The Magnificent Monuments of Orchha

For a small town in central India, Orchha surprises you with its profusion of well-preserved and uniquely designed historical monuments - palaces, forts, temples and cenotaphs - most of which were built by the Bundela Rajput rulers of Orchha from the 16th century onwards. 
Little known fact: The colossal Chaturbhuj Temple of Orchha has the tallest spire of all ancient Indian temples, at a whopping 344 feet! 

We loved our stay at the Bundelkhand Riverside, an erstwhile hunting lodge of the Maharajas converted into a picturesque resort on the banks of the languid Betwa River.  

The Jahangir Mahal - built in the 16th century by the Bundela ruler Veer Singh Bundela, and named after the Mughal emperor Jahangir.

My son and wife posing in front of the beautifully carved entrance of the palace

The "jali windows" made of perforated stones. The window blocked the harsh sunlight while allowing ventilation. 

From the top floor of the Jahangir Mahal, you can see the Raja Mahal and the misty, towering spires of the Chaturbhuj temple in the distance.

Inside the Raja Mahal

A total of 15 cenotaphs (memorial monuments) to the Bundela kings and their clan members were built on the bank of the Betwa river. These cenotaphs with their towering spires are unlike any other monument of India, and give Orchha its unique character. 

From the ghat you get options of a boat ride on the Betwa River. We took the speed boat ride, since we were short of time.

The Lakshmi Narayana Temple dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance. This temple has square layout with an octagonal spire above the sanctuary - combining architectural aspects of a fort and a temple.

A number of frescoes adorn the walls of the temple. This is Anantasayi Vishnu.

Stories of Krishna.

The spire on the roof of the temple

The Chaturbhuj Temple at Orchha has an unique architecture and is dedicated to the four-handed (i.e. Chaturbhuj) Lord Vishnu. This temple is absolutely colossal, and towers 344 feet above the ground, making it the tallest temple of ancient India!

The Bundelkhand Riverside is an idyllic retreat on the banks of the Betwa river where you can unwind after soaking in the historical sights of Orchha.

Thanks for joining me on this photo-journey to some of the interesting sites of Orchha. As you can see, this small and relatively-unknown town is dotted with lots of attractive monuments. 

The Bundelkhand Riverside is the best place to stay in my opinion, although there are enticing options for staying in palaces that have been converted into hotels such as the Amar Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. A couple of days is needed to cover all the places, without over-exerting yourself. 

Orchha is a distance of about 3 hours from Khajuraho, so you can include both places in your itinerary if you are going there. Happy journey!