Orchha's grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy  from the ages. In this medieval city, the hand of time has rested lightly and the palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection.

Orchha was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput chieftain, Rudra Pratap,  chose this stretch of land along the Betwa river as an ideal site for his capital. Of the succeeding rulers, the most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful chhatris. From here the view of soaring temple spires and cenotaphs is spectacular.

Complementing the noble proportions of their exteriors are interiors which represent the finest flowering of the Bundela school of painting. In the Laxminarayan Temple and Raj Mahal, vibrant murals encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes, bring the walls and ceilings to rich life.

Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh. Orchha means 'hidden place' and being true to its name, the place lies amidst scrubby dhak woods.

A tranquil tiny village in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, Orchha was once the capital of the majestic Bundelkhand Empire. The meaning of the place, Orchha is ‘a hidden place’ and it perfectly justifies this small village hidden by the forests, away from the main traffic area of Madhya Pradesh. Orchha was built during 16th century A.D by Rudra Pratap, the Bundela chieftain. These Bundelas, settled all over the North Indian plains and created a rich legacy for Orchha. Orchha has become a major tourist attraction of Madhya Pradesh because of the number of beautifully built palaces, temples and cenotaphs that were built in the 16th and 17th centuries reflecting the rich Bundela art and architectures. There are a number of tourist attractions in Orchha which deserves special mentioning. Orchha is also well known for the beautiful banks of the River Betwa, either side of which is dotted with historical landmarks and monuments and the forests around it.

There are fourteen chhatries grouped along the Kanchana Ghat of the river Betwa. These are memorials for the rulers of Orchha. The Chhatris or the cenotaphs in orchha are another of the many historical tourist attractions in Orchha. These are memorials of the rulers of the Bundels and are laid down in a row of 14 along the beautiful banks of the Betwa River. It reflects a wonderful sight though to some it looks uncanny. The Chhatris of Orchha are the most melancholy ruins of the city in Madhya Pradesh.

Each of the 14 chhatris on the river banks, are built in memory of the rulers of Orchha, the former rulers of Bundelkhand dynasty.

These chhatris or cenotaphs present a picturesque sight on the banks of the River Betwa. The monuments still speak of the ancient rulers, their victories and their stories. These fourteen chhatris are best viewed from the narrow road bridge, or from the boulders from where you get a perfect reflection of the chattris of Orchha on the still waters of the river. The Chhatris of Orchha look like a pale brown shade of weed throttled domes and spires.

The fascinating legend goes that Hardaul was a son of Bir Singh Ju Deo and sacrificed his life to prove his innocence to his elder brother Jhujhar who cast doubts on his relationship with Jhujhar's consort. This saintly prince was worshipped as a god and even today, there are platform-like shrines in the villages of Bundelkhand where Hardaul is worshipped. Orchha, a medieval city built on the banks of River Betwa in Madhya Pradesh is almost a ghost city now. But it still retains one of the finest display of monuments, temples, palaces and cenotaphs, all of which speak of interesting stories, legacies and history.One such beautiful palace is the Dinman Hardauls Palace , rich in history of worship and martyrdom.

The second son of BhirSingh Ju Deo,the ruler of Orchha, Dinman Hardaul gave up his life to prove his innocence to his elder brother Jhujhar. Jhujhar had doubted the relationship Hardaul had with Jhujhar's companion. Prince Hardaul was greatly respected and revered as a saint by the people. After his martyrdom, Hardaul was worshipped as a God.

The nearest airport to reach Orchha is Gwalior which is 120 kms away. One can also reach Orchha by rail since Jhansi is the nearest railway station only 16 kms away.One can hire autorickshaws, cabs or buses from Jhansi to reach Ochha.