Orchha Travel Guide

A historic town in Madhya Pradesh tucked along the banks of River Betwa, Orchha boasts an exquisite Mughal influence in its Rajput architectures. The literal meaning of Orchha refers to a ‘Hidden Palace’ on which the town stands true as it is one of the concealed solitaires of the state Madhya Pradesh. With a calm and composed ambiance, Orchha is a perfect place to visit in Madhya Pradesh for travellers, especially for history buffs as the town houses some ancient constructions in the form of palaces, royal cenotaphs and temples. It was Rudra Pratap – The Chief of Bundela Rajput, who founded the town of Orchha in the 16th-century. Orchha is also the place where Betwa River separates into seven channels, famed as Satdhara. As per the folklore, these seven channels commemorate the erstwhile chiefs of Orchha. The monuments here take tourists back to the time when the town was under the reign of Rajputs. A visit to the town of Orchha is indeed a magical experience which one could hardly get to savour.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Being one of the historical tourist attractions in Madhya Pradesh, the town of Orchha houses an impressive list of palaces, temples and other monuments that are worth exploring.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Jahangir Mahal

Located inside the Orchha Fort Complex, Jahangir Mahal is a fortress that was built for Mughals. With a Mughal architectural design, Jahangir Mahal is a three-storeyed construction the beauty of which is still intact that makes it one of the most important tourist places in Orchha. Besides, the architecture of this fortress also includes domes which are beautifully carved in Timurid customs. The massive gates, gorgeous lawns are some important key features in Jahangir Mahal.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Ram Raja Temple

Ram Raja Temple is the 16th-century construction that was earlier the place for the wife of Madhukar Shaha. There is an interesting legend behind the transformation of this palace into a temple. It goes like, during the time of Chaturbhuj Temple’s construction the idols of Lord Rama were temporarily installed in the premises of Queen’s Palace. However, later, during the time of shifting, the idols refused to relocate. In this way, this part of the palace got consecrated into a temple. A unique fact associated with Chaturbhuj temple is that it is the only temple where Lord Rama is commemorated as a king and is given a gun salute every day.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Chaturbhuj Temple

Built in the 16th-century by the Bundela Rajput Kings, Chaturbhuj Temple is also known by the name Raja Ram Temple. The temple was supposed to house the idol of Lord Rama which has now installed in Ram Raja Temple. Presently, Chatturbhuj Temple is sacred to Lord Vishnu. The name Chaturbhuj stands for ‘one with the four arms’ and in Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu is said to be the Chaturbhuj. Being one of the oldest of their kind Chatturbhuj is a popular temple on Orchha which dots innumerable devotees every day. Besides, the temple complex also includes the idols of Lord Krishna along with Radha.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary

Sprawls over a large area of 45 sq km, Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary is a dwelling land of numerous wild species. The sanctuary was founded in the year 1994 and since then it has been pioneering the tourism scene of Orchha. Being one of its kind in the region, Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top tourist attractions in Orchha for travellers, especially for wildlife buffs. Tiger, leopard, langur, sloth bear, jackal, and blue bull are some popular wild creatures that you can expect to see in here. Besides, it is also an ideal place for bird lovers as the sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of birds. Of those, the migratory ones are woodpeckers, owls, kingfisher, jungle blush quail, geese and black swan.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Laxmi Narayan Temple

Established in the 16th-century by Bir Singh Deo, Laxmi Narayan Temple is reckoned to be one of three revered Hindu temples in Orchha mainly because of their high sacred significance and historical importance. Devoted to Goddess Laxmi, the temple boasts an impressive architectural design which is a perfect blend of fort and temple. Besides, the architecture of the temple also includes beautiful mural paintings that dot the walls of this shrine. Being one of the oldest places of tourist interests in Orchha, Laxmi Narayan Temple has a huge hype amongst tourists, and hence, it remains thronged with oodles of travellers throughout the years.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Chhatris

Built to honour the contribution of the kings of Bundelkhand dynasty, Chhatris are the gorgeous royal tombs located on the banks of River Betwa in Orchha. Constructed on an elevated platform, the 14 tombs of Chhatris boast enticing paintings that together is the key feature of this tourist site in Orchha. On a whole, Chhatris are the epitome of the glorious cultural heritage of the past. During the dusk time, this site becomes altogether different with the reflection of tombs in the water of the river, which is a sight to behold.

Popular Tourist Attractions

Raja Mahal

Another historic architecture in Orchha that dates back to the 16th-century is Raja Mahal. Comfortably standing inside the complex of Orchha Fort. The exotic architecture of Raja Mahal is what that attracts the eyes of a lot of tourists. Inside the Mahal, there are also located the murals of deities and other mythical people. Through the lattice windows, one can expect to catch some pretty views of the surroundings. These windows are built strategically to maintain the sunlight and the temperature of this royal palace. It is also said that the palace also includes various secret passages.

Best Places to Stay & Things to Do in & around Orchha

Accommodation

The town of Orchha offers a large option of hotels and resorts for tourists to choose from. The accommodation options in Orchha come in almost all the budget options, whether standard, deluxe or budget. Moreover, these hotels and resorts guarantee to deliver the best of their services and arrangements. Besides, they also ensure a great comfort of the guests to make their holiday indelible.

To get a good option of hotels and resorts in Orchha, tourists can search in the regions of Tikamgarh, Kothi Ghat, main bazaar and near to Betwa River. Besides, in the luxury options, the town treats tourists in a special way; there are heritage hotels that proffer the top-notch stay in Orchha. Hotel Sheesh Mahal is one prominent name in the luxury hotels in Orchha that has a huge hype amongst tourists.

Top Things to Do

Apart from its enthralling tourist attractions, the town of Orchha is also famous for its markets and bazaars. Therefore, a tour to Orchha is incomplete without a shopping experience. The Village Bazaar and Sipri Bazaar two popular shopping sites in Orchha. Besides shopping, a gourmet tour is a must while vacationing in Orchha. Mawa baati, malpua, bhutte ki kees, chakki ki shaak, and khoprapak are some popular local delicacies that are loved by tourists travelling in Orchha.

Nearby Places to Visit

From Orchha, tourists also prefer to visit other popular destinations located nearby the town. Khajuraho is the famous nearby place to visit from Orchha that is located at a distance of around 168 km. The town of Khajuraho is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Hindu and Jain temple that houses erotic carvings on their walls. The historic town of Jhansi is another popular tourist destination nearby Orchha which is located at a distance of just km. Panna is also a popular town in Madhya Pradesh which is a day trip away from Orchha. Renowned for proffering an unforgettable wildlife experience in Panna National Park, Panna is situated at a distance of just 199 km from Orchha.

Best Time to Visit Orchha

The town of Orchha remains accessible in all the seasons, however, the best season to visit is winter because of the pleasant weather conditions. On the other hand, summer and monsoon boast unfavourable weather conditions.

Summer

23°C to 47°C, March – June

Commences in the month of March, the summer season in Orchha receives hot and humid weather conditions. The temperature during this time reached up to 47°C making weather condition unfavourable for tourists. However, despite this, a significant footfall of tourists can still be seen here in the summer season. The season ends in the month of June.

Winter

7°C to 32°C, October – February

Indeed, winter is the best time to visit Orchha that starts in the month of October. Throughout this time, the temperature of the town drops down to 7°C making favourable weather conditions for tourism. During the sesason, the town receives a larger chunk of travellers. The month of February brings the end of the winter season in Orchha.

Monsoon

27°C to 36°C, July – September

The months of monsoon in Orchha are all about heavy rainfall that makes the town all wet. Due to this, tourists do not get explore the place to its fullest. However, the imposing architectures of the town get washed up with the first showering of the season that also blooms up their grandeur.

How to Reach Orchha?

Tourists can reach Orchha through any mean of transport, whether rail, road or air. Yet, the best mean to reach Orchha is the railway because of the impressive connectivity.

Gwalior Airport serves as the nearest airhead to Orchha. The airport is very well connected with all the major cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The distance between the airport and the town is around 132 km. From the airport, tourists can hire a cab to reach the destination in Orchha. Though bit expensive, yet, the airway is the most ideal way to reach Orchha for travellers, especially for those prefer time over money.

The town of Orchha is also quite easily accessible from nearby towns and cities through roads and national highways network. Orchaa is 18 km from Jhansi, 123 km from Gwalior, 97 km from Lalitpur, 151 km from Isagarh and 367 km from Jabalpur. Buses from these places ply on a regular interval that will give you the access of Orchha. Besides, tourists can also prefer a self-drive from these destinations to reach the town of Orchha.

With a vast Indian Rail Network, the railway is the best way to reach Orchha from any corner of the country. Jhansi Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead from the town which is located at a distance of mere 18 km. From the station, tourists can either hire a bus or can also book a taxi to reach the destination.