It's often said that 'the journey is more beautiful and enjoyable than the destination' . But it all depends on how you undertake your journey and what destination are you heading to. Looking for some quiet moments, I headed on a journey to Orcha, a small tourist town located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
A medieval town, Orcha's existence can be tracked down to the early 16th century. Built by the Bundela rulers, the town is known for its local, architecturally magnificent palaces and temples. The city was declared as the capital, because it was on the Banks of Betwa river by Rajput leader Rudra Pratap Singh.
A medieval town, Orcha's existence can be tracked down to the early 16th century. Built by the Bundela rulers, the town is known for its local, architecturally magnificent palaces and temples. The city was declared as the capital, because it was on the Banks of Betwa river by Rajput leader Rudra Pratap Singh.
Orcha is a small peaceful town that has royal look; the area offers a serene and soothing effect. Lush green surroundings, a magnificent river and hordes of small and big waterfalls create an artistic impression . Long tapering structures of temples and places act as the major landmarks of this small town. The satisfying scenic landscape, historical value and artistic beauty of the city have also caught the fancy of our very own Bollywood and nowadays a lot of films are being shot in the area.
Reaching there
Located 460 kilometres from Delhi on the Agra-Khajuraho route on national highways NH 25 and 26, Orcha, is approximately an 8 hour drive from Delhi. The area is half hour drive from Jhansi, which is well connecting with the rail network. From Jhansi, Orcha is only 15 Kilometres, which can be travelled by taxis, auto rickshaws or other local transport. Though Orcha has a railway station, it is not well connected. The nearest airports to Jhansi/Orcha are located at Gwalior and Khajuraho.
Halt 'n' stay
Reaching the area is, in itself, a pleasure and once there, you have plenty of options to choose from. From boutique resorts on the banks of river Betwa to scattered motels in the city, they are all available. But, if you are one of those, who want to stay close to nature and enjoy the crackling sounds of nature, and then staying at a resort in the heart of Orcha is the best bet. And, if you don't want to stay at Orcha , staying at Jhansi can be another option. Infact, Orcha, is often used as a halt by many visitors enroute to Khajuraho.
The legend of Lord Ram
The country might have done away with monarchy long back and perhaps today may boast of the fact that it is the world's largest democracy; but Lord Ram continues to be the king here. Though there are many tales, the most talked about is the famous Ram Raja Temple.
Legend has it that this temple was at one point of time, a palace of the then ruler Madhukar Shah. One night, Lord Ram appeared in his dreams and subsequently Shah brought the idol of Lord Ram from Ayodhya into the palace before installing it inside the temple. But due to reasons unknown, the idol could not be moved from its original place in the palace. Soon, Shah recalled his dream where it was said that the idol would stay at the place it would be kept initially. It was then that Shah turned the palace into a temple. And so even today , Lord Ram enjoys the position and privileges of a king in the area.
