Orchha

Last updated

Orchha
Town
Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha.jpg
Facade of Jahangir Mahal.jpg
Lakshmi Temple, Orchha.jpg
Courtyard inside Raj Mahal.jpg
(clockwise from top) Chaturbhuj Temple, Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal, Lakshmi Temple
Madhya Pradesh location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Orchha
India location map 3.png
Red pog.svg
Orchha
Coordinates: 25°21′N78°38′E / 25.35°N 78.64°E / 25.35; 78.64
Country Flag of India.svg  India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Niwari
Elevation
552 m (1,811 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total8,501
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code07680
Vehicle registration MP-36
Website ramrajatemple.mp.gov.in

Orchha is a town, near the city of Niwari in the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by a Bundela rajput ruler Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of covering parts of central & north India, in the Bundelkhand region. [1] Orchha lies on the Betwa River, 80 km from Tikamgarh & 15 km from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. [2]

Contents

The Mughal Army led by Prince Aurangzeb, Syed Khan-i-Jahan, Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang and Khan Dauran enter Orchha. The capture of Orchha by imperial forces (October 1635).jpg
The Mughal Army led by Prince Aurangzeb, Syed Khan-i-Jahan, Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang and Khan Dauran enter Orchha.

History

Orchha was founded in 1531 (the 16th century AD) [3] by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, [4] who became the first King of Orchha, (r. 1501–1531) and also built the Fort of Orchha. [5] The Chaturbhuj Temple was built by the queen of Orchha, Ganesh Kunwar (गणेश कुँवर), [6] while Raj Mandir was built by 'Raja Madhukar Shah' during his reign, 1554 to 1591. Orchha was captured by imperial forces of the Mughal Army led by Prince Aurangzeb in October 1635. [7] [8]

Story about king Rama (Ram Raja) temple

Lord Rama is regarded as the King of Orchha. Orchha is the only place in India other than Ayodhya, where lord Rama is also the King of the town. The story behind this goes like this: In 16th century, king Madhukar shah of Orchha was a devotee of Lord Krishna whereas his wife queen Kunwar Ganesh was a devotee of Lord Rama. There were always disputes due to this difference. Once king challenged the queen that if Rama really exists then bring him to Orchha. Queen went to ayodhya and prayed for 21 days with rigorous penance to lord Rama. At last Rama appeared before her in his child form and agreed to go with her with three conditions: first that he will be the only king of Orchha, there will be no other king. Second that wherever he is placed once he will remain there only and third that he will go at a particular time and with some monks. Queen accepted the conditions and thus Rama (statue representing Rama himself) was brought to Orchha. Since then Rama is the only king in Orchha. Even in the present times Rama is regarded as the only king and the guard of honour is given to him by the police every day at the Ram Raja Temple. No other VIP or minister or official behaves like a ruler when they visit Orchha. This aspect makes Orchha a unique place for devotees of lord Rama. [9] [10]

Places of tourist interest

View of Raja Mahal from Jahangir Mahal with Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple in the background. View of Raja Mahal from Jahangir Mahal with Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple in the background, Tikamgarh.jpg
View of Raja Mahal from Jahangir Mahal with Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple in the background.

On a seasonal island on the bank of the Betwa River, which has been surrounded by a battlement wall, stands a huge palace-fort. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which is the Raja Mahal.

Chaturbhuj Temple at Orchha, is noted for having one of the tallest Vimana among Hindu temples standing at 344 feet. Old temple, Orchha.jpg
Chaturbhuj Temple at Orchha, is noted for having one of the tallest Vimana among Hindu temples standing at 344 feet.

The Ram Raja Temple is built on a square base and has an almost entirely plain exterior, relieved by projecting windows and a line of delicate domes along the summit. The Jahangir Mahal is built on a rectangular base and is relieved by a circular tower at each corner surmounted by a dome, while two lines of graceful balconies supported on brackets mark the central storeys. The roof is crowned by eight large fluted domes, with smaller domes between them, connected by an ornamental balustrade. The Jahangir Mahal is considered to be a singularly beautiful specimen of Mughal architecture. [1] A point worth mentioning here is that the mother of Jahangir, Mariam-uz-Zamani, was a Rajput princess. It is with this in mind that the Rajput king of Orchha had built the Jahangir Mahal. There is a spectacular light and sound show in the evening hours in the Jahangir Mahal. The show displays the history of the city of Orchha and the Jahangir Mahal. Chaturbhuj Temple is an old temple from the 9th century, and is noted for having one of the tallest Vimana among Hindu temples standing at 344 feet.

Sadhu of Orchha Sadhu of Orchha.jpg
Sadhu of Orchha

The Uth Khana (Camel Shelter) where the King's camels were stationed is right next to the fort and is a must-see. Tourists can also climb on the roof of the Uth Khana and get a fantastic view of Orchha town. The ruins behind the fort complex are an even greater sight. It makes a tourist travel back in time and is an integral part of a visit to Orchha. It houses the residences of various military officers, ministers (housing, roads), gunpowder factory, etc.

Numerous cenotaphs or chhatris dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa river. Elsewhere about the town there is an unusual variety of temples and tombs, including the Chaturbhuj temple, which is built on a vast platform of stone. [1] The more unguarded and neglected of these buildings are popular hangouts for tropical bees, wasps, and other such excitable stinging creatures.

In 2006, Orchha's buildings were being documented by the LIK Team of IIT Roorkee, India. [11]

A community radio station, Radio Bundelkhand was launched in Orchha on 23 October 2008. It is an initiative of the Development Alternatives Group. The radio station broadcasts daily programs in the Bundeli dialect and devotes significant amount of its broadcast time to local issues, culture, education and the rich tradition of Bundeli folk music. The station is available on 90.4 MHz.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [12] Orchha had a population of 8501. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Orchha has an average literacy rate of 54%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 42%, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Accessibility

Nearest Airport to Orchha is Gwalior Airport.

Orchha is 170 km km and 3 hours drive from Khajuraho Airport which is well connected with other metropolitan cities in India.

Orchha Railway station is on the Jhansi-Manikpur section of the North Central Railways. 15 km from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Orchha also lies close to another popular tourist destination, Khajuraho.

Tourists who wish to visit Orchha from Khajuraho can catch the morning express which leaves at around 8 or 9 AM. Alternatively, they could also avail themselves of the afternoon express which leaves at around 12 or 1 PM. The train journey from Khajuraho is 5 hours and they will ideally be able to get off at Jhansi and grab an autorickshaw or Tuk Tuk for Orchha (costs INR 400). However, if the train halts at Orchha, they can also get off at the Orchha station and grab an autorickshaw to the temple complex.

See also

Related Research Articles

Lalitpur is a city and a municipal board in Lalitpur District, India in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is also district headquarters of Lalitpur district. The city is part of Bundelkhand region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jhansi</span> Metropolis in Uttar Pradesh, India

Jhansi is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Balwant Nagar was the old name of Jhansi. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi district and Jhansi division. Also called the Gateway to Bundelkhand, Jhansi is situated near and around the rivers Pahuj and Betwa at an average elevation of 285 m (935 ft). It is about 420 kilometres (261 mi) from national capital New Delhi and 315 kilometres (196 mi) from state capital Lucknow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tikamgarh</span> City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Tikamgarh is a town and a tehsil in Tikamgarh district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The city serves as a district headquarters. The earlier name of Tikamgarh was Tehri consisting of three hamlets, forming a rough triangle. In Tikamgarh town there is locality still known as 'Purani Tehri'. Until Indian independence in 1947, Tikamgarh, formerly called Tehri, was part of the kingdom of Orchha, which was founded in the 16th century by the Bundeli chief Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha. In 1783 the capital of the state was moved to Tehri, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Orchha, which was home to the fort of Tikamgarh, and the town eventually took the name of the fort. The district is famous for the old fort of Kundar known as Garh Kundar, which was built by Khangars and remained the capital of Khangar rulers from 1180 to 1347.

Satna is a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It serves as the headquarters of Satna district. It is 7th largest city and 8th most populous city of the state. The city is 500 km east of the state capital Bhopal. The city is distributed over a land area of 111.9 square kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jainism in Bundelkhand</span>

Bundelkhand, a region in central India, has been an ancient center of Jainism. It covers northern part of Madhya Pradesh and south western part of Uttar Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tikamgarh district</span> District of Madhya Pradesh in India

Tikamgarh district is one of the 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. Tikamgarh town is the district headquarters. The district is part of Sagar Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalitpur district, India</span> District in Uttar Pradesh, India

Lalitpur District is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India. Lalitpur district is a part of Jhansi Division. Lalitpur is the main town and administrative headquarters. The district occupies an area of 5,039 km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bundela</span> Rajput clan of the Indian subcontinent

The Bundela is a Rajput clan. Over several generations, the cadet lineages of Bundela Rajputs founded several states in area what came to be known as Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom from the 16th century.

Mauranipur is a town and a municipal board in Jhansi district state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Jhansi District. It is the largest tehsils in India by land area. This town was known for textile production, known in ancient times as Madhupuri. Because of its high density of temples, it is known by some locals as Mini-Ayoddhya. Jalvihar Mela and Viman Yatra are the most famous events in Mauranipur. The Kedareshwar temple and the Saprar Dam are located near Mauranipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulpahar</span> City in Uttar Pradesh, India

Kulpahar is a city in Mahoba district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a historical town in the Bundelkhand region. Before 11 Feb 1995 Kulpahar was a Tehsil of Hamirpur District. On 11 Feb 1995 Mahoba District was carved out of Hamirpur, and Kulpahar is now a part of the Mahoba District. Kulpahar is the largest Subdivision of Uttar Pradesh. Kulpahar is known for its closeness to Khajuraho and other historic places like Mahoba, Charkhari, Kalinjar Rath, Orchha, and Jhansi. This town holds relics of temples and man-made water bodies of the Chandela Dynasty

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwalior Fort</span> Fort in Madhya Pradesh, India

The Gwalior Fort, commonly known as the Gwāliiyar Qila, is a hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. The fort has existed at least since the 10th century, and the inscriptions and monuments found within what is now the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century. The modern-day fort, embodying a defensive structure and two palaces was built by the Tomar Rajput ruler Man Singh Tomar. The fort has been administered by a number of different rulers in its history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garh Kundar</span>

Garh Kundar is a small village in the city of [[]], Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh. It has been named so after the splendid fort, or "Garh", of Kundar located here. From 925 to 1507 AD, Garh Kundar fort witnessed many battles and bloodshed. Yashovarma Chandel built the fort after conquering south western Bundelkhand. In the battle between Prithviraj Chauhan and the Chandels in 1182 AD fort commander. Shayaji Parmar lost and the fort came under Prithviraj Chauhan. Then Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan appointed Khetsingh Khangar as the ruler of this fort who founded the Khangar Dynasty afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)</span> Hindu temple in Madhya Pradesh, India

Chaturbhuj Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is situated at Orchha in Madhya Pradesh, India. The name Chaturbhuj is a combination of 'chatur' meaning "four" and 'bhuj' meaning "arms" which literally translates to "one who has four arms" and refers to Rama an Avatar of Vishnu. The temple has a complex multi-storied structural view which is a blend of temple, fort and palatial architectural features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orchha State</span> Princely state of India

Orchha State was a kingdom situated in the Bundelkhand region and later a princely state in British India. The state was ruled by Bundela clan of Rajputs. It was located within what is now the state of Madhya Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vir Singh Deo</span> 17th century Mughal Empire noble, Ruler of Orchha

Raja Vir Singh Ju Deo, also known as Bir Singh Dev, was a Bundela Rajput chief and the ruler of the kingdom of Orchha in the historic Bundelkhand region of modern Madhya Pradesh. He was a vassal of the imperial Mughal Empire. and ruled between the year 1605 and either 1626 or 1627. Vir Singh Deo assassinated the Mughal chronicler and court historian Abul Fazl who was returning from Deccan in a plot contrived by the Mughal Prince Salim later Jahangir. He is also credited to have built the Jhansi Fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khaniadhana State</span> Indian Princely State

Khaniadhana or Khaniyadhana was a princely state of British India ruled by the Judev dynasty of Bundela Rajputs. The capital of the State was Khaniadhana. It was part of the Bundelkhand Agency and later the Central India Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orchha Fort complex</span> Historical monument site in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India

The Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices, is located in the Orchha town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The fort and other structures within it were built by the Bundela Rajputs starting from the early 16th century by King Rudra Pratap Singh of the Orchha State and others who followed him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinman Hardoul Singh</span>

Dinman Hardoul Singh or Lala Hardoul is a Hindu folk deity of Bundelkhand in India. He was the prince of Orchha and the son of maharaja Vir Singh Deo and the brother of Jhujhar Singh. He was born in 1664 and died in 1688 at the age of 24. A temple of Hardoul in Bundelkhand is a centre for pilgrims and according to local beliefs he is still alive and is worshipped as a deity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajput architecture</span> Overview of the architecture by the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan

Rajput architecture is an architectural style notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular tourist attractions, many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bundelkhand Literature Festival</span>

Bundelkhand Literature Festival is a literary festival held annually in Jhansi, a part of Bundelkhand region, in Uttar Pradesh, India.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Orchha"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 170.
  2. ↑ "Orchha". niwari district ] website. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2015. It is included in the UNESCO world heritage cities list in 2020.
  3. ↑ Orchha Archived 18 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine Tikamgarh district Official website.
  4. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 187. ISBN   978-9-38060-734-4.
  5. ↑ Mausoleum of Raja Rudra Pratap Archived 18 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine , British Library.
  6. ↑ Orchha Archived 7 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine British Library.
  7. ↑ "UQconnect, The University of Queensland". Archived from the original on 21 January 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Raj Mandir Archived 12 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine British Library.
  9. ↑ "अयोध्या के श्रीराम का ओरछा से क्या है नाता, जानें 600 साल पुराना इतिहास". आज तक (in Hindi). No. 29 July 2020. Aaj Tak. Aaj Tak. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ram Raja Mandir: ओरछा के राम राजा मंदिर में दर्शन का समय बदला, सुबह 9 और शाम 7 बजे खुलेंगे मंदिर के पट". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). No. 10 October 2022. Amar Ujala. Amar Ujala. 10 October 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Mission Orchha Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
  12. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
Pictures
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.