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Orchha Palace
Orchha Palace
Orchha is located in Madhya Pradesh
Coordinates: 25°21′N 78°38′E﻿ / ﻿25.35°N 78.64°E﻿ / 25.35; 78.64Coordinates: 25°21′N 78°38′E﻿ / ﻿25.35°N 78.64°E﻿ / 25.35; 78.64
Country India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Tikamgarh
Elevation 552 m (1,811 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 8,501
 • Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code 07680
Vehicle registration MP-36
Website www.ramrajatempleorchha.com



Main article: Orchha State

Orchha was founded in the 16th century AD[2] by the Bundela Rajput chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, (r. 1501-1531) and also built the Fort of Orchha.[3] The Chaturbhuj Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Akbar, by the Queen of Orchha Ganeshi Bai,[4] while Raj Mandir was built by 'Madhukar Shah' during his reign, 1554 to 1591.[5][6]

Places of tourist interest[edit]

Chhatris on the bank of the Betwa River
Lakshmi Temple, Orchha.
Orchha palace cortile.




Numerous cenotaphs or chhatris 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. 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[8]

A community radio station, Radio Bundelkhand was launched in Orchha on October 23, 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.


As of 2001 India census,[9] 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.


Orchha Railway station is Jhansi-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 not more than INR 10-15). However, if the train halts at Orchha, they can also get off at the Orchha station and grab an autorickshaw to the temple complex.


  1. ^ "Orchha". Tikamgarh district website. 
  2. ^ Orchha Tikamgarh district Official website.
  3. ^ Mausoleum of Raja Rudra Pratap, British Library.
  4. ^ Orchha British Library.
  5. ^ Genealogy of Orchha
  6. ^ Raj Mandir British Library.
  7. ^ Orchha History
  8. ^ Mission Orchha Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.

External links[edit]