By Raja Rudra Pratap’s Long Lost Kingdom of Bundelkhand Empire with an undying architectural legacy that exists even today in Orchha – Orchha Fort.
India is one of the most diverse lands in terms of Historical monuments and the number of Empires we have had in our history. Visit any part of the country and you will come across at least one Royal Family of the Region. While some Royal names instantly ring a bell with us, many glorious empires of the past lie in ruins today. What worse could happen? Well, some Kingdoms are almost forgotten by people who don’t come across them anymore.
One such Glorious Empire was the Bundelkhand Empire of the Bundela Rajputs.
Although the Bundela Rulers were fierce and mighty warriors with the most just Rajputana Legacy that they followed. Their Empire in Orchha today seldom gets as much admiration as the other Royal monuments. And Forts of Rajasthan and other Rajputana Empire monuments do. One of the key reasons is the placement of Yesteryear Bundelkhand empire spread widely and at a distance from Rajasthan. Somewhere a bit on the outskirts of Rajasthan and in Madhya Pradesh.
Let us take a stroll through the small town of Orchha in Madhya Pradesh. The first to get a mention whenever Bundelkhand or Bundela Empire is talked about.
The History of Orchha and the Layout of this stunning architectural town and Fort:
The Bundela Rajputs ruled over Orchha since 1531 CE. Orchha was their Capital state and the crowning glory. The Royal Seat or Throne of their kingdom. Over the years the Rajputs of Rajasthan refused to accept the Bundela as a part of the Rajput Clan. And as Rajput Royalty is associated with Rajasthan. And thus Raja Rudra Pratap established Bundelkhand which was one of the strongest stand-alone Rajput Empires in History. Eventually, the Bundelas got associated with the Rajasthani Rajput Kings as marriages and relations unfolded.
But the resistance faced remained almost the same. However, the acceptance of who sat on the throne was not only resisted by outsiders. But also by insiders often leading to conflicts amongst the Bundelas. The Mughals saw an opportunity and many times Bundelkhand’s throne had to witness betrayals and treacherous acts. Keeping your friends close and enemies closer did not work so well for the Bundelas. As to distinguish who stood with or against them was always uncertain.
Then and Today
If you visit Orchha today, it feels like time passed by but the town held onto its History refusing to evolve into a modern world. So much so that even when the town is inhabited by locals, an eerie silence, and hollowness that depicts royal nothingness are very evident. The 200-year ruling seat of the Bundelas has had such a strong impact on the foundation of Orchha that it almost feels like an empire still exists, waiting for its ruler to take charge, lost in the chaos of commoners. For a moment you might be convinced that a certain majestic Rudra Pratap still has a stronghold over Orchha.
Rudra Pratap gave Orchha a unique identity by investing in giving it a signature architectural look and feel and working on the Art and Infrastructure of the Town. The Orchha Fort is thus built by Rudra Pratap and was his capital administrative seat even as he ruled over other princely states. The commands would always come from Orchha. However, after the Fall of the Bundela Empire, the Mughals took over and contributed to the architecture and hence we see a unique blend of Rajputana- Indo-Islamic Architecture in the town of Orchha.
Orchha Fort Complex: a collection of Fort, Temples, and other ancient Monuments.
The Strong Presence of a well-flourished kingdom reflects in the Architecture of the Orchha Fort Complex. While traditional foundation materials like Stone, Brick, and Mortar are in use in the construction of these monuments, intricate, delicate artwork, carvings, statues, pillars, doors, ceilings, etc highlight the attention to detail. As you walk through a huge domed gateway, you land up in a Quadrangle with 3 Forts on three ends and Temples and Pavilions on the fourth end.
Raja Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, and Jahangir Mahal are namely the three forts. The Fort complex sits on an island of a kind on the confluence of Betwa and Jamni Rivers. The Battlements of fort walls have ornamentation.
Raja Mahal: the main fort structure in the group of monuments and the Rama Raja Temple.
The Raja Mahal or Kings Palace is where the Royalty resided. The kingdom of Orchha followed the principles of Ram Rajya a way of life established by Lord Rama. The significance of Lord Rama in Orchha is an important element that defines the cultural beliefs and roots of Orchha. While the Raja Mahal has minimalistic exteriors the interiors are every bit royal and extravagant. Fit for royalty, the palace has murals of Gods and Goddesses and Hindu Mythological inferences. The windows are beautified by making use of latticework.
The Rama Raja Temple is also within the same premises as the Raja Mahal. There’s a unique story behind the Rama Raja Temple and its placement within the palace. The Queen of Bundela got a dream wherein lord Rama asks her to build a temple on the premises. Further, the later King’s wife Was a devotee of Krishna and took it onto her to build a temple and to get a Rama Idol from Ayodhya.
However, as the Chaturbuj Temple was still in construction the queen placing the idol within the palace without knowing that once the idol is in somewhere it has to be in the same place. Later the idol refused to move to the premises of the Chaturbuj Temple and was in the Palace only turning the premises where the Idol was into a Temple. And thus the Chaturbuj Temple remained without an idol while Lord Rama was worshipped in the Palace.
Other monuments that you must visit in Orchha Fort Complex and the town of Orchha:
- Sheesh Mahal
- Jahangir Mahal
- Phool Bagh
- Chaturbuj Temple
- Rama Raja Temple
- Chhatris Cenotaphs
- Betwa River
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple
- Hanuman Mandir
- Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary
Fun Fact about Orchha:
Orchha is the only place after Ayodhya in India where Lord Rama is taken into worship as a King and not as a God. Here Lord Rama is payable of Gun Tribute every morning as a King.
Thus, to conclude our amazing journey, all we wish to highlight is the term Orchha means ‘Hidden’ and Rudra Pratap named it so because when he found the town it was a hidden gem. And even today the Town is a Hidden gem that one must explore.
