Orchha

Orchha was founded in 1531 by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh as his capital and its rulers built for a century and a half before the seat moved, leaving palaces, temples and cenotaphs in a compact area beside the Betwa. Jahangir Mahal was put up for a single overnight visit by the emperor, a square palace of domed pavilions and hanging balconies. Raja Mahal has painted interiors. Chaturbhuj temple, built for an image that never arrived, stands on a huge plinth with a soaring hall. Along the river stand fourteen chhatris, tall memorial cenotaphs to the Bundela rulers, on whose domes long-billed vultures nest.

History

Orchha was founded in 1531 by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh, who became its first king and built the fort; his queen Ganesh Kunwar built the Chaturbhuj Temple, and Raja Madhukar Shah, who reigned from 1554 to 1591, built the Raj Mandir (Wikipedia, Orchha).

What you'll find

• Jahangir Mahal - a domed palace built for one imperial overnight stay.
• The riverside chhatris - fourteen memorial cenotaphs along the Betwa.
• Chaturbhuj temple - a soaring hall built for an image never installed.
• The vultures - long-billed vultures nesting on the cenotaph domes.

When to go

October to March; Bundelkhand summers are severe. Sunset over the cenotaphs from the far bank is the classic view. The town is quiet compared with the Rajasthan circuit.

Practical notes

The town is small and covered in a day, though it rewards two. Some monuments are unlit and unlabelled. Ram Raja temple, the main working shrine, is crowded and separate from the ticketed group.

Nearby

Jhansi lies north; Khajuraho is southeast.

Key facts