Orcha in Madhya Pradesh

Orcha in Madhya Pradesh was established by the Bundela king Rudrapratap. Orcha remained a seat of the Bundelas for 2 centuries and gave birth to unusual architecture. The oldest building in Orcha is the fort palace of Raj Mahal started by Rudrapratap however it was completed by his successor after he was killed wrestling a tiger. The entrance to the fort leads over a granite bridge through a 16^th century door to the fort palace. The Mahal is a self contained structure, the plan of the courtyards according to some historians follow the ancient Indian concept of the mandapa. One of the courtyards has a dancing platform and a fountain. Surrounded by royal quarters and an assembly hall for private audience is the diwan-i-khas. However inside the rooms burst into riveting images and colours. Though its ceiling is much faded now but it can be admired for its Persian carpet like motifs and the queen’s chamber for mythological subjects such as Bhima fighting with six elephants.

Then there is the Jahangir Mahal ahead from Raj Mahal, it was named after the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It is an impressive structure with three storey apartments topped with domes and hanging balconies, it is a mixture of Indo-Islamic architecture.

The last palace in the series is the Rai Parveen Mahal, just below the Jahangir Palace. Down the hill side are the royal hammams and unth khana and the camel stables. It is a simple two storied structure with a Mughal garden on one side. Besides the palaces, you can make out the beckoning shikhars of four temples lying in the middle of the fields. Around 1 km hike will bring you close to Shiv Mandir and few fts away across the wheat fields stands the Panchmukhi Temple complex, where three temples have been converted into quarters by the villagers. The next Mandir is the Raadhika Vihari which doubles up as granary and then finally comes the Van Vasi Ram Mandir with an attached but deserted ashram. In the village the Ram Raja Temple is unusual as its resident is worshipped as king and the temple is not a temple but a palace. The Chaturbhuj Temple is in a European cathedral from its vaulted roof to the massive doors and the large hall. For an adventurous climb try the staircase to the top of the temple from where one can see the entire city.

Ever since foreign tourists found their way to Orcha, metal artifacts are sold here as antiques.

Kanha, the best national park in Asia

Kanha is in Madhya Pradesh and is situated 165km away from Jabalpur. It is known as the best national park in Asia. It is one of the perfect weekend destination in India. The area covered by this wildlife sanctuary is 940 sq km and is home to tiger, leopard, hyena, buffalo and more than 200 avian species can be seen. One of the rarest found animals barasingha can be seen here. The trees here are bamboo and sal group all around the park.
Every person enjoys the nature walks here and the Bamni Dadar also known as sunset point is one of the most beautiful parts of the park from where a spectacular sunset can be seen. There are many animals which can be spotted here like Sambar, Barking Deer, Guar and many. Having species from Chital, chinkara, Indian Hare to squirrel, wolf, the beauty of the place and picturesque environment attracts most of the nature lovers. Kanha has more than 200 species of birds and the water birds can be seen near the park. It remains open from November to June.
Situated in the heart of Kanha National Park, Tuli resort is a wonderful place to visit. Set up in 22 acres of lush green land, it is situated near the Ganghar River in the western region of Kanha’s buffer zone. The resort is designed to match the rural beauty of India and welcomes all its visitors with majestic ambience and offers all modern amenities.

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Pachmarhi, Primeval Wilderness

Pachmarhi is India’s unusual getaways little hill station. It is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh, and nestles in a small saucer shaped plateau. It enclosed a primeval landscape of lush sal and bamboo forest. When I went there the town according to me consists of small bazaar, an army station and a sprawling civil area that retained a distinct colonial ambience. Pachmarhi was the summer capital of the former Central provinces and used to host a major golf tournament.

I went on a jeep tour to view the famous sunset from Dhupgarh, Bee falls and the Jatashankar and Mahadeo shrines. However I walked to Fairy Pool and the for the specular view of all these falls I climbed up the Chauragarh Peak, which according to a local springs to life during the annual Shivratri mela, with lakhs of trishul- carrying yatris snaking up from the neighboring Chindwara District. Within the civil area was the Buddhist period, rock – hewn Pandav Caves, the government gardens and Bison Lodge, a museum. I enjoyed the ideal mode of transport bicycle in Pachmarhi. Then a scenic two hour walk is the bridle path around Astachal rejoining the road near the cave of Reechgarh, and passing by the Dorothy Deep rock shelter.

Then I went to Satpura National Park, to the west and north of Pachmarhi. It offered spectacular scenery and varied wildlife like bison, sambhar and the occasional cat. I visited the park by jeep from the Neemgham entrance.

I stayed at Rock End Manor which is a bungalow situated on a hillock. Then there is Saptura Retreat, Evelyn’s Own, Panchvati cottages and many to go.

Khajuraho, Many explanations for love

Khajuraho conjures up images of a society that celebrated life and was not abashed by sex. It was the first capital of Chandelas, who rose to rule the region in the 9th century. Right from the onset Khajuraho was envisaged as a temple town, which accounts for the absence of any non religious structures other than tanks and lakes.

We started our journey from The Western Group, near the Shiv Sagar, by either hiring an auto headset from its ticket booth or hiring a guide. We started on cycles as Khajuraho is best when exploded from cycles which are available from stands in front of the Western Group.

The temples in this complex were large and lavishly decorated, displaying the wealth and power of its rulers. These are dedicated either to Vishnu or Shiva. The most refined temple in the complex, the Lakshmana Temple is the seat of Vishnu as Vaikuntham. The enshrined statue was 4-ft high, has three faces lion, man and boar and is said to have been acquired from the Kashmir – Chamba region. On its base, starting from the left are depictions from everyday life, including marching armies, domestic life, dancers and orgies. The temple has four subsidiary shrines on its platform. In front of the temple are two smaller shrines, one dedicated to the Devi and other to Varaha.

The Kandariya Mahadeva, an extremely harmonious and rhythmic temple is a Shiva temple. Standing on the same platform and north of the Kandariya Mahadev temple, the Devi Jagadamba Temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu, its special feature include imaginative renditions of shardulas, mythical beasts with the body of lion and the head of a parrot, elephant or boar. The only sun temple in Khajuraho, the Chandragupta Temple stands fourth on the same platform. It houses a 7 ft image of the sun god dressed in armored coat and boots. The sun stands on a chariot pulled by seven horses. The temple’s other special features include a scene of sculptors at their work carved on the plinth, and an interesting statue of an 11 headed Vishnu on the South Hall. Through the garden, towards the east, lies the Parvati Temple, a small shrine believed to have been dedicated to Vishnu. And to the right of the Parvati Temple stands Vishwanatha Temple, the grandest temple of Khajuraho, dedicated to Shiva, its special features include an intact Nandi shrine, apsaras writing letters, playing music and so on; and a stone lingam.

Matangeshwara Temple, the only living temple, stands outside the enclosure, just next to the Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to Shiva.
The Eastern group of temples is divided into two rough clusters. The first bunch of four temples falls near the Old Khajuraho Village and the other, comprising Jain temples falls behind of the school at the back of the village. We begin with the Ghantai Temple which is on the edge of the old village, and there were only pillars bearing carved bell and chain motifs left. The Vamana Temple enshrined a chubby dwarf, interpreted either as a vamana or a Vishnu incarnation. The nearby Javari Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. The Jain temples are situated within a compound constructed and maintained by the Digambara sect. The largest of these temples was dedicated to Adinath; its special feature is that the both Hindu pantheon and figures associated with Jainism can be finding representing on its wall.
In the Southern Group there are only two temples one dedicated to Lord Shiva and is called Duladeva Temple and the other to Lord Vishnu and is called Chaturbhuj Temple.
There are three museums which we visited where they were sculptures of Vishnu, Shiva and Jain figures.

There are lots of places of shopping in Khajuraho selling iron, brass and stone things. There are all types of luxury hotels in Khajuraho like The Grand Temple View, Holiday Inn and many more.