ORCHHA FORT

The Orchha fort complex is surrounded by walls and includes two palaces, the Jehangir Mahal and the Raj Mahal, as well as other secondary buildings (stables, cannon foundry, temple...). The access is done by a bridge which is supposed to be the oldest of the country. Bring water because there are many stairs to climb!

Jehangir Mahal: the most imposing of the monuments of Orchha is without question the Jehangir Mahal, perhaps you stay in the renovated wing (Hotel Sheesh Mahal). It was Bir Singh Deo of the Hindu Bundela dynasty who commissioned this palace for the coming of the Empress and Emperor Jehangir (son of Akbar and father of the future Shah Jahan).

Hundreds of workers and craftsmen spent their careers to shape this palace honored only for one night by the presence of the imperial couple. Yes, the work lasted twenty-two years, from 1605 to 1627! The architecture follows the cultural and political influences of the time, it is a subtle mixture of Hindu and Mughal art. The doors are Persian inspired and the elephants supporting the chhaja (the inner circle) are typically Hindu. From the central courtyard, admire the large number of chhatri (domes), some of which still show the blue paint that covered them at the time. Through narrow staircases, one reaches the floors and the different rooms of the palace. Today, unfortunately, there is almost nothing left of the old frescoes painted on the walls of all the rooms. To the east, the view is a magnificent picture, the blue of the river blends with the pink of the rocks and the green of the fields. From the window of the imperial chamber, you can see the Raja Mahal in the left foreground, the Lakshmi temple in the distance and the Ram temple in the middle, pink and yellow like marshmallow. On your way back down, go out on the terrace of the east gate. The two stone elephants welcome you. Opposite, you will see the camel stable and on your left, a little further, the Rai Praveen Mahal, the palace of the first concubine. Go down the stairs and enter this very dark secret passage just under the main door. These galleries housed the armies. Entire garrisons of soldiers could feast and snooze in total serenity!

Camel Stables: At the back of the Jehangir Mahal, you can see the camel stables. They are accessible from the back door of the palace. From there, you will have a beautiful view of the Jehangir Mahal and its openwork windows.

Raj Mahal: The same complex houses the Raj Mahal, located on the right after the Diwan-i-Khas. The construction of the Raja Mahal started in 1531 and continued until 1539. Madhukar Shah, the predecessor of Bir Singh Deo, made some modifications and gave it its final appearance.

The palace has an underground level to take shelter from the heat in summer. Around the central courtyard are several rooms, the most beautiful of which is that of the queen. The ten reincarnations of Vishnu are painted on the ceiling, the colors still bright have admirably passed the test of time. The other frescoes describe scenes from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata. Next to the queen's room, the king's room seems quite bland but imagine his concubines waiting in the two "antechambers". On the wall, near the royal bed, admire the king riding an elephant formed by his twelve concubines.