Orchha is a small town, once the capital of Bundelas, with well-preserved temples and palaces. An imposing fort from the early 17th C; Rajmandir, a massive square building; and the Jahangirmahal, an ornate example of Hindu architecture are noteworthy attractions.
The town was founded in 1531 and remained powerful until 1783 when it was replaced by Tikamgarh as the Rajput capital.
The palaces of Orchha are located on an island in the Betwa River. Towering walls that were built to protect the island from the Mughal invasions encircle them, but they failed in this capacity.
The Jehangir Mahal is one of the palaces that should not be missed, it represents medieval Islamic architecture and features a small archeological museum on the ground floor and camel stables set behind the palace. The Jehangir Mahal was constructed in 1606 to welcome the Mughal emperor Jehangir.
The Raj Mahal was also built in the 17th C and has painted ceilings that have maintained their beauty, gardens, Turkish baths and camel stables.
Palki Mahal (named after its palanquin roof) has wind towers and a walled garden. It was also the place where Dinman Hardol, Bir Singh Deo's son, committed suicide to prove his innocence over an affair with his brother's wife. His memorial is located in the Phool Bagh, the adjacent gardens.
The Chaturbhuj Temple, situated opposite the Raja Mahal is dedicated to the four-armed deity, Chaturbhuj. Constructed between 1558 and 1573 by Raja Madhukar, the Chaturbhuj Temple is enormous and features plenty of light and space inside, which is unusual for a Hindu temple. The exterior of Chaturbhuj Temple is a mix of temple and palace.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple is noted for the exquisite wall paintings, which are well preserved and cover the walls and ceiling of three halls.
The Ram Raja Temple is one of the more unusual temples in India. Ram Raja has pink and gold domes, and was originally a palace until the idol of Lord Rama was installed and then proved impossible to move. It is also the only temple in India where Ram is worshipped as a king.
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Palaces, Orchha
Orchha
