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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Orchha
| other_name =
| settlement_type = town
| image_skyline = {{photomontage
| photo1a = Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha.jpg
| photo1b = Facade of Jahangir Mahal.jpg
| photo2a = Lakshmi Temple, Orchha.jpg
| photo2b = Courtyard inside Raj Mahal.jpg
| color = #FFFFFF
| size = 300
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = (clockwise from top) [[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbhuj Temple]], [[Jahangir Mahal, Orchha|Jahangir Mahal]], Raja Mahal, Lakshmi Temple
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Madhya Pradesh#India3
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|25.35|N|78.64|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Niwari district|Niwari]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 552
| population_total = 8501
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 07680
| registration_plate = MP-36
| website = www.ramrajatempleorchha.com
| footnotes =
}}

'''Orchha''' (or Urchha) is a town in Niwari district of [[Madhya Pradesh]] state, [[India]]. The town was established by [[Rudra Pratap Singh]] some time after 1501, as the seat of [[Orcha State|an eponymous]] former [[princely state]] of covering parts of central & north India, in the [[Bundelkhand]] region.<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Orchha |volume=20 |page=170}}</ref> Orchha lies on the [[Betwa River]], 80 km from [[Tikamgarh]] & 15 km from [[Jhansi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=or>{{cite web |title=Orchha |url=http://tikamgarh.nic.in/tourism.htm |publisher= niwari district ] website }} It is included in the UNESCO world heritage cities list in 2020.
</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Orchha State}}
Orchha was founded in 1531 (the 16th century AD)<ref>[http://tikamgarh.nic.in/tourism.htm Orchha] [[Tikamgarh district]] Official website.</ref> by the [[Bundela]] [[Rajput]] chief, Rudra Pratap Singh,<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=187}}</ref> who became the first King of Orchha, (r. 1501-1531) and also built the Fort of Orchha.<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/m/019pho000430s21u00011000.html Mausoleum of Raja Rudra Pratap], [[British Library]].</ref> The [[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbhuj Temple]] was built during the reign of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]], by the queen of Orchha, Ganesh Kunwar (गणेश कुँवर),<ref>[http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000050S2U00134000 Orchha] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207053923/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000050S2U00134000 |date=7 February 2009 }} British Library.</ref> while ''Raj Mandir'' was built by 'Raja Madhukar Shah' during his reign, 1554 to 1591.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/o/orchha.html|title=UQconnect, The University of Queensland|access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S4U00056000 Raj Mandir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112035021/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S4U00056000 |date=12 January 2012 }} [[British Library]].</ref>
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220" perrow="3">
File:Ram Raja Temple, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India.jpg|[[Ram Raja Temple]]
File:Royal Chhatris on the bank of Betwa River.jpg|Royal [[Chhatris]]
File:Purana Mandir.jpg|Purana Mandir
File:Orchha Fort and Bridge.jpg|[[Orchha Fort complex]]
</gallery>

==Places of tourist interest==
[[File:View of Raja Mahal from Jahangir Mahal with Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple in the background, Tikamgarh.jpg|center|thumb|696x696px|<center>View of Raja Mahal from [[Jahangir Mahal]] with Ram Raja Temple and [[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbhuj Temple]] in the background.</center>]]
On a seasonal island on the bank of the [[Betwa River]], which has been surrounded by a battlement wall, stands a huge palace-fort. The fort consists of several connected buildings erected at different times, the most noteworthy of which is the ''Raja Mahal''.

[[File:Old temple, Orchha.jpg|right|thumb|[[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbhuj Temple]] at Orchha, is noted for having one of the [[List of tallest Gopurams#Tallest Vimana|tallest Vimana]] among [[Hindu temple]]s standing at 344 feet.]]
The [[Ram Raja Temple]] is built on a square base and has an almost entirely plain exterior, relieved by projecting windows and a line of delicate domes along the summit. The [[Jahangir Mahal]] is built on a rectangular base and is relieved by a circular tower at each corner surmounted by a dome, while two lines of graceful balconies supported on brackets mark the central storeys. The roof is crowned by eight large fluted domes, with smaller domes between them, connected by an ornamental balustrade. The Jahangir Mahal is considered to be a singularly beautiful specimen of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] architecture.<ref name=EB1911/> A point worth mentioning here is that the mother of Jahangir, Mariam-uz-Zamani, was a Rajput princess. It is with this in mind that the Rajput king of Orchha had built the Jahangir Mahal. There is a spectacular light and sound show in the evening hours in the Jahangir Mahal. The show displays the history of the city of Orchha and the [[Jahangir Mahal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mptourism.com/dest/orchha.html|title=Madhya Pradesh Destinations|access-date=23 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990222021409/http://www.mptourism.com/dest/orchha.html|archive-date=22 February 1999|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbhuj Temple]] is an old temple from the 9th century, and is noted for having one of the [[List of tallest Gopurams#Tallest Vimana|tallest Vimana]] among [[Hindu temple]]s standing at 344 feet.

The Uth Khana (Camel Shelter) where the King's camels were stationed is right next to the fort and is a must-see. Tourists can also climb on the roof of the Uth Khana and get a fantastic view of Orchha town. The ruins behind the fort complex are an even greater sight. It makes a tourist travel back in time and is an integral part of a visit to Orchha. It houses the residences of various military officers, ministers (housing, roads), gunpowder factory, etc.

Numerous [[cenotaph]]s or [[chhatri]]s dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa river. Elsewhere about the town there is an unusual variety of temples and tombs, including the Chaturbhuj temple, which is built on a vast platform of stone.<ref name=EB1911/> The more unguarded and neglected of these buildings are popular hangouts for tropical bees, wasps, and other such excitable stinging creatures.

In 2006, Orchha's buildings were being documented by the LIK Team of [[IIT Roorkee]], India.<ref>[http://likiitr06.googlepages.com/home.html Mission Orchha] [[Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee]]</ref>

A community radio station, [[Radio Bundelkhand]] was launched in Orchha on 23 October 2008. It is an initiative of the [[Development Alternatives Group]]. The radio station broadcasts daily programs in the [[Bundeli]] dialect and devotes significant amount of its broadcast time to local issues, culture, education and the rich tradition of Bundeli folk music. The station is available on 90.4 MHz.
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220" perrow="3">
Orchha mausolea.jpg|[[Chhatri]]s on the bank of the [[Betwa River]].
Lakshmi Temple, Orchha.jpg|Lakshmi Temple, Orchha.
OrchhahardaulJu.jpg|[[Hardaul]] ki Baithak Memorial at Orchha.
</gallery>

==Demographics==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Orchha had a population of 8501. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Orchha has an average literacy rate of 54%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 42%, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.

==Accessibility==
Nearest Airport to Orchha is [[Gwalior Airport]].

Orchha is 250 km and 4 hours drive from [[Kanpur Airport]] which is well connected with other metropolitan cities in India.

Orchha Railway station is Jhansi-[[Manikpur, Uttar Pradesh|Manikpur]] section of the [[North Central Railways]]. 15 km from [[Jhansi]] in Uttar Pradesh, Orchha also lies close to another popular tourist destination, [[Khajuraho]].

Tourists who wish to visit Orchha from Khajuraho can catch the morning express which leaves at around 8 or 9 AM. Alternatively, they could also avail the afternoon express which leaves at around 12 or 1 PM. The train journey from Khajuraho is 5 hours and they will ideally have to get off at Jhansi and grab an autorickshaw or Tuk Tuk for Orchha (costs INR 400). However, if the train halts at Orchha, they can also get off at the Orchha station and grab an autorickshaw to the temple complex.

==See also==
*[[Orchha Fort complex]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book |title=[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India|The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. 19]] |chapter=Orchha Town|publisher=Oxford at Clarendon Press |year=1909|pages=247–248 |chapter-url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V19_253.gif|ref=Imp }}
* {{cite book |title=[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India|The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. 19]] |chapter=Orchha State|publisher=Oxford at Clarendon Press |year=1909|pages=241–247 |chapter-url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V19_247.gif|ref=Imp }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Orchha}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://likiitr06.googlepages.com/home.html Documentation of orchha buildings by IIT Roorkee]
*[http://www.uq.net.au/%7Ezzhsoszy/ips/o/orchha.html Genealogy of the ruling chiefs of Orchha]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Orchha}}
*[http://www.esquilax.com/scrapbook/india/Orchha/index.html Travelogue and photos of Orchha]
*[https://lifeonweekends.com/2017/01/18/7218/ Orchha: the erstwhile capital of Bundelkhand]
;Pictures
*[http://www.bundelkhand.in/portal/photo-gallery/Orchcha Orchha Photo Gallery]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110407040642/http://www.dariointernet.com/tr_orchhaindex.html Orchha Photo Gallery with over 50 Pictures 2009]
*[http://orientalquest.typepad.com/expositionpermanente/2009/01/orchha-madhya-pradesh-.html Orchha pictures on OrientalQuest]

<gallery>
OrchhaView.jpg|View of Orchha from LakshmiNarayan temple
Orchhapalace.jpg|Orchha palace mural
OrchhaLakshmiNarayanEnglish.jpg|Orchha LakshmiNarayan Temple ceiling portraying Europeans
OrchhaLakshminarayana.jpg|Orchha Lakshminarayana Temple: Englishmen
</gallery>

{{Sagar Division}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Orchha| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1531]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Niwari district]]
[[Category:Bundelkhand]]
[[Category:Tourism in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:1531 establishments in India]]

Orchha - Revision history

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