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Orchha was established in the year 1501 by the Bundela Rajput Chief Rudra Pratap Singh. It was the capital of the Bundela dynasty, which is considered one of the powerful dynasties of the country. The literal meaning of ‘Orchha’ is ‘a hidden place’. It is a historical town in Madhya Pradesh and is quite popular for its palaces and beautiful temples. Orchha is renowned for beautiful cenotaphs, frescos, and mural paintings, which were built to commemorate the rulers of the Bundela dynasty. It has a unique charm that attracts people from different regions of the country. Some of the worth-seeing places in Orchha include Ram Raja Temple, Jahangir Mahal, and Laxmi Narayan Temple. The architecture of the temples and palaces of this town is a visual feast for tourists. If you are planning a trip to Orchha, you should not forget to visit the beautiful temples and majestic palaces of this town.
Best Places to Visit in Orchha
A few places you can explore in Orchha are:
Ram Raja Mandir
It is one of the sacred temples of Madhya Pradesh, which offers a serene ambiance to the pilgrims and tourists. One of the most surprising things about it is that Lord Rama is worshipped here as a King. This sacred site has great religious significance, which is the reason why a large number of devotees visit this temple. This sacred place is an architectural marvel and is a perfect amalgamation of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. Ram Raja Temple is decorated with intricate carvings, domes, sculptures, and turrets. Vibrant colors like yellow, white, and pink are used to enhance the beauty of the temple. It is among the most splendid structures, which is a must-visit destination for tourists.
Jahangir Mahal
This is another edifice to explore during your Madhya Pradesh tour. Located in Orchha, Jahangir Mahal was built by Bir Singh Deo in 1598. It was constructed to honor the Mughal Emperor Jahangir on his first visit to Orchha. Once you enter the mahal, you will be amazed to see its artistic gateway. This beautiful palace is one of the best tourist destinations you should visit during your trip to Orchha. It has numerous balconies, domes, rooms, and courtyards that lend it a beautiful look. The entrance of this palace is designed with the help of turquoise tiles.
When you enter the palace, 2 stone elephants will greet you. This marks the entry of King in ancient times. Apart from the beautiful balconies and terraces of the palace, you can also explore the natural scenery of the surroundings. The best time to visit Jahangir Mahal is between October and March. During this time, the weather is pleasant, which makes it comfortable for the visitors to explore this place.
Chaturbhuj Temple
This renowned Hindu Temple in Orchha is known for its stunning architecture. Located near Ram Raja Mandir, Chaturbhuj Temple is an old Hindu temple visited by a large number of devotees. It is one of the popular temples in Orchha and is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India. The literal meaning of Chaturbhuj is the ‘one who has 4 arms’, which refers to Lord Rama, who is the avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The temple was constructed between 1558 and 1573 by Raja Madhukar Shah, who was the King of Orchha. He constructed this edifice for his wife, named Rani Ganesh Kuwari, as she was a strong follower of Lord Rama. A legend is associated with this temple. According to it, Queen Ganesh Kuwari saw a dream in which Lord Rama asked her to build a temple for him. So, she went to Ayodhya to get an image of Lord Ram that she needed to keep in the new temple. After getting the image, she kept the statue in Rani Mahal till the completion of the temple. When the temple is completed, Queen Ganesh Kuwari decided to set up the idol at the temple. However, the idol didn’t move at all. For this reason, an idol of Lord Vishnu with four arms was placed in the temple. Due to this, the temple is known as the Chaturbhuj Temple.
Rani Mahal
It is another popular place to visit during your Orchha tour. The Rani Mahal of Orchha is a beautifully decorated fort that is popular for its colorful paintings and intricate carvings. The last occupant of this palace was Rani Laxmi Bai. The palace has now been turned into a museum. The surrounding beautiful gardens and the architecture of Rani Mahal lend the palace a beautiful look. The exterior of Rani Mahal is adorned with beautiful stonework.
You can see many ancient artifacts in the mahal and learn about its history. You will find beautiful paintings from the 9th and 12th centuries and a variety of sculptures in the museum. A visit to Rani Mahal will be a great experience for the visitors.
Raja Mahal
Raja Mahal is another important destination to explore during your Orchha tour. Constructed in the seventeenth century, this edifice has witnessed many events in the past. The palace has a stunning architecture that attracts visitors from all over the country. Once you enter the palace, you will be amazed to see its architecture. It has beautiful towers which look quite impressive. If you are an art lover, you must not forget to visit this palace during your Orchha tour.
Chandrashekhar Azad Memorial
This place is also worth visiting as it is associated with Chandrashekhar Azad. This memorial was constructed to remind the sacrifices made by this great freedom fighter to make the country free. You will find a large statue of Chandrashekar Azad here.
Lakshminarayan Temple
This temple is a perfect amalgamation of a temple and a fort. Once you enter the Lakshminarayan temple, you will get to see many beautiful murals. They are associated with a variety of secular, spiritual, and mythological themes. The temple also has a walkway that connects it to another temple named Ram Raja Temple.
Best Time to Visit Orchha
The winter season is the best time to visit Orchha due to the pleasant weather during this period. However, you can visit this place in other seasons too.
Summer Season (March-June)
This is the least favorable time to explore Orchha. The temperature in the summer season ranges from 23° and 47° Celsius. Thus, it is not advisable to visit Orchha in the summer. The days during this period are extremely hot. Thus, it is impossible to go out in this extreme heat. Hence, you should avoid a trip to Orchha between March and June. However, if you are still planning to visit Orchha during this period, you should pack light cotton clothes and other essential things for your trip.
Monsoon Season (July to September)
Some people plan a visit to Orchha in the monsoon season. This is a good time to visit this place as the weather is fine during this season. July to September is the best time for those who are short of budget. If you are a nature lover, you must visit Orchha during this period.
Winter Season (October-February)
It is the ideal time to visit Orchha as the weather is fine during this period. The nights are colder, and the days are windy. The average temperature in this season ranges between 10° and 35° Celsius. Due to the fine weather during winter, it is easy to explore this charming destination.
Places for Shopping in Orchha
A few important places for shopping in Orcha are as follows:
Orchha Market
This market is visited by many tourists. Here, you can buy a wide range of handicrafts and metal artifacts that display the traditions of Orchha.
Workshops of Local Artists
You will find many workshops where you can buy a variety of items such as pottery, jewelry, and paintings. You can not only get unique souvenirs here but also have an opportunity to support the local artists.
Government Emporiums
If you are looking for authentic handicrafts, you can buy them from the Government emporiums. These emporiums offer you a wide range of handicrafts at the best prices.
How to Reach Orchha?
Here are some of the ways through which you can reach Orchha:
How to Reach Orchha by Air?
If you want to visit Orchha by air, catch a flight to Gwalior Airport. The Airport is connected to all the major airports of the country. Thus, you can easily reach here irrespective of the city you are coming from. You can also use the Khajuraho airport to reach here. However, this airport has limited flight connectivity.
How to Reach Orchha by Road?
Orchha is connected to all the important cities by road. You can either catch a bus or use your car to reach here.
How to Reach Orchha by Train?
Jhansi is the nearest railway station to Orchha. Many trains are available from this railway station. Thus, you can easily find a train to Jhansi whether you are coming from Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, etc. After reaching the station, you can hire a taxi or catch a bus to reach Orchha. You can also resume your journey to Orchha through an Auto Rickshaw.
