Orchha Fort Complex and Temple Heritage Tour
Get picked up from your accommodation in Khajuraho and transfer to the Orchha Fort Complex. Some of the highlights of the complex are:
Jehangir Mahal: Built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo in the 17th century to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. Its strong lines are counterbalanced by delicate chhatris and trellis work.
Raja Mahal: Situated to the right of the quadrangle, this palace was built by Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo. The plain exteriors, crowned by chhatris, give way to interiors with exquisite murals, boldly colourful and based on various religious themes.
Rai Praveen Mahal: Poetess and musician Rai Praveen was the beautiful paramour of Raja Indramani (1672-76). The palace built for her is a low, two-storeyed brick structure, designed to match the height of the trees in the surrounding beautiful landscaped gardens of Anand Mahal, with its octagonal flower bed and elaborate water supply system. Skillfully carved niches allow light into the Mahal, which has a main hall and smaller chambers.
Ram Raja Temple: This palace-turned-temple has a charming legend attached to it. Today, with its soaring spires and palatial architecture, the temple is surely one of the most unusual in India. It is also the only one in the country where Rama is worshipped as a king.
Chaturbhuj Temple: Built upon a massive stone platform and reached by a steep flight of steps, the temple was specially constructed to enshrine the image of Ram that remained in the Ram Raja Temple. Lotus emblems and other symbols of religious significance provide the delicate exterior ornamentation.
Laxmi Narayana Temple: A flagstone path links this temple with the Ram Raja Temple. The style is an interesting synthesis of fort and temple moulds. The interiors contain the most exquisite of Orchha's wall paintings. Covering the walls and ceiling of three halls, these murals are vibrant compositions and cover various spiritual and secular subjects.
Phool Bagh: Laid out as a formal garden, the complex testifies to the refined aesthetic qualities of the Bundelas. A central row of fountains culminates in an eight-pillared palace pavilion. A subterranean structure below was the cool summer retreat of the Orchha kings. An ingenious water ventilation system connected the underground palace with Chandan Katora, a bowl-like structure from whose fountains droplets of water filtered through to the roof, simulating rainfall.
