Introduction to Orchha 
Orchha, now a small hamlet in the state of Madhya Pradesh, was once the
capital of the formidable Bundela kings who ruled over a large tract between
the Ganga and Narmada in medieval times. According to legends, King Rudra
Pratap chose this place situated on the loop of the river Betwa to make his
capital in AD 1501. Located at a distance of 16 km from Jhansi, Orchha rises
out of the hills and the greens surrounding it. The historical monuments of
Orchha still retain their pristine charm and narrate stories of war and
peace, of love and destruction. It is also a place famous for Bundela
paintings, of which it was once a center of activity. Nevertheless, Orchha
is not all about history and legends; it is also about the natural splendour
of a wonderful valley where the crystal-clear waters of the Betwa flow
quietly along the banks for which solitude is a way of life.
Places
of Interest Raj Mahal One of the oldest
historical monuments in the fort complex, the Raj Mahal or King's Palace is
famous for its chhatris (cenotaphs) and exquisite murals on the interiors.
The palace has a number of rooms that dealt with exclusive functions. There
is the private room for the king, a room for the guests who used to receive
special favours from the King, and many rooms for his harem
Jahangir
Mahal Considered as the best piece of architecture in Orchha, the
Jahangir Mahal is the reminder of friendship that prevailed between the
Mughals and Bundelas for a long time. The palace is situated a few steps
away from the Rai Praveen Mahal, another important palace of Orchha. The
main gate of the palace has two bowed elephants on each side accentuating
the Islamic architectural style that is the hallmark of this palace. The
palace also gives breathtaking views of surrounding areas from its numerous
multi-storeyed balconies.
Rai Parveen Mahal
It is a small, two-storeyed palace mostly in ruins now. Legends say that
king Indramani built this palace after his favourite concubine and used to
come here after a hectic day's work. There was a time when the palace buzzed
with beauty and grace of its inhabitants as well as the charm of its
gardens. Rai Parveen was a gifted poetess and dancer and it should not have
been tough for the king to fall for her charms. The height of the palace has
been designed to match the height of the trees in the surrounding gardens.
Ram Raja Temple The Ram Raja Temple is
perhaps the most important though unusual of all the temples in Orchha. This
is the only temple in the country where Rama is worshipped as a king that
too in a palace. According to legends, once Lord Rama appeared in a dream to
king Madhukar Shah and directed him to build a temple for him. The king
followed the instructions given by Rama and brought his idol from Ayodhya,
the birthplace of the lord. However, the construction of the temple was not
complete when the idol arrived from Ayodhya. So it was kept in the palace
for the time being. Later, the king remembered that in the dream Lord Rama
had specifically mentioned that his idol could not be removed from the place
where it has been originally kept. This led the king to abandon the
construction of the temple and instead the palace where the idol was kept
was converted into a temple.
Chaturbhuj
Temple Built on a massive stone platform, the Chaturbhuj temple was
originally built to house the idol of Lord Rama. A number of steps lead to
the temple. Up on the platform, one can have splendid views of the beautiful
surroundings.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple The
Lakshmi Narayan temple is at a higher altitude suited more for a fort. The
architecture of the temple gives a feeling of ethnic India's royal taste.
The temple also has some very beautiful and rare paintings. The post-mutiny
paintings of this temple are very famous.
Excursion:
Places nearby Orchha Barua Sagar
Situated 26 km northeast of
Orchha, in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, Barua Sagar is a dam
created on the Betwa River. It provides excellent views of the surrounding
area. One can enjoy a swim in the lake or go for a walk in its beautiful
environs. While here, one can also pay a visit to the Pratihara temple and
the Jarai-ka-Math dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This place
has a great historical importance as a battle between the Peshwas and the
Bundela kings was fought here.
Chitrakoot
A part of the Bundelkhand region, Chitrakoot is situated in the region
bordering Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. According to the Ramayana, Lord
Rama and his wife spent 11 out of 14 years of their exile in the jungles
around Chitrakoot. Most of the attractions of Chitrakoot are situated along
the Mandakini like Janki Kund, Ram Ghat, Sphatic Shila, Dev Ganga, Sati
Anasuya, and Hanuman Dhara.
Deogarh (Orcha)
Situated on the right bank of the Betwa in the western range of Lalitpur
hills, Deogarh enjoyed political importance right from the Gupta Age. Its
location on the main route from Delhi to Deccan has also ensured that it
always remained a bone of contention. The main attraction here is the
Deogarh Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is the earliest-known
Panchyatan temple in north India. The architectural plan of the temple
displays terraced basement above the high plinth decorated with sculpted
panels. Other highlights are the figures of Ganga and Yamuna that adorn the
carved doorway leading to the sanctum sanctorum. Many parts of the temple
are now ruined except the Anantshayi Vishnu depicting scenes from Vaishnava
mythology. Two other attractions are the Karnali Fort perched on the hills
that overlook river Betwa and the Deogarh Archaeological Museum with its
fine collection of early Hindu sculptures.
Jhansi
Fort The fort was built by Raja Bir Singh in the 17th century
purely for defence, as is evident by its location on the top of a hill. The
fort was taken under siege by the mutineers in 1857 and they slaughtered all
the occupants (mostly British). After the mutiny, the British dceded the
fort to the Scindias of Gwalior and exchanged it for Gwalior in 1866. The
fort houses the well-known Karak Bijli Tank as well as a museum with a good
collection of sculptures and other remains.
Mahoba
Capital of the legendary Chandelas, who ruled over this region
between 9th and 11th centuries, Mahoba is a place full of stories of warrior
kings. There is a fort atop a hill showing the might of Chandelas as well as
lakes built by them. The temples in Mahoba are built in the same style as
that of Khajuraho. Today, the town of Mahoba is also known for its
production of betel leaves and granite rocks.
Paricha
Paricha in Uttar Pradesh is a dam built on the river Betwa. It is
famous for its scenic beauty.
Talbehat Fort
Talbehat, situated in Jhansi district, has a majestic fort surrounded by a
swamp. Talbehat derives its name from Tal (lake) and Behat (village) a name
given by the Gond tribe who were the original inhabitants of this place. The
fort was built by Bharat Shah, the Raja of Bar and Chanderi in 1618. The
fort also houses the famous Narsingh Temple.