The Medieval Times Recount:
Orcha is a city having its origin during the medieval times of 16th Centaury built by Bundela rulers and has many old timed palaces and temples reflecting grand old beauty, which existed in those times. The City was built by a Rajput leader Rudra Pratap Singh. He chose Orcha city as the capital, because it was on the Banks of Betwa river.
Signs of Friendship with Mughal Rulers:
The succeeding Ruler to Rudra Pratap Singh Raja Bir Singh contributed to the splendor of the city by constructing Jehangir Mahal. The palace is constructed in tiers and at the top there are highly graceful umbrella like structures. From the top of this Palace a view of all the temples having long tapering structures and other landmarks of the city.can be viewed with great mind satisfying scene.
Matching with the exterior craftsmanship, the interiors has exhibits of finest paintings of those times. The Laxminarayan Temple has very rich colored paintings on the wall reflecting art depiction of themes based on the religion followed by the local people and other independent thoughts of the medieval times. There are a number of memorial monuments constructed for posterity and tell their own history of their presence and add to the artistic beauty of the city.
The Congregation of Orcha Palaces:
There is a Fort Complex, which accommodates three grand palaces very near to each other. One of three palaces is Jehangir Mahal constructed by Raja Bir Singh during the Seventeenth century marking the visit of Emperor Jehangir topped with exquisite Umbrella like structures and is a combination of rich art of the period.
Raj Mahal was constructed by Madhukar Shah, a highly religious personality and was predecessor to Raja Bir Singh Ju Deothe
Paramour Memorial:
In those times a poetess and musician, Rai Praveen was extremely beautiful paramour of Raja Indramani during the period 1672-76. She went to Delhi on the summons of Emperor Akbar, who also deeply impressed by her. She impressed upon Emperor her love for Indramani and the Emperor sent her back to Orcha. The Rai Praveen Mahal palace built as a memorial in her name.
Very majestically landscaped gardens of Anand Mahal has octagonal flower beds and bountiful of water supply system to keep the gardens ever green. There is highly Skill fully made structure allowing natural light into the Mahan having a Central Hall surrounded by small chambers.
Chaturbhuj Temple:
It was constructed on a huge stone platform, from where there are very high steps converging into the temple shape. The temple was supposed to have Idol of lord Ram, which was later on left to the wishes of Idol of Ram. The exterior are decorative symbols of lotus and other religious symbols.
Ram Raja Mandir:
It is a palace-turned-temple has a very attractive story behind. King Madhukar Shah had brought an idol of Lord Rama from Ayodhya to Orcha being the realization of a dream he had and later on it was installed in Chaturbhuj Temple. On attempting and having failed to move the idol and felt that it is the wish of the deity to remain where it is. Now there are high tapering structures built at the temple site and it is one of the finest temples in India and Ram is worshipped as a king.
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Before considering how to get to Orcha, it becomes necessary what is at Orcha the following description shall create a desire to know how to get to Orcha:
Orcha the Hidden Wonder:
Orcha is a town situated near the Banks of Betwa River, which is located in Madhya Pradesh a state of India. It is a city of medieval times comprised of temples and splendid palaces of the past. Orcha has been a very mighty kingdom of Central India founded by Bundela Rajput Rudra Pratap. The palaces still have the glory of the past telling the tales and tastes of the rulers of those times.
Orcha is of great interest of Tourists because it reflects ancient history of Kings and Kingdoms, which have vanquished the world over and their descendents are left with just the titles and memories of the past, with the modern civilization having tramped them in all corners of the world.
Getting to Orcha:
Orcha can be reached by boarding a train from Hazrat Nizamudin/New Delhi Taj Expresses, which starts at about 7.00 touching Agra the Town of 7th Wonder Taj Mahal, reaching Gawalior. From Gawalior a train takes to Jhansi. From Jhansi Orcha is only 15 Kilometers, which can be traveled by an Auto rickshaw. The distance from Jhansi to Orcha can be traveled within 30 minutes.
Orcha can also be combined with Khajuraho a prominent place of tourist attraction. One reaches Jhansi from Khajuraho and can follow the trip to Orcha as above. At the outskirts of Jhansi there is a Tringular crossing commonly known as Orcha Tigalia. A road on left takes you to Orcha. Follow the Direction as displayed on the sign post on the road.
Reaching Orcha:
Orcha has a Railway Station, where only few trains stop. Jhansi Khajuraho Train No.229A only stops at the Railway Station. The Orcha Railway station is again 5 Kilometers away from Orcha Town. From Orcha Railway station one can travel to town by an auto rickhaw, which is available outside Orcha Railway Station. One can travel as a share passenger or engage auto rickshaw exclusively.
On return journey also you can get Khajuraho-Jhansi Train No.230 A. Enquire the Train Timings from Jhansi Railway Station.
Since the only Link available to Orcha town is after reaching Jhansi, it is necessary that one show now how to reach Jhansi first.
The nearest Airports to Jhansi are located at Gawalior 103 kilometers and Khajuraho 175 kilometers. Tourists prefer to take the flight service to Khajuraho, see the tourist spots here and then move to Orcha.
Jhansi is junction lying on Mumbai (Bombay) Delhi route and Delhi Madras train route. It falls in the jurisdiction of Central Railway and is well linked to all destinations scattered in the country. Following are the trains which pass through Jhansi:
Trains Originating from East of India:
Dakshin Express, Chambal Exp, Bundelkhand Exp, Kushinagar Exp, Pushpak Exp, Rapti Sagar Exp, Sabarmati Exp, Mahakoshal Exp, Kerala Express, Bju Gwl Mail, And Rjpb Indb Expre.
Trains Originating from Delhi:
Gondwana Expres, Jhelum Express, Punjab Mail, Bhopal Express, G T Express, Kerala Express,
Swarna Jayanti, Ujjaiyani Exp, Karnataka Exp, Ujjaiyani Exp and Chhatisgarh Exp.
National Highways numbered NH 25 and 26 pass through Jhansi, which connects Jhansi to Cities like Agra, Indor.
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Orcha & its Hotels:
Orcha has great splendor depicted by the presence temples and palaces built by the Bundela Rajput rulers of Orcha to give the testimony of their beliefs, likings and tastes for architecture to the generations to come. Since the place is full ancient history kept alive, it has great prominence among the tourists visiting Orcha from destinations all over the world. The number of tourist visiting has increased tremendously over the past years.
A number of Good Hotels have come up at Orcha to accommodate the increasing of tourists to the town and have the true local décor of furnishings in the rooms providing great satisfactions living in these hotels and they recommend them to their friends, who plan to come to Orcha to view the rich grandeur of the town.
Category of Hotels:
The Hotels at Orcha are classified as Heritage Hotels providing excellent Indian hospitality amidst the ancient settings of the building they are housed in. One can feel the past glory and traditions by the paintings adoring the hotel rooms and rare artifacts displayed in the hotel.
First Class Hotels take care of the extravagance the foreign tourist accustomed to and their hotel service has an International Hotel touch.
Budget hotels provide all the basic amenities and are very popular among locals and low budget travelers, who have the objective of visiting many places with in the budget.
One thing, which is very common in all the Orcha Hotels, is that their location is very strategically suiting the tourist to visit all the temples and palaces of interest without having to cover long distances, which happens in other towns they visit.
Looking after Comforts of Tourists:
Hotels of Orcha ensure that their guests enjoy their stay and become their ambassadors in recommending the hotel they stayed in to their friends planning to visit Orcha.
The tourists on a low budget also find a smiling welcome service at the hotels they live in because the hotels have been looking to the foreign tourists and the hotel staff ensures that their guest is comfortable and satisfied because their business depends on guest satisfaction.
All the Hotels have their in house restaurant and provide best prepared variety oriental dishes, snacks and some of popular international food items with good service.
When planning a trip to Orcha, there is no need to be worried about, where to stay and what to eat.
Orcha Hotels:
Amar Mahal Orchha:
Amar Mahal is a Super Heritage Hotel located in Orchha. There is Rich Evidence of Royal Bundelkhandi Style Architecture. It provides the rare feeling of getting close to rich cultural history of the brave Bundel warriors. Royal Hospitality and matching comfort offer a wonderful Great Holiday style Value putting a sweet mark down the memory lane.
Majestic Rooms at Amar Mahal, Orchha:
Amar Mahal Orcha has more than Forty Superb Guest Rooms are Spacious having contemporary furnishings and Interior Decorations and Rare artifacts, stylish furniture which give the rooms the a sense of Royal Touch and lot of Comforts by providing all the modern amenities, which satisfies completely the needs of an international tourist.
Dining at Amar Mahal, Orchha:
Orchha’s Amar Mahal restaurant offers multi cuisine consisting of Indian, Continental and Chinese food. The Guest has a very rich gastronomical experience trying a number of dishes during his stay at Orcha.
There is a Café in the hotel, which allows the guest to enjoy coffee and read famous novels and best literature publishing available satisfying varied tastes and choices of the guests.
A abundantly stocked bar offers one chance to have taste of Grand Oriental and Foreign Liquors munching freshly baked Peanuts, cashews and pistachos.
Business at Amar Mahal, Orchha:
It is a nice setting for hosting Conferences and business meetings away form the madding crowd in a large conference room cum Banquet Hall.
The hotel has options to provide the Group tourists recreational facilities and entertainment.
Services:
There are services of Car Parking, Currency Exchange, Medical assistance, Car rental and Travel desk.
Hotel Savoy:
Accomodation 34 Rooms
Just near Old World of Charms, there is a contemporary facility of Hotel Orchha Resort, which has the distinction of a true first class hotel in Orchha. It has been created incorporating the ancient village theme true to Orcha style architecture. The Guest rooms have all the modern amenities.
Kaleva Restaurant – It is in-house restaurant of the hotel. The guests can fulfill their urge to have experience of tasting delicacies satisfying their taste buds. There are vegetarian, Continental, Chinese and local delicacies with rich aroma of oriental spices for a very satisfying smell and taste experience.
Bar – Hotel Orchha Resort has great variety of choicest oriental and foreign drinks.
Bundelkhand Riverside Hotel Orchha:
Accommodation Capacity 29 Rooms.
It is one of great options suiting persons who visit Orchha and do not want to put strain on their budget. It has plenty of comfort providing and memorable stay, which is very economically priced. It is situated very near River Betwa and offer genuine scenic view of river flowing with calm and provides excellent living experience.
The Guest Rooms are nicely furnished having categories of Deluxe Room and Standard Room. It is in reality a Home away from home with natural settings.
Sheesh Mahal Hotel Orchha:
Accomodation Capacity 8 Rooms.
It has been created to provide genuine comfortable living to travelers offering moderate rates and all the facilities looking to their comfort and needs. True to its name it has plenty of mirrors used in its decoration. Externally it has blue glasses.
Besides Maharaja and Maharani Suite, there are double rooms, twin sharing rooms and single rooms, meeting the actual needs of guest.
Dining at Sheesh Mahal Hotel, Orchha:
The Guests have wonderful experience to have economically priced highly delicious dishes served in the restaurant of the hotel.
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The 16th Century City:
Orcha is a city having its prominence related to the 16th and 17th Century, when the various Orcha kings settled on this land and made it as capital of their kingdom and like all other kingdoms of the times had built massive Royal Palaces and temples to mark their rule over the territory.
orcha
The Settlement of kingdom:
The First to arrive on the scene was a Rajput leader Rudra Pratap, who preferred the location as his kingdom because it was situated on the Banks of Betawa River. Other succeeding prominent ruler of the clan was Raja Bir Singh ju Deo, who built Jehangir Mahal, which is a tiered structure and has a number of highly decorative, umbrella like structures on it a sign of Orcha Rule over the area of the kingdom. The Jehangir Palace has very highly decorative exterior designs reflecting the royal taste and the interior walls are having rich paintings pertaining to the Orcha art was developing exclusively different from the arts of other regions.
orcha
The Panoramic View:
Over the top of Jehangir Mahal one can have the view of the entire city, having Palaces, Temples and Memorials of medieval times. It has a very panoramic beauty filled look and is a place of attraction from visitors across the globe, having interest in studying various civilizations regarding how they developed their fine art, which still looks fresh and has the tales of the past coming live, when viewed.
The Prominent Places past glory and attraction are the following master pieces created by the ten rulers for posterity:
Chaturbhuj Temple:
It has been constructed on a huge stone based platform, from where there are very high steps converging into the temple shape. The temple was constructed to install image of Ram on it, but when all the attempts to remove the heavy image from Rama Raj temple failed, it was understood that the wish of the idol of Ram is to remain in Raja Ram temples and was allowed to remain there after.
The exterior of Chatturbhuj Temple is highly decorated with big structures of lotus and other religious symbols on its walls. The interiors of the Chatturbhuj Temple have very richly colored paintings depicting Orcha Art as it existed in those times and is significantly different from other arts which exist in the temples of other regions.
Ram Raja Mandir:
it is a palace-turned-temple has a very attractive story behind it. King Madhukar Shah had brought an idol of Lord Rama from Ayodhya to Orcha as the realization of a dream he had dreamt and later on it was to be installed in Chaturbhuj Temple, which was under construction for the purpose, but the story changed the very purpose of building Chatterbhuj temple.
According to the story the Idol of Lord Rama was attempted to shift to the newly built Chatturbhuj Temple, but all the attempts failed to move the heavy lord Rama Idol. Seeing this King felt that the Lord Ramah Idol does not wish to be installed at Chatturbhuj Temple. So at the last moment it was decided to let the Lord Rama Idol remain in Ram Raja Mandir only fulfilling the wish of the Idol.
Now there are high tapering construction is built at the temple site and it is one of the finest temples in India and Ram is worshipped as a king. The interior walls of the temple have very rich painting of the medieval times depicting the culture and love of the people for the art.
Laxminarayan Temple and Ram Raja Temple:
They are linked by a highly decorated Flag Stone Path. It is a mixture of palace as well as temple marking the origin and the purpose for which it is used.
The other places of interest are:
Phool Bagh with central row of fountains and was a summer retreat for the Orcha kings. It has a system of water collection, where water collected after falling from the roof in droplet forms in a receptacle called Chandan Katora and looked like artificial rainfall in eth underground palace.
Dinman Hardaul’s Memorial: Hardaul was son of Bir Singh Ju Deo was killed at this place on a charge of suspicion, people believe that he was innocent and is worshipped.
Sunder Mahal palace:
Presently in a ruin state and is visited by Muslims for a pilgrimage. Dhurjban son of Jhujhar, was converted to Islam by wedding a Muslim girl at Delhi.
There are fourteen in number umbrella like structures in memory of rulers of Orcha, lining the Kanchana Ghats of river Betwa.
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