18 Km away from Jhansi, the suave small township of Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Raja Mahal PalaceRajput chieftain Rudra Pratap Singh, it is city frozen in time, on the banks of river Betwa. The city of Orchha consists of several buildings constructed at different times. Orchha which has hardly been touched by the hands of Time.
Orchha is famous for its palaces and temples built in the 17th and 18th century.
Forts and palaces : 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.
Bundela paintings : In the times of Bharati Chand (1531-54), the Ramji Mandir Palace and the city walls were completed. During the reign of Madhukar Shah(1554-92) Orcha saw a long period of peaceful prosperity, when the early Bundela paintings were painted on the walls of the palaces. One of the other notable rulers of Orchha was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo (1605-27) who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, Hardaul Mandir & Chatturbhuj Temple.
Temples : The four main and important temples worth a visit are The Chaturbhuj, Janaki, Laxmi and The Raja Ram temples. The Ram Raja Temple 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 worshiped as a king that too in a palace. Built on a massive stone platform, the Chaturbhuj temple was originally built to house the idol of Lord Rama. 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
Climate : The climate of Orchha is temperate. Summers (April-June) are not too hot while winters are cool (November-February) and pleasant. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. It is 18 km from Jhansi.
How To Reach There
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 |
