul's Palace of Orchha in Madhya Pradesh speaks volumes about the respect and love between brothers. An architectural marvel of the ancient times, the Dinman Hardaul's Palace bears relics to the rich religious history and cultural ancestry of the place during the ancient times.

According to a historical legend, Dinman Hardaul's Palace was constructed in honor of the great religious leader, Hardaul who sacrificed his life for his elder brother. The elder brother of Dinman Hardaul, Jhujhar had suspected that his younger brother was romantically involved with his long time companion and friend. Dinman Hardaul who was a highly religious person decided end his life to show his virtuous nature to Jhujhar.

Raj Mahal- Raj Mahal was built by Madhukar Shah, the predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo, across the granite bridge. The palace is known for its elaborate interiors and intricate detailing. Visitors are allowed to enter the palace daily between 1000 hours 1700 hours. 

The construction of the Raj Mahal of Orchha started under Rudra Pratap. However, the construction of palace completed under Madhukar Shah. The Raj Mahal in Orchha contains raised balconies and luxurious royal quarters. 

Rai Parveen- One of the prime travel attractions in Orchha, the Rai Parveen Mahal is a three storied beautiful palace that has history embedded in its every stone and brick. The Rai Parveen Mahal in Orchha was built by Maharajah Indrajit Singh 1618. 

Jehangir Mahal- One of the brightest examples of the Bundela architectural style, the Jehangir Mahal is a must visit destination in Orchha. Jehangir Mahal is a five storied palace built in accordance to the Hamam Saras of Agra. 

The majestic Jehangir Mahal in Orchha has eight wonderful pavilions. With its intricate carvings, decorations, paintings and historical relevance, the Jehangir Mahal has emerged as one of the most important travel attractions in Orchha. 

Orchha Sanctuary- Among the travel attractions in Orchha, the Orchha Sanctuary is a destination with difference. The Orchha Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh is a must visit site for the wild life and nature lovers. The general tourists also love the place bestowed with breath taking natural beauty.

Chaturbhuj Temple- The splendid architectural edifice of the Chaturbhuj Temple was built by Raja Madhukar at the insistence of his wife, Maharani Ganesh Kunwar during the years of 1558 and 1573. Chaturbhuj Temple of Orchha in Madhya Pradesh bears relics to the rich religious history and architectural legacy of the bygone era.