Orchha, a former Bundela Rajput capital on the banks of the Betwa river, retains an extraordinary concentration of well-preserved 16th and 17th-century palaces, temples and cenotaphs, largely spared the later overbuilding and modification that has altered many of India's other historic capitals. The Jahangir Mahal, built to commemorate a Mughal emperor's visit, and the riverside chhatris (memorial cenotaphs) of Orchha's rulers are among the town's most photographed structures.
Unlike many heritage towns that have grown considerably around their historic core, Orchha has remained relatively small and quiet, giving visitors a genuine sense of stepping into an intact medieval capital rather than navigating heritage sites scattered through a much larger modern city.
Orchha served as the capital of the Bundela Rajput kingdom from its founding in 1501 until the capital moved to nearby Tikamgarh in the 18th century, a relatively short but architecturally prolific period that produced most of the town's surviving monuments.
October to March.
About 15km from Jhansi, roughly 30 minutes by road; Jhansi is a major railway junction.
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