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Making a monumental discovery

Midway through
Last Updated 21 April 2012, 18:18 IST

Those heading out during the holiday season, should visit Madhya Pradesh and take a closer look at the forgotten fortress and the impressive monuments of Orchha.

The ancient Bundelkhand town in Tikamgarh district stands on the brink of history and has a huge repository of Bundela style of art and architecture. Lying on the banks of River Betwa, Orchha has a plethora of surprises for both pilgrims and discerning tourists. As one enters the town of Orchha, one comes across Shaheed Smarak, built in memory of Chandra Shekhar Azad, the well-known freedom fighter who had sought refuge here during the freedom struggle. Orchha is dotted with scores of plush resorts and there are a number of monuments depicting Bundela architecture, serving as a treat to history buffs. 

One of Orchha’s premier sightseeing spots is the famed Ram Raja Temple, situated in the heart of the town. A unique shrine complex with soaring spires and palatial art, the shrine honours Lord Rama as the king along with the idols of Sita and Lakshmana. The entrance of the main shrine is adorned with silver carvings of Lord Ganesha and the Sun God. The courtyard has the palace of Dinman Hardaul, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, as well as a tiny temple dedicated to Hardaul.

Our next destination was the massive Orchha Fort overlooking the banks of Betwa.

There are three spectacular palaces built on an open quadrangle inside the fort, including Raja Mahal, Raja Praveen Mahal and Jehangir Mahal. The palaces of Bundelkhand stand out from the others for having fortress-like walls. We reached the fort through a multi-arched bridge and made our way towards a three-storied building to enter Raja Mahal, which was built in 1538 AD. The doorway of Raja Mahal displays fine stuccowork and stone carvings. The interiors of the palace come alive with vibrant, colourful murals that are based on religious themes. 

History puts forth that the palace had been inhabited for 200 years. A part of it has now been transformed into a ‘Heritage Interpretation Centre’. We also visited the Bundela Art Gallery that showcases the images of Garuda dating back to 14th century. There are images of Durga, the horse Ashwamedha and Lord Ganesha of the 17th century in the gallery. There is a Sculpture Gallery at Jehangir Mahal that contains inscriptions and Sati Pillars of Orchha. The palace was built to mark the victory of Emperor Jehangir. 

Post lunch, we headed for the prominent cenotaphs or chattris of Orchha on the river banks. We gaped at the cenotaph of Jaswant Singh, who ruled the town from 1675 AD to 1684 A D. The cenotaphs, which have a sanctum sanctorum, are encompassed by a rectangular passage having three arched doors. The presence of arched doors, decorated shikars and the inverted lotus on top of the domes are common features of Bundela architecture. Our next destination was the monumental Chaturbhuj Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna that stands on a huge platform.

While at Orchha, one should not miss out on Laxmi Temple. Built on an elevated and rectangular foundation, the shrine had been the brainchild of Raja Veer Singh Deo in 1622 AD. The shrine comprises a brick structure in the form of a fortress and its interiors are richly adorned with paintings which depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The shrine is one of the best examples of exquisite murals preserved till date.

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(Published 21 April 2012, 11:21 IST)

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