A Quest To The Hidden Gems Of Orchha This Vacation
Orchha is often shadowed by the other tourist hotspots of Madhya Pradesh, like Khajuraho. Orchha is special with its unique architecture and rich paintings. Visit the hidden city this holiday to explore another unknown faced of India.
Travel Back In History
Orchha takes you back in the fairytale land of Indian royals. The Orchha Fort complex consists of various palaces, like the Raj Mahal and the Jahangir Palace. The Raj Mahal depicts the religious beliefs of the time. The palace is graced with murals of Hindu deities. Every chamber of the palace opens new doors of culture and traditions of the 17th century.
Jahangir Mahal, also built in the 17th century, is adorned with delicate chattris and trellis work. Rai Parveen Mahal is a lover’s abode, narrating the beautiful love story of King Indramani and poetess Rai Parveen.
The Cenotaphs or chattris at the banks of Betwa River were built to pay tribute to the 14 monarchs of Orchha. These cenotaphs exhibit intricate carvings.
Imbibe The Spirituality
Prayers get a new dimension at the serene environment of Orchha. The Ram Raja Temple comes with an amazing story. It was planned to keep the deities in a Chaturbhuj temple; but once the deities were placed on the ground it was impossible to remove them and hence a temple was built at site. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is pretty with its pink and yellow hue.
The Chaturbhuj temple remains vacant but is elegant with its religious symbols of lotus and many more. The hidden stairs of the temple take you to the roof from where you can get a panoramic view of the whole city.
The Laxminarayan Temple is a treasure house of Orchha paintings. The vibrant coloured paintings portray various events from Indian mythology. The most astonishing fact is that the images are still vivid and intact.
The Sunder Mahal is a pilgrimage for the Muslims. Dhurjban, son of Jhujhar embraced Islam when he wedded a Muslim girl at Delhi. He came back and stayed here to spend the rest of his life amidst prayers and mediation and ultimately people started considering him as a saint.
Relax and Revive
Orchha is a peace hamlet and hence best place for you to enjoy a stress free vacation. After a long day trip to the monuments and temples rest your tired feet over the soft grass of Phool Bagh. This summer retreat consists an underground palace and fountains, the unique architectural efficacy of the artisans have helped to create artificial rainfall over the palace.
If you love water sports, an Orchha tour is a gift for you. River Betwa is known for its rapids and hence apt to go for river rafting. Tourists can opt for 90 mins or 3 hrs package. The 90 mins rafting is from Kanchana Ghat to Shiva Ghat and the 3 hrs ride is from Shiva Ghat to Note Ghat.
Last but not the least pay homage to the great Indian freedom fighter, Chandra Shekar Azad at Shahid Smarak.
Shop for Souvenirs
The Dokra statues and Baster handicrafts of Orchha are the best things that you can take back as memory while the Bundela paintings can add an exquisite look to your house.
Treat Yourself
As the crystalline waters of River Betwa ripple round you, relish the authentic cuisines of Madhya Pradesh at Orchha. From kusli, lavang lata, jalebi, pilaf with peas to indori puri palak ki, baflas, kebabs and biryani, you will be spoilt for choices here.
With its tranquil atmosphere, dense forests, free flowing rivers and glorious history, Orchha is an ideal spot for family vacation.