ORCHHA - Medieval
Legacy in Stone
DATIA - SONAGIRI
Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time; a rich legacy to the ages. For, on this medieval city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection.
Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain Rudra Pratap who choose this stretch of land along the Betwa river as an ideal site for his capital. Of the succeeding rulers, the most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahaal a tiered palace crowned by graceful. From here the view of soaring temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular.
Complementing the noble proportions of their exteriors are interiors which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. In the Laxminarayan Temple, vibrant murals encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes, bring the walls and ceilings to rich life.
Strewn around the area are little shrines and memorials, each with its own poignant history, each contributing to the nostalgic beauty that is Orchha.
HOW TO GET THERE :
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Air : Nearest airport is Gwalior (119 km), connected with Delhi, Bhopal, Indore, and Bombay, Khajuraho (170 Km) is connected with Delhi, Agra and Varanasi.
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Rail : Nearest railhead at Jhansi (16 Km), on the Bombay - Delhi and Delhi - Madras main lines. All major mail and express trains stop at Jhansi.
DATIA : 34 km from Jhansi, Datia is a railway station on the Delhi-Madras main line. An ancient town, it has been mentioned in the Mahabharat as "Daityavakra". The main historical monument here is the seven-storied palace of Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo, built atop a hill with a splendid view over a lake. A temple with Mughal style frescoes and the Gopeshwar Temple are other attractions here. It is also a pilgrimage spot for devotees of Siddhapeeth Shri Peetambara Devi.
SONAGIRI : 45 km from Jhansi, this sacred Jain hill lies 3 km to the north-west of Datia. There are some 77 Jain temples, built along the hill and its slopes which date back to the 17th century. Of these, the temple dedicated to Chatranatha, the 8th of the 24 Tirthankaras, is the most beautiful.
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Last modified: 26/02/2004