Orcha
Orcha Town
Orccha literally means “hidden place” and the small town, located on a rocky island on the Betwa River, rightly bears its name. Even though Orchha has become a popular stopover on the way to Khajuraho – with only about 8,500 inhabitants it has remained a tranquil small town that can be easily explored on foot. Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput prince Rudra Pratap, who saw this stretch of land, set amidst deep forests, as the ideal place for his capital. It remained the capital of the Bundela kings until the 18th century, when Orchha was finally abandoned in favor of the new capital, Tikamgarh. The many palaces and temples built by the Bundela rulers in the course of the 16th and 17th centuries bear witness to Orchha’s magnificent past, even though today vultures circle in the sky here, having built their nests on the domes of the temples and palaces.
The Orcha Palace
Orchha’s fortress complex consists of three palaces arranged in an open quadrangle. The Jahangir Mahal is the most famous palace and was built in the 17th century by Raja Bir Singh Deo in honor of the visit of Emperor Jehangir, who, however, spent only a single night there. It is one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture in India and reveals Bir Singh Deo’s eye for detail. The east-facing main facade is still covered with the original turquoise tiles, and inside, the numerous elegant hanging balconies, terraces, windows and onion domes give the huge palace a delicate and airy atmosphere. There are 132 rooms on three floors around a central courtyard, including a small museum. Inside the Raj Mahal palace to the right of the quadrangle reveals the heyday of the school of Bundela painting. On the walls and ceilings are numerous colorful paintings of religious and secular motifs in rich colors that bring the Middle Ages to life. The small, two-story Rai Parveen Palace was built by Raja Indramani in the 17th century for his concubine, who was a gifted dancer, musician and poet. Because Emperor Akbar was fascinated by her, she was later given to him as a gift. However, the Great Mogul was so impressed by the purity of her love for Indramani that he released her back to Orchha. The palace is surrounded by the beautifully landscaped Anand Mahal Gardens, which has an elaborate irrigation system.
Laxminarayan Temple
Somewhat away from the palace on a small hill is the Laxminarayan temple, dedicated to the goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. Its construction is an interesting combination of fortress and temple. Inside are the most beautiful murals of Orchha. Colorful and perfectly preserved, they cover walls and ceilings and depict, among other things, scenes from the life of Krishna, the military and architectural achievements of the Bundela rajas, and, on a side column, two heavily intoxicated British soldiers.
The Royal Chatris
Directly on the banks of the Betwa River, along the Kanchana Ghats, are 14 cenotaphs, memorials honoring the former rulers of Orchha. They are overgrown and long since populated by monkeys, yet they dominate the cityscape of Orchha like probably no other monument and are a popular photo motif. The best view of the ghat is from the bridge that connects the island with the mainland.