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{{Short description|Historical monument site in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Orchha Fort complex
|partof =
|location= [[Orchha]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India
|image = Orchha Fort and Bridge.jpg
|caption = View of the fort complex and bridge
|map_type = India Madhya Pradesh#India
|map_size = 250px
|map_caption = Orchha Fort complex
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates = {{coord|25.35|78.64|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = 16th–17th centuries
|builder =
|materials = Stone, brick and mortar
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = Abandoned
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby =
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}

The '''Orchha Fort complex''', which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices, is located in the [[Orchha]] town in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The fort and other structures within it were built by the [[Bundela]] [[Rajput]]s starting from the early 16th century by King [[Rudra Pratap Singh]] of the [[Orchha State]] and others who followed him.

The fort complex, which is accessed from an arched causeway, leads to a large gateway. This is followed by a large quadrangular open yard surrounded by palaces. These are Raja Mahal or Raja Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, [[Jahangir Mahal]], a temple, gardens and [[pavilions]]. The battlements of the fort have ornamentation. Notable architectural features in the fort complex are projecting balconies, open [[Terrace (building)|flat areas]] and decorated [[jali|latticed]] windows.

==Location==
The fort complex is located in the [[Niwari district|Nivadi district]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] in the erstwhile state of Orchha. The fort complex is within an island formed by the confluence of the [[Betwa River]] and Jamni River in Orchha town. Approach to the complex from the eastern part of the market in the town is through a multiple arched bridge with 14 arches built in granite stones.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}}{{Sfn|Data And Expo India Pvt Ltd. staff|2015|p=352}}{{Sfn|Tikamgarh District Administration}}

Orchha town is approximately {{Convert|80|km}} away from [[Tikamgarh]] town, which is the district headquarters of the district of the same name. [[Jhansi]] town is {{Convert|15|km}} away. Orchha is a railway station of the [[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]] on the Jhansi-Manikpur section.{{Sfn|Tikamgarh District Administration}}

==History==
The fort was built following the founding of the Orchha State in 1501 AD by Rudra Pratap Singh (r. 1501–1531), a Bundela Rajput.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}} The palaces and temples within the fort complex were built over a period of time by successive Maharajas of the Orchha State. Of these, the Raja Mandir or Raja Mahal was built by Madhukar Shah who ruled from 1554 to 1591. [[Jahangir Mahal]] and Sawan Bhadon Mahal were built during the reign of [[Vir Singh Deo]] (r. 1605–1627).{{Sfn|Deshpande|2000|p=345}}{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}}{{Sfn|The British Library Board staff|2009}} The features of "pepper pots and domes"{{Sfn|Fass|1986|p=150}} seen in the fort complex, inspired [[Edwin Lutyens|Lutyens]] in the architecture of the structures which he built in [[New Delhi]].{{Sfn|Fass|1986|p=150}}

==Monuments==
[[File:Orchha Palace Superka.jpg|right|thumb|Palaces in the Orchha Fort complex]]
The fort complex, accessed from an arched causeway, leads to a large gateway followed by a large quadrangular open space which is surrounded by palaces such as Raja Mahal or Raja Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, a temple, gardens and [[pavilions]]. The fort walls have battlements, which have ornamentation.{{Sfn|Data And Expo India Pvt Ltd. staff|2015|p=352}} Notable architectural features seen in the fort complex consist of projected balconies, open [[Terrace (building)|flat areas]] and decorated [[jali|latticed]] windows.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}}

===Raja Mahal===
[[File:Raja Mahal, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India.jpg|right|thumb|Raja Mahal]]
[[File:Raja Mahal paintings, Orchha.jpg|right|thumb|Paintings in Raja Mahal]]
[[File:Ram Raja Temple, Orchha.jpg|right|thumb|Ram Raja Temple]]
The Raja Mahal (King's Palace), where the kings and the queens had resided till it was abandoned in 1783,{{Sfn|The British Library Board staff|2009}} was built in the early part of 16th century. Its exterior is simple and unembellished, but the interior chambers of the palace are elaborately royal in their architectural design, decorated with murals of social and religious themes of gods, mythical animals, and people. In the upper floor of the palace, there are traces of mirrors in the ceilings and walls.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}} Its windows, arcaded passages, and layout plan are designed in such a way that the "sunlight and shadow create areas of different moods and temperatures throughout the day".{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}} The interior walls of the Mahal have murals of Lord [[Vishnu]]. The Mahal has several secret passages.{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}}{{Sfn|Mahale|2015}}

A part of this Mahal was converted into a temple and named Rama Raja Temple in honour of the god [[Rama]]. There is legend associated with naming it as a temple. According to a local legend, the temple was built following Rani Ganeshkuwari, the queen getting a "dream visitation" by Lord Rama directing her to build a temple for Him; while Madhukar Shah was a devotee of [[Krishna]], his wife's dedication was to Rama. Following this, a new temple known as the [[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)|Chaturbuj Temple]] was approved to be built, and the queen went to [[Ayodhya]] to obtain an image of Lord Rama that was to be enshrined in her new temple. When she came back from Ayodhya with the image of Rama, initially she kept the idol in her palace as the Chaturbuj Temple was still under construction. She was, however, unaware of an injunction that the image to be deified in a temple could not be kept in a palace. Once the temple construction was completed and the idol of the lord had to be moved for installation at the Chatrubhuj Temple, it refused to be shifted from the palace. Hence, instead of the Chaturbhuj Temple, the Rama's idol remained in the palace whereas the Chaturbhuj Temple remained without an idol in its sanctum. As Rama was worshipped in the palace, part of the palace was converted into the Rama Raja Temple; it is the only shrine in the country where Rama is worshipped as a King.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Goodearth Publications staff|2012|p=52}} The temple is guarded by a police force and the deity, Lord Rama, is considered as the king and is given a gun salute of honour every day.{{Sfn|Mahale|2015}}

===Sheesh Mahal===
Sheesh Mahal is flanked on either side by the Raja Mahal and the [[Jahangir Mahal]]. This has royal accommodation, which was built for King [[Udait Singh]]. It has now been converted into a hotel with suites on the upper floor. There is also a large hall with high ceiling, which is the dining hall.{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=205}}

===Jahangir Mahal===
[[File:Jahangir Mahal 9.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jahangir Mahal, Orchha]].]]
[[Jahangir Mahal, Orchha|Jahangir Mahal]] is a palace that was exclusively built by [[Vir Singh Deo|Bir Singh Deo]] in 1605{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|The British Library Board staff|2009}} to humor the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]] [[Jahangir]] who was a guest of the Maharaja for one night only. The palace is built in four levels with architectural features of both [[Muslim architecture|Muslim]] and Rajput architecture. Its layout is a symmetrical square, built in the inner courtyard of the fort, and has eight large domes.{{Sfn|The British Library Board staff|2009}} It has a plethora of rooms with [[Arcade (architecture)|arcade]]d openings, [[balconies|projecting platforms]] and windows with lattice design work. The roof above the top floor of this Mahal is accessed through a steep stairway. It provides views of the temples and the Betwa River outside the fort complex. The palace also houses a small archaeological museum.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Time Out staff|2010|p=210}}

The entrance gate from this palace, which was earlier the main gate and which has carved ornamentation, leads to the royal baths and then to an small subpalace, built within a garden in typical Mughal architectural style: the [[Pravin Rai Mahal]]. This was built for Rai Parveen, the female escort of the Raja Indrajit; her large-size portrait in a revealing and seductive attire adorns hall in this Mahal. She was a poet and musician.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}{{Sfn|Madhya Pradesh Tourism staff}} The building is a double-storied structure built with bricks, rising to the height of the trees in the surrounding, Anand Mahal gardens. The garden is laid out with octagonal flower beds and has good network of water supply. There are niches in the Mahal which permit natural light to the main hall and smaller rooms.{{Sfn|Madhya Pradesh Tourism staff}}

It is said that [[Emperor Akbar]] (r. 1556{{snds}}1605) who was enamored by Parveen's beauty, had taken her to his palace in [[Agra]] to be his [[courtesan]]. But Parveen, who wanted to get out of the situation, composed a [[gazal]] or a couplet which stated her status as an already used woman not fit for an emperor, which enabled her to get release from Akbar's court and return to Orchha.{{sfn|Mookherjee|2013}}

===Phool Bagh===
Phool Bagh is a garden in the fort complex. It has a line of water fountains that terminates in a "palace-pavilion" which has eight pillars. Below this garden is an underground structure that was used by royalty as a cool summer retreat. This cooling system consists of water ventilation system that is linked to an underground palace with "Chandan Katora", which is in the shape of a bowl from where fountains of droplets trickle through the roof creating rainfall.{{Sfn|Madhya Pradesh Tourism staff}}

==See also==
*[[Jahangir Mahal, Orchha]]
*[[Pravin Rai Mahal]] or Tope Khana

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite web|author=The British Library Board staff|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/p/019pho000430s21u00012000.html|title=Palace at Orcha|date=26 March 2009|publisher=British Library Online a Gallery}}
* {{cite book|author=Data And Expo India Pvt Ltd. staff|title=RBS Visitors Guide INDIA – Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G3I6CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT352|year=2015|publisher=Data and Expo India Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-93-80844-80-0}}
* {{cite book|last= Deshpande |first=Aruna |title=India, a travel guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MARuAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=Crest Pub. House|isbn=978-81-242-0171-8}}
*{{cite book|last= Fass |first=Virginia |title=The forts of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-6fAAAAMAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Rupa in association with Oberoi Hotels International|isbn=978-0-00-217590-6}}
*{{cite book|author=Goodearth Publications staff|title=Temples of Madhya Pradesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=THW_OkoTuE4C&pg=PA52|publisher=Goodearth Publications|isbn=978-93-80262-49-9|year=2012}}
*{{Cite web|author=Madhya Pradesh Tourism staff|url=http://164.100.196.72/mptourism/pages/23/orchha.html|title=Orchha|publisher=Official website of Madhya Pradesh Tourism|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031836/http://164.100.196.72/mptourism/pages/23/orchha.html|archive-date=2016-03-04}}
*{{Cite news|last=Mahale|first= Sneha|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/hidden-beauty-feast-your-eyes-on-forts-palaces-and-temples-in-orchha/article1-1361562.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622160639/http://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/hidden-beauty-feast-your-eyes-on-forts-palaces-and-temples-in-orchha/article1-1361562.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 June 2015|title=Hidden beauty: Feast your eyes on forts, palaces and temples in Orchha|access-date=27 July 2015|date=1 July 2015|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}
*{{Cite news|last=Mookherjee|first=Sheema|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20130807-orchha-a-living-medieval-town|title=The city of Orchha|date=8 August 2013|publisher=[[BBC]]}}
*{{Cite web|author=Tikamgarh District Administration|url=http://tikamgarh.nic.in/tourism.htm|title=Tourist Places|work=Orchha|access-date=1 July 2015|publisher=Official website of Tikamgarh District Administration}}
* {{cite book|author=Time Out staff|title=Time Out India: Perfect Places to Stay, Eat and Explore|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUZpPim5nnQC&pg=PA205|year=2010|publisher=Time Out Guides|isbn=978-1-84670-164-1}}

{{Forts in India}}
{{Forts in Madhya Pradesh}}

[[Category:Forts in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Palaces in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Temples in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rajput architecture]]
[[Category:Shivpuri district]]
[[Category:Orchha]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tikamgarh district]]

Orchha Fort complex - Revision history

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