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Orchha is a historical town located at Tikamgarh District of
Madhya Pradesh. The town 18 Kms southeast ofJhansi is
situated on the banks of Betwa River. Orchha, means a
"hidden place" has the richness of its palaces, temples and
cenotaphs. Today Orchha is a small town, but it was once the
capital city of the Bundelkh and Empire. Setamidst scrubby
Dhak forest, the monuments of the town reflect the
architectural splendor. The historical monuments still
retain their pastcharm and tell stories of war and peace and
of love and destruction. |
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Orchha is also famous for Bundela
paintings and once it was a major center of such paintings.
Orchha was founded by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap in the
16th century A.D. The Bundelas traced their ancestry to a
Rajput prince of medieval era, who sacrificed his life for
the mountain goddess, Vrindavasini. It is said that the
Orchha Bundelas were the chiefs of the Bundela clan, settled
all over the North Indian plains. Maharaja Pratap Singh who
occupied the throne in 1874, devoted himself entirely to the
development of the Orchha. But It was during the rule of Bir
Singh Deoaround 52 forts, palaces and many of Orchha's
finest buildings were built.
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Attractions in and around Orchha
Raj Mahal -
The monuments in the fort complex was
built by Madhukar Shah, the devoted religious
predecessor of Raja Bir Singh Deo. Raj Mahal (King's
Palalce) is a nice example of Mughal architectural
style, depicted with stone Jali work and multifaced
arches at the entrance.Raj Mahal is famous for its
exteriors crowned with cenotaphs and murals on the
interiors.
Rai Parveen Mahal - The three-storeyed palace was
built in 1618 A.D by Maharaja Indrajit Singh,in the
honour of Rai Praveen. Rai Parveen also called as
'Nightingale of Orchha' was well known for her poetry
and music.The art of Topiary has been in existence in
Orchha for centuries that's why the height of the palace
has been designed to match the height of the trees in
the surrounding gardens.
Jahangir Mahal -
The palace is located closer to Rai Praveen Mahal. Best
known for its fine Bundela architecture.The palace stands
as the reminder of long time friendship between the
Mughals and Bundelas. The five-storyed Mahal with eight
pavilions, has an aura of grandeur and opulence. The
interior of the Jahangir Mahal is decorated with geometric
patterns and paintings of peacocks and flowers.
Ram Raja Temple - The temple with its high spires
and palatial structure, is one of the most unusual temples
in India. The legend says that this is the only temple
where Ram is worshipped as a king.
Chaturbhuj Temple - Chaturbhuj Temple was
originally constructed to enshrine the idol of Lord
Rama.Built upon a big stone platform a number of steps
lead to the temple. The exterior of the temple is
decorated with Lotus emblems and symbols of religious
importance.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple - The Lakshmi Narayan Temple
situated at a high altitude, presents a mixture of fort
and temple. The architecture of the temple gives a feeling
of ethnic Indian royal taste.
Chitrakoot -
Chitrakoot is located in Banda District of Uttar
Pradesh. Situated along the borders of Uttar Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh, the forest of Chitrakoot lies at an
altitude of 50 m.According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama
and his wife passed 11 out of 14 years of their exile in
the forest around Chitrakoot.
Deogarh - Located on the right of the Betwariver,
Deogarh enjoyed political importance right from the
Gupta Age. The main attraction here is the Deogarh
Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and nicely decorated
with sculpted panels. Other attractions are the Karnali
Fort and the Deogarh Archaeological Museum.
Jhansi Fort -
The fort located on the top of the hill
was built by Raja Bir Singh in the 17th century. In 1857 the
mutineerssieged the fort and slaughtered all the occupants
(mostly British). Jhansi fort houses the famous Karak Bijli
Tank and a museum, which has a large collection of
sculptures and other remains.
Barua Sagar - Located at a distance of 26 Kms.from
Orchha, Barua Sagar comes under the neighboring state of
Uttar Pradesh.Barua Sagar is a dam created on the banks of
the Betwa River.The historic fort of Bundelkhand stands here
and provides the magnificent views of the vast reservoir
created by the dam.
Accessibility :
Orchha has not direct connectivity by Airways, Railways or
Road link with the major cities of the country. One can
reach there via Jhansi, Gwalior or Khajuraho.
» By Air - Nearest Airport from Orchha is Gwalior(120
Kms).
» By Rail - Jhansi Railway Station is major station,
situated at a distance of 19 Kms.
» By Road - Orchha lies on the Jhansi- Khajuraho Road
at a distance of 178 Kms from Khajuraho. Regular bus
services connect Orchha with Jhansi (19 Kms).
Accomodation :
The hotels of the town offers a comfortable stay to
tourists.The main hotels stand at the heart of the town are
Betwa Cottage Orchha , The Orchha Resort (4 Star Hotel).
Best Time to Visit :
Orchha can be visited any time through out the year but the
best time tovisit the town is in Winters between October to
March.
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Orchha
Travel Packages:
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