Orchha is a beautiful historic town on the banks of River Betwa in Madhya Pradesh. The word ‘Orchha’ means ‘hidden place’, and true to its name, this majestic city is hidden by dense forests and the channels of River Betwa. The rulers of Orchha were a clan of Rajputs and friendly with the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The famous King of Bundela dynasty Veer Singh Dev was a close friend of Mughal emperor Jahangir and fought wars as Akbar’s aid. Though distinctly Rajput in their lifestyle, their architecture was heavily influenced by the Mughals. Orchha travel guide will unveil the glory of this historical place.
Orchha was once the capital of the powerful Bundela Rajput Kings and was established in 1501 by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh. Orchha was ruled by Bundela for two centuries who left a rich heritage to descendants as their architectural style was believed to be very unique. Though a small town, the grand history, and monuments of this place make it a must-visit for tourists. This place has magnificent Mughal influenced architecture displayed in the Rajput palaces, temples, and Chhatris. Orchha seems to be frozen in time and retains the original grandeur of the monuments till today.
Orchha has a good number of beautiful palaces, and these are fascinating to visit. Famous palaces in Orchha are the Jahangir Mahal, the Rai Parveen Mahal, Raj Mahal, and Sunder Mahal. The Cenotaphs are extremely popular among tourists and 14 structures commemorate the Orchha rulers from the past. The Fort Complex is another great place for tourists to visit. Another place to visit is Phool Bagh, which is a beautiful garden with lovely fountains.
This ancient town is famous for its Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha Fort complex, Raja Mahal among others. Orchha is also famous for its two elevated minarets called Saawan and Bhadon. It is one of the popular tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh that boasts off striking palaces, carved temples, forts, and other historic structures. It is also known for its concept of open bungalows, stonework windows, and animal statues depicting the culture of Bundelkhand.
The temples in Orchha include the Chaturbhuj Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Rama, the Laxminarayan Temple, which has beautiful murals, and the Ram Raja Mandir, which was constructed because the idol of Lord Rama that was initially meant for the Chaturbhuj Temple would not move from the spot. Orchha is the only place in India where Lord Ram is worshipped as a king with a dedicated temple in his name called Sri Ram Raja Mandir.
Traveling to this enchanting place will give you a beautiful journey of the bygone era and will get you through the record of medieval history. It brings out the tales of battles between kings and emperors. The medieval architecture of Orchha palaces and temples is a visual delight for photographers.
