Orchha
Introduction
:
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 centre 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 to See :
Most of the attractions
in Orchha are situated in the fort complex consisting of palaces,
temples, cenotaphs, and memorials. The complex can be reached
by a multi-arched bridge where you would find three palaces
in a quadrangle. Raj Mahal or King’s Palace was built
by King Madhukar Shah, a contemporary of Emperor Akbar. Jahangir
Mahal was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo in 1606 to commemorate
the visit of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Legends say that Rai
Parveen Mahal was built by King Indramani for his favourite
concubine Rai Parveen. Like Raj Mahal, Raja Ram Temple is
also a contribution of King Madhukar Shah with a very unusual
story behind it. Chaturbhuj and Laxmi Narayan temples are
some of the other important religious attractions in Orchha.
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 Praveen 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
Near By Places :
Being a part of the Bundelkhand region of Central India, there
are several historical and religious places in the vicinity
of Orchha that can be visited on a daylong trip.
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 ceded 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.
Travel
Information :
By Rail :
Nearest railhead at Jhansi (16 km), on the Mumbai - Delhi
and Delhi - Madras main lines, Al major mail and express trains
stop at Jhansi.
By Road :
Orchha lies on the Jhansi - Khajuraho Road. Regular bus service
connect Orchha with Jhansi.
|
