12 Orchaa
MP Tour
Orchaa (meaning hidden place) was founded in 1531 as the capital of Bundelas. A wonderful complex of palaces and temples in a scenic setting of spires, domes & ramparts on the Betwa river
14th December 2005:
Started from Khajuraho's Gautama hotel at 7:20 am and drove via Chattarpur to Orchaa arr: at 11 am
Between 11 and 2:30 pm saw all the Orccha sights viz. Raj Mahal, Rama-Raja Temple, Jehangir Mahal Chaturbhuj, Laxmi Temple . After sight-seeing got a haircut from a Orchaa road-side barber! Had lunch and left for Jhansi at 2:30pm
Raj Mahal Palace, Orchaa
Jehangir Mahal ... as seen from Raj Mahal, Orchha
Courtyard of Raj Mahal Palace
Amazing Murals on the walls and ceilings of Raj Mahal, Orchha, MP
All the emporer's wives painted inside the elephant!
Jali-window in Raj Mahal
Raj Mahal courtyard
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Jehangir Mahal, Orchha
Jehangir Mahal Court yard
Decorated Doorway Jehangir Mahal
Elephant at Doorway
Jehangir Mahal - roof level
A marriage procession in Orchaa
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14th December 2005: Afternoon
In the afternoon had a look at the deserted ruins of Chaturbhuj Temple and later drove to the out-lying Laxmi Narayan Temple.
Chaturbhuj Temple
Murals painting on walls and ceilings ...... at Raj Mahal, Orchaa
Mural of Kishna with Gopis ... Raj Mahal Palace, Orchha
Chaturbhuj Temple as seen from a jali-window in Raj Mahal
View from courtyard of Jehangir Mahal
Roof balconies, terraces, ramparts on Jehangir Palace
View of Orchha skyline from Jehangir Mahal roof
Wedding Hall ...... outside Ram Raja Temple, Orchaa
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Chaturbhuj Temple at Orchha
Jehangir Mahal from a Chaturbhuj window
Laxmi Temple front entrance and right wing
Mural on ceiling of Laxmi temple
Roof-top Minarets on top of Laxmi temple
Orchha Skyline ..... from the roof-terrace of Laxmi Temple
Two walls of the Triangular Courtyard meet here
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Roof-top views on Laxmi temple
Laxmi Temple Tower
Laxmi Temple (AD 1622) Orchha
Ceiling Mural at Laxmi Temple
Laxmi Temple - left wing
Mural Paintings on Ceilings
Laxmi Temple - sign post put up by Archeological Dept.
Looking up at the roof Chatri
After seeing Laxmi temple, I left Orchaa at 2:30pm and drove to Jhansi and had a look at Bundela-style palace of Rani Lakshmibai "Rani Mahal" there (no cameras allowed there). By 4:30 left Jhansi and headed west on NH-25 and drove to Shivpuri (6:15pm) and stayed night in Hotel Delhi (Rs 400)
15th December 2005: Left Shivpuri at 5:15 am and headed south on NH-3 passing Guna, Biyavara, Sarangpur and reached 12:30 pm Dewas an dwithdrew ATM cash and filled Diesel and had lunch here. Again started at 4:00pm bye-passed Indore and stopped for night-stay at Pithampur near Mahua, at a nice Sardarji-run Hotel Sadhana on the Highway. Got a room for Rs 300/- and nice punjabi food.
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16th December 2005: Started at 6:30am and did continuous driving more or less for 8 hrs / 400Kms till I reached Nashik at 4:30pm. Stayed there for the night at Hotel Abhishek with a room at Rs 320/-
17th December 2008: Left Nashik at 7:00 am and arrived home at Thane by 9:00am
One of the Minaret-like towers
