By road
~16-18 km from Jhansi, ~175 km from Khajuraho
Central India · Madhya Pradesh
Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
A frozen-in-time Bundela capital · ~16-18 km from Jhansi, ~175 km from Khajuraho
Getting there
By rail
Jhansi, ~16-18 km
By air
Gwalior Airport, ~113-116 km
Best time to visit
October to March — riverside cenotaph light is best in winter
Don't miss
Jahangir Mahal
Raja Ram Temple
Chhatris on the Betwa
Laxminarayan murals
Things to do
Rafting the Betwa
Cycling village lanes
Palace mural hunting
Where to eat
Sources: open-meteo, wikimedia, Photo: Mandy · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Walking shoes, torch for palace interiors, river-picnic snacks
A quieter corner
Sunset over the Betwa cenotaphs from the far bank
About Orchha
- Riverside
Where it is
Orchha is a small town in the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh, on the Betwa river in the Bundelkhand region, close to Jhansi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
History
Orchha was founded in the 16th century by Rudra Pratap Singh of the Bundela Rajputs and served as their capital until the late 18th century, when they moved it to Tikamgarh. Its greatest builder, Bir Singh Deo, an ally of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, raised the Jahangir Mahal in the emperor's honour.
People
Orchha's people speak Hindi and Bundeli, and life turns on the Ram Raja Temple, where Rama is worshipped as a king. The town comes alive at Ram Navami and at Vivah Panchami, the festival of Rama and Sita's wedding.
Known for
- Jahangir Mahal and Raja Mahal
- The Ram Raja Temple
- The royal chhatris on the Betwa
- Chaturbhuj and Laxminarayan temples
Did you know?
At Orchha's Ram Raja Temple, Rama is worshipped as a reigning king and receives a daily guard of honour from armed police.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.