Orchha, A Hidden Treasure of India

[Anil Rawat]

Orchha is a little hamlet that is known for its palaces and temples built in 16th and 17th centuries. Orchha literally means “ the hidden place “ or “ hidden treasure”. It is the erstwhile capital city of Bundela rulers. It was once the capital city of the mighty Bundelkhand Empire. The architectural splendor of the monuments in Orchha reflects the glory of its rulers. Orchha lies on the banks of River Betwa that is surrounded by forests that adds to its glory as a tourist attraction. From time immemorial, Bundelkhand has been an important destination for travelers. The famous Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang, visited the area in the 7th century A.D and gave a vivid account of the kingdom of ‘Jejakabhuti’, which corresponds to modern day Bundelkhand.

Orchha is located in northern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh, in the central region of India. It lies beside the Malwa plateau. It is situated at a distance of 120 Kms from Gwaliaor, 18 Kms from Jhansi and 178 Kms from Khajuraho.The Betwa River flows through the town. Orchha was founded in the 16th century A.D by Bundela ruler king Rudra Pratap. The Bundelas were a warrior tribe who traced their ancestry to a medieval Rajput prince who sacrificed his life for the mountain goddess, Vrindavasini. In return, the goddess proclaimed that the prince and his descendants would be known as ‘Bundelas’, literally means ‘who gave blood’. The Orchha Bundelas are said to be chiefs of the Bundela clan settled all over the plains of North India.

The climate of Orchha is temperate. Summers (April-June) are not too hot while winters are cool (November-February) and pleasant. The summer temperature can go up to 45 degrees Celsius and winter temperature come down to 4 degrees Celsius. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. The best season to visit is between October to March.

ORCHHA SIGHT SEEING PLACES

There are a number of tourist spots in Orchha. The main attraction of town is the Orchha fort complex that is situated on an island on River Betwa that consists a number of palaces. A four-arched bridge leads to the fort complex on the island. The Jahangir Mahal, which was built by Bir Singh Deo in the early 17th century to mark the visit of the Mughal Emperor, is an important monument of this fort. It is known for its delicate work and strong masonry. Raj Mahal, the second palace in this fort complex is well known for its murals, depicting religious themes. Rai Parveen Mahal, dedicated to the 17th-century poetess-musician, is the third palace within this complex and is set amongst well-laid gardens.

Orchha’s legacy has been captured in stone and frozen in time, a rich legacy to all ages.The remarkable proportions of the exteriors are matched by the grandeur of the interior-rich repositories of Bundela art. The richness of its palaces, temples and cenotaphs is reflected in the gently flowing water of the Betwa River.

River Betwa: Orchha is founded on the banks of beautiful River Betwa. It is a picturesque site, with its monuments dotting the landscape on either side of the river.

Jahangir Mahal: It is a tiered palace crowned by graceful domed pavilions. The view of soaring temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular from here. The richness of the Jahangir Mahal contrasts with the austere beauty of the Raj Mahal, built by Madhukar Shah who was quite religious. The last of the trio of palaces, which embellish the Orchha fort, is the Rai Parveen Mahal, built in the 17th century for Rai Parveen, the talented and artistically inclined lover of Orchha’s king, Raja Indrajit Singh.

Laxminarayan Temple: This temple is a curious mix of fort and temple architecture. Some of the walls of this temple are decorated with murals, which consist secular themes.

Ramaraja Temple: This temple is somewhat unusual where you may find lord Rama, the incarnation of lord Vishnu (the Hindu Preserver of the Universe), is worshipped as a ruler rather God, and the temple building is actually a palace.

Chaturbhuj Temple: This temple is adorned with lotus emblems and other religious symbols complete the holy triad along with Laxminarayan temple and Ramraja temple.

Art & Architecture: Orchha is known for its elegant architecture and unique sequential domes, brackets, pillars, arches and ledges. The domes that crown the monuments of Orchha are mainly hemispherical with few exceptions as palanquin-shaped domes. The brackets are found in two shapes as elephant-shaped brackets can be seen in the Jahangir and Raja Mahals, and serpentine shaped brackets with floral designs that are influenced by Islamic architecture. The pillars are fairly plain with little ornamental work, but the Raja Mahal houses massive 12-faced pillars with inverted bases that are worth seeing.

Literature and Poetry: In the medieval ages, Orchha also enjoyed a rich tradition in the fields of literature and poetry. Its most famous bard was Keshav Das who visited the courts of Birbal and the Mughal Emperor, Jehangir in 17th century A.D. His most famous disciple, Rai Parveen, was well known for her sharp beauty and sweet voice that was appreciated by Emperor Akbar also.