Orchha is a small yet interesting town situated on the banks of River Betwa in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh. The town was once covered with thick forest from all four sides and was discovered by Bundela rulers only in the year 1531. It also served as a capital to the Bundela Kings. It is dotted with numerous temples and palaces, which were built between 16th and 17th century. The monuments build by the Bundela rulers are deemed as the best example of Indo-Islamic architecture.

You can also visit the nearby island in River Betwa that has a large and spectacular 17th century fort on it. Besides, the historic city of Jhansi is also just 16 km away from here where you can see the famous Jhansi Fort and Rani Jhansi's Palace. Since the city is situated on the banks of Betwa, the climate even in summers is not too hot. The winters do get a bit nippy during the nights but the days are pleasant enough to have a comfortable trip inside the city.

Tourist Attraction
The main attractions in Orchha are magnificent palaces and huge temples. Most of the places of interest are located very close to one another making it less tiring for tourists to enjoy the glory of these monuments. Jehangir Mahal is the most important palace whereas Chaturbhuj Temple and Laxminarayan Temple are the highly visited temple.

Jehangir Mahal:
Jehangir Mahal is exceedingly beautiful and the most visited monument in Orchha. The palace was built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. The main attraction of the palace are the two statues of bowed elephants right at the entrance of the gate that set the mood for your exploration of this charming palace. You will notice a strong resemblance in the structure of this palace and many other monuments built in Islamic architectural style.

Raj Parveen Mahal:
The palace was built King Indramani in the 17th century. It is said that he built it for his love Raj Parveen who was an exceptionally talented poetess and a musician. The palace is only two floor high. It was built this way to match with the height of trees in the area. You can get scintillating views of nearby gardens of Anand Mahal and the octagonal flower garden.

Chaturbhuj Temple:
Built between the year 1558 and 1573 by Raja Madhukar, Chaturbhuj temple is situated on a gigantic stone formation. The temple was constructed to house an idol of Lord Rama, but later, statue of Lord Vishnu was established. This gave the name Chaturbhuj to the temple. As an exception to Hindu temples, Chaturbhuj Temple has plenty of light and space inside and has a huge assembly hall for the devotees.

Laxminarayan Temple:
The structure of the temple is huge and dominates the surroundings. The architecture of the building is an amalgamation of a fort and temple features that is very unique and fascinating. It was built in the year 1622 A.D. by Vir Singh Deo. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi The interior walls of the temple are adorned by many exceptional paintings. The paintings have been preserved with great care. Even though they are hundreds of years old, the colors used still retain their shine and are great to look at.

How to Reach
By Air: Gwalior is the nearest airport, which is around 119 km away. Flights from Delhi and Bhopal are regular to Gwalior.

By Rail: Jhansi is the closest railhead, situated at a distance of 16 km from here. You can hire a taxi from Jhansi to Orchha.

By Road: Orchha is situated on the Jhansi-Khajuraho road. The town is well connected to all the cities of Madhya Pradesh with regular bus service.

Local Transport: Buses and taxis are the prominent means of transportation in Orchha. Rickshaws and taxis are also available in good numbers.