Things to Do in Orchha
Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the huge structures and the three most important temples in Orchha. Built by Bir Singh Deo in 1622, Lakshmi Narayan Temple is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and is a blend of temple and fort architecture.
The murals in the interiors of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple will charm visitors as they preach various spiritual and secular lessons and form the life incidents of Lord Rama. Paintings inside the temple appear as fresh as yesterday-painted art.
The telling structure is built with a composition of lime and mortar and is well preserved. The temple attracts a lot of history buffs and followers of Hinduism owing to its religious importance. Despite the temple being dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, there is no idol of her in the temple, and this uniqueness makes it one of the interesting places to visit in Orchha.
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm.
Entry fees: No entry fee is required to visit the temple.
Location: Lakshmi Narayan Temple is located near Ram Raja temple in Orchha Fort complex.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 16 km.
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The Orchha Fort complex comprises several formidable structures including forts, palaces, temples, cenotaphs and historic monuments. The majestic fort speaks volumes of the glorious Bundela Rajputs and their stories of valor. Situated on the banks of the River Betwa, the fort offers impressive artwork of paintings and stone carving within its premises, catering to the desire of history and nature lovers.
The fort complex houses the prominent Raja Mahal, which is the definition of intricate architecture. A part of it converted into Ram Raja Temple is the only place in the country where Lord Rama is worshipped as King Rama.
Other popular structures in the fort premises include Jahangir Mahal, built by Bir Singh Deo in 1605 and Rai Parveen Mahal, which was built by Raja Indrajit exclusively for dancer-poetess Rai Praveen. The light and sound show in Orchha Fort is a major tourist attraction for people exploring Orchha tourist places.
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm.
Entry fees: INR 10 for Indians, INR 250 for foreigners.
Location: Orchha Fort is located in the Orchha town of Tikamgarh district. The fort complex is nestled near the confluence of Betwa and Jamni rivers in Orchha.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15.2 km.
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Presenting a picturesque sight of Kanchana Ghat on the banks of River Betwa are the Chhatris (cenotaphs), which dot the surroundings of the fort complex, best seen during the sunset. Each of the 14 cenotaphs represents a tomb of the rulers of Bundela dynasty and its members.
Of the many cenotaphs, Bir Singh Deo’s Chhatri, displaying Islamic characteristics, is the most impressive as it reflects the archaeological glory of the Bundelas. The Chhatris stand tall and speak of the glorious past of the erstwhile rulers.
Timings: 7 am – 10 pm.
Entry fees: INR 10 for Indians, INR 250 for foreigners.
Location: The Chhatris are located on Kanchana Ghat of River Betwa, in the Orchha Fort complex.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15.2 km.
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The Ram Raja Temple, also known as Orchha Temple, holds religious importance as it is the only temple in India where Lord Rama is worshipped as King Rama. Built in the 16th century, the temple is a popular monument in the Orchha Fort complex amongst the followers of Hinduism.
It is believed that the structure used to be a citadel in the kingdom of Madhukar Shah, who changed it to Rama Temple when Lord Rama appeared in his dream and asked him to install his statue in the place.
The auspicious occasion of Ram Navami makes thousands of devotees visit this temple to offer their prayers to Lord Rama. Interestingly, not just is he worshipped as a king here, gun salutes are also offered as a mark of devotion and respect.
Timings: Morning- 8 am – 12:30 pm & Evening- 5 pm – 10 pm.
Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit the temple.
Location: It is located in the Raja Mahal in Orchha, Tikamgarh.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15.2 km.
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The River Betwa, flowing through the heritage town of Orchha, adds a scenic feather to the places to visit in Orchha. The river has a lot to offer to tourists visiting the heritage town of Orchha and its surrounding places.
Apart from the majestic sunset views overlooking the river, it offers water adventure activities such as sailing, river rafting , nd kayaking. After an exhaustive trip down the heritage lane in the town of Orchha, visit this place to experience tranquillity as the cool breeze brings with it the vibes of victory and freedom.
The most popular ghat in Orchha is the Kanchana Ghat, located in Orchha Fort complex. The ghat houses chhatris (cenotaphs) of the erstwhile rulers of Bundela dynasty. Surrounding the heritage fort, the 14 chhatris dot the Kanchana Ghat as they reflect tales of glory of the dynasty.
Timings: 7 am – 10 pm.
Location: The Betwa River flows through the town of Orchha, near the Orchha Fort complex. Kanchana Ghat is located on the banks of River Betwa in Orchha heritage complex.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15 km.
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The palace is a symbol of love between brothers. Hardaul Singh, brother of King Jhujhar Singh, was poisoned by Jhujhar Singh’s wife at the king’s behest after he doubted that the two had a romantic affair. The king later realized his mistake and built a cemetery to pay a tribute to his deceased innocent brother. The palace stands as a constant commemoration to the loyal brother who is now worshipped as God.
The impressive edifice of the palace reflects the art of the then skilled craftsmen. Experience the light and sound show at the Orchha Fort to discover the entire story as it takes you back to the memory lane.
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm.
Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit the temple.
Location: The palace is located near the Raja Ram Temple in Orchha, on the banks of River Betwa.
Distance from Orchha Bus Station: 15 km.
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The intricate carvings and majestic paintings in the Rani Mahal speak the splendour of the bygone era. The palace, built by Raghu Nath II of Newalkar family, was once the royal quarters for the wife of Raja Madhukar Singh and witnessed Rani Laxmi Bai as its last occupant. The insides of the palace are adorned by beautiful artefacts which illustrate the holy epic Ramayana.
The palace is surrounded by picturesque gardens and built against the backdrop of the vibrant River Betwa. The palace is now converted into a museum which houses paintings and scriptures, adding value to the places to visit in Orchha. The astounding architecture of the palace makes it one of the most attractive structures in the fort complex.
Timings: 7 am – 5:30 pm
Entry fees: None
Location: The palace is located near Iskcon Temple in Manik Chowk region of Jhansi district.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 3 km
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Dauji ki Kothi, constructed in the 17th century, is a structure of beautiful ruins that stands tall as the epitome of history despite the fury of nature over the years. The large arch of the entrance and dilapidated roof are the most attractive parts of this structure, which will leave historians awestruck.
Of the several Orchha tourist places, Dauji ki Kothi significantly enthrals the visitors owing to its sprawling area and ruined structure. The ruins, which serve as picture-perfect frames to photographers, are highly recommended for photography enthusiasts visiting Orchha and nearby regions.
Timings :7 am – 9 pm
Entry fees: None
Location: It is situated near Rai Parveen Mahal and south to Jahangir Mahal in the Orchha Fort complex.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15.4 km
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Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Chaturbhuj Temple in Orchha is an ancient architectural masterpiece built by King Madhukar during 1558-1573. The temple stands tall on a raised rectangular platform with basic architecture. It is divided into three main parts, and the central position of the temple is four-storey high.
A large part of the temple remains unfurnished, which is a striking fact that makes it one of the interesting Orchha tourist places. It is believed that the temple was initially dedicated to Lord Ram. However, the Lord Rama idol in Rani Niwas refused to move to the temple, where the idol of Lord Vishnu with four arms established itself and gave the temple its identity. Visit the Chaturbhuj Temple to experience spirituality in the ancient land of Orchha. The palace is ornamented with lotus emblems and symbols of religious importance.
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm
Entry fees: None
Location: The popular temple is located opposite the Orchha Fort. In the region, it is also known as Jatarika Temple.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15.2 km
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As the name suggests, Phool Bagh is a popular property sprawling its lush greenery in the historic land of Orchha. It stands apart from the other Orchha tourist places, which are mostly heritage-centric, offering tourists a refreshing experience amidst the tall, historic structures.
Built as a memorial to commemorate the martyrdom of Dinman Hardaul, who sacrificed his life to prove his innocence over an alleged love affair with his brother’s wife, this beautiful garden now enchants visitors with its greenery and the huge fountain that stands tall in the centre. Visit Phool Bag on your expedition and tie a thread at the sacred carved screen here, a ritual that is believed to fulfill the wishes of believers.
Timings: 8 am – 8 pm.
Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit the bagh.
Location: The picturesque garden is situated beside the Palaki Mahal in Orchha, Tikamgarh.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15 km.
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Built by Prince Dhurbhajan, the son of Raja Jhujhar Singh, Sunder Mahal has lately become a popular pilgrim place for Muslims. The palace is a symbol of love as the prince fell in love with a Muslim girl and embraced Islam as his religion, giving up all his princely privileges. The transformation saw the prince resort to meditation and renunciation and retired to this very place after getting married.
Sunder Mahal is one of the popular places to visit in Orchha where his followers still gather in numbers to worship the erstwhile prince-turned-saint. Sunder Mahal also reflects diversity and secularism as it is one of the few Muslim structures in the ghost town of Orchha, which mainly houses Hindu temples.
Timings: 9 am – 7 pm.
Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit the palace.
Location: Sunder Mahal is located in the Orchha Fort complex situated on the banks of River Betwa.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15 km.
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Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary offers an ideal breakaway to the tourists visiting the historic attractions in Orchha. While the town boasts of history and culture of the Bundela dynasty, the wildlife sanctuary offers proximity to nature to the visitors. The wildlife sanctuary is worth a visit in the list of Orchha tourist places as it revives your mind, body and soul with a close encounter with nature.
The magnificent flora and fauna will enchant you as the serene River Betwa, passing through the sanctuary, inhabits marine life and serves as a lifeline to the animals in the forest. A safari in this sanctuary promises an exquisite ride through the forest housing more than 200 bird species.
Timings: 7 am – 6 pm
Entry fees: INR 15 for Indians, INR 150 for foreigners
Location: The Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 2 km from Chhatris and 1 km from Orchha Fort complex, situated on the banks of River Betwa.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 14 km
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On the heritage front, one of the promising places to visit in Orchha is the Ramayana Kala Sangrahalaya Museum, established in 2005. The museum is the first-of-its-kind which harbors traditional arts to project various events and aspects of Ramayana and the Ramleela.
Cultural artefacts like jewellery, costumes and paintings adorn the esteemed Ramayana Kala Sangrahalaya Museum. The paintings preserved here are a visual journey of the many incidents in epic Ramayana.
Timings: 10 am – 5 pm (Monday closed).
Entry fees: INR 15 for Indians, INR 150 for foreigners.
Location: The Ramayana Kala Sangrahalaya Museum is located in the heart of Orchha, in the Orchha Fort premises.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 14 km.
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The Anand Mahal Gardens are one of the rejuvenating places to visit in Orchha after a tiring excursion in the historic town. The colourful flora and trees will delight you as you take a cultural and heritage walk in the ghost town. Surrounding the popular Rai Parveen Mahal, Anand Mahal Gardens provide a relaxing experience to tourists visiting Orchha. Located overlooking the River Betwa, fall in love with this green paradise as it provides a breather in the town dotted with historic monuments.
Timings: 9 am – 7 pm
Entry fees: None
Location: Anand Mahal Gardens surround the Rai Parveen Mahal in Orchha Fort complex.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15 km
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Janki Mandir is one of the three major temples in Orchha which attract a large number of tourists visiting the town. The temple has paintings of Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman on its outer walls, making the air around the temple spiritual. Visit Janki Mandir to experience peace and unparalleled serenity as the town of Orchha engulfs you in the undefeatable heritage of Bundela dynasty.
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm
Entry fees: None
Location: Janki Mandir is located in Orchha Fort complex, situated on the banks of River Betwa.
Distance from Orchha Bus Stand: 15 km
