Orchha

Location
In this medieval city, the palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries have retained their pristine perfection. Of the succeeding rulers, the most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful chhatris. From here, the view of temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular. Complimenting the noble proportions of their exteriors are its interiors, which represent the finest, flowering of the Bundela School of painting. In the Laxminarayan Temple and Raj Mahal, vibrant murals encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes bring the walls and ceilings to rich life.

Geographical Location
Orchha is located in the city of Jhansi and along the border of Madhya Pradesh, just 101 km south of Gwalior.

History
The Bundela Dynasty settled at the former Malwan fort of Orchha in the 15th century. Work on Orchha’s magnificient palaces, fortifications, palaces and temples was started by Raja Rudra Pratap soon after the move and continued after he was killed in 1531 trying to wrestle a cow from the clutches of a tiger. Therafter, the dynasty’s fortunes depended on the goodwill of their mighty neighbours, the Moghuls. Since, the Bundelas and the Moghuls became friends, an allaince fostured in the following years by Orchha’s most illustrious king.

During his 22-year rule, Bir Singh Deo erected a total of 52 forts and palaces across the region, including the citadel at Jhansi, the rambling Narsing Dev at Datia and many of Orchha’s finest buildings. In 1627, he was killed by bandits while returning from the Deccan with a camel train full of booty. Afterwards, Bundelkhand’s relations with the Moghuls rapidly deteriorated. Attacks by the armies of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and the Marathas ensued and a spate of 18th century Jat peasant uprisings finally forced the Bundelas to flee Orchha for the comparative safety of Tikamgarh. Apart from the Sheesh Mahal, now converted into a small hotel, the magnificient monuments have lain virtually deserted ever since.

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