Orchha

▪ historical town, India

      historic town, north-central Madhya Pradesh state, central India, on the Betwa River. The town, surrounded by thick jungle that long made it impregnable, was founded in 1531 and served until 1783 as the capital of the Orchha princely state. An island in the Betwa, approached by a causeway, contains a large 17th-century fort and palace. Other buildings of historical interest are several temples and a palace of the Mughal emperor Jahāngīr (reigned 1605–27), an excellent example of Muslim domestic architecture. There are also several cenotaphs of the Orchha rulers. Two fairs are held annually. Orchha declined with the transfer of the capital to Tikamgarh in 1783.

▪ state, India

      former Rājput princely state of central India, founded in about 1500. In the early 17th century it was systematically devastated by the forces of the Mughal emperor Shāh Jahān following the rebellion of the Bundēla chief Jujhār Singh.

      Tehri (later Tīkamgarh) was chosen as the capital in 1783. Orchha was part of the Central Indian Agency under British rule. In 1948, following the achievement of Indian independence, it was merged into Vindhya Pradesh (later Madhya Pradesh) as the district of Tīkamgarh.

* * *