Orchha, the Jewel of Madhya Pradesh

“The Jewel of Madhya Pradesh”, “the Soul of India”, so many terms to describe the ancient capital of Bundelkhand province, located on the banks of the Betwa River, tributary of Yamuna River, in greenery scenery favourable to serenity. You can discover its timeless medieval fort by yourself and, at every moment, you will feel surrounded by history. Orchha is a haven of calmness, a peaceful place you will love to discover…

Founded in the 16th century by Rajput kings of Bundela dynasty, Orchha became, in the 17th century, under the protection of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the capital of a powerful kingdom led by Maharaja Bir Singh Deo (1605-1627). However, when Emperor Shah Jahan ascended the throne, he got rid of the maharaja and replaced him by a loyal prince, whose successors ruled the region until 1948…

Palaces and temples… This is what you will see in Orchha… Magnificent palaces and temples, I should say. With only around 10.000 inhabitants, the village is full of historical buildings, worth to visit, in one or two days. In the enclosure of the fortress, there are two palaces: Rajah Mahal, the palace of the king, ceilings and walls of which are covered with beautiful paintings. The other one, Jahangir Mahal (the palace of Jahangir) was built for the Mughal Emperor in order for him to stay when he visited his friend the maharaja of Orchha. Jahangir came at Orchha once and his palace was never used after… A last building is worth a visit, Rai Praveen Mahal. To make a long story short, this palace was built by Maharaja Indramani for his lover, poetess and musician Rai Praveen. Legend has it that Akbar the Great was so deeply in love with the poetess that he commanded her to come to Delhi. During her first audience with Akbar, she recited a poem to Akbar, explaining that only dogs and pigs are satisfied with withered flesh. The emperor was so impressed by her loyalty to her lover that he sent her back to Orchha.

In the village, assist to a ceremony at Ram Rajah Temple, climb all the steps and reach the rooftop of Chaturbhuj Temple to have an amazing view of the fortress and the entire region, walk a short distance to reach Laksmi Narayan Temple.

Finally, visit the Royal Chhatri, 14 mausoleums, the cenotaphs of the maharajas who succeeded each other at the head of the province for centuries. You will love seeing these mausoleums at the end of the afternoon, when domes and spires mirror in the peaceful water of the river…

You will love discovering Orchha, this beautiful village surrounded by nature. You can reach the village by car, by train (there is a station in the village or you can take the train to Jhansi, then a bus or a rickshaw to Orchha) or by bus.