Tourist Destinations in Madhya Pradesh Gwalior Khajuraho Maheshwar Mandu Orchha Ujjain Bandhavgarh National Park & Tiger Reserve Kanha National Park & Tiger Reserve Panna National Park & Tiger Reserve Request a Free Quote Payment Options Print this page   Tags top destinations, monuments in, north, indian, wildlife, tours, travel, tourist, guide, attraction, places, tourism, destinations in Madhya Pradesh, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, india, About Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, Tourism, Monuments, Attractions, Travel Tips, Shopping, cities of india, monuments attractions travel, destinations in Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh tourism monuments, travel tips shopping, the old city, travel tourist guide, monuments in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh india, fairs and festivals, top destinations monuments

Orchha     Also known as: - Shopping: - History of: 400 years Population: 8 thousand Orchha today is a sleepy little hamlet but it was once the capital city of the mighty Bundelkhand Empire. From time immemorial, Bundelkhand has been an important destination for all sorts of tourists and travellers. 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 and a small part of Bagelkhand as well. Orchha as it stands today, was founded in the 16th century a.d. by the Bundela chieftain, 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 henceforth, he and his descendants would be known as �Bundelas�, or �those who gave blood�. The Orchha Bundelas are said to be chiefs of the Bundela clan settled all over the plains of North India. Major Attractions   Although Orchha was never really a very affluent place, that did not deter the fiercely proud Bundelas from undertaking ambitious projects. 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.   Jahangir Mahal The most notable is the Jahangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful chhatris (domed pavilions). From here, the view of soaring temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular. The richness of the Jahangir Mahal contrasts nicely with the austere beauty of the Raj Mahal, built by Madhukar Shah who was a religious-minded person. 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. Temple Attractions of the three main temples, the Laxminarayan Temple is a curious mix of fort and temple architecture. Most of its walls are decorated with murals, some with secular themes. On the other hand, the Ramaraja Temple is unusual in that here, Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (the Hindu Preserver of the Universe), is worshipped as a ruler, and the building is actually a palace.   Distance from major cities Jhansi 25 Kms Khajuraho 174 Kms Agra 236 Kms   How to reach there Agra is the nearest airport to Orchha and is well connected with Delhi & many major cities of India. Jhansi Railway Station is well connected with all major states & cities of India. Orchha lies on the road between Jhansi and Khajuraho.