A Chhatri is a word derived from the Sanskrit chattra, which means "an umbrella or parasol". In Indian architecture, the term refers to a funerary monument of a king, queen, cherished leader, or a saint. The Chhatri is sometimes referred to as a cenotaph which in classical archaeology refers to an empty tomb erected for a person whose body was missing. However, in Indian context, this is a misnomer as Hindus are cremated and Chhatris do not contain a tomb, empty or otherwise. They are closer to a samadhi with a far more elaborate structure.
<p>Chhatris survive in many design variants. In central, nothern and western India, they typically following the style of a square plan Hindu temple with the difference that the mandapa, antarala and garbhagriya are often concentric. Further, the funerary memorials built after the 15th-century have trabeate domed canopies along with classical Hindu Nagara-style spires (shikharas). It is these umbrella shaped domes that give them their names.
</p><p>The Orchha Chhatris consists of 15 funerary monuments. They are memorials of Bundela-Rajput kings and queens on the banks of the Betwa River. They were completed from 16th to 18th-centuries, by the successor to the throne. Their architecture is a blend of Hindu ideas and Mughal styles, reflecting the readily available construction skills and architecture knowledge that dominated this period. These monuments also reflect the social mobility of artisans despite the many wars between the Mughal armies and the Bundela kingdom.
</p><p>Each Orchha Chhatri has an outer concentric mandapa leading towards the sanctum (garbhagriya) center. The sanctum typically has a Shiva linga, while a relief of the king and queen is on the inner wall facing the Shiva linga. The Chhatris are multistoried and have steps to reach the upper levels for aerial views of the Orchha and Betwa river.
</p><p><b>Background:</b>
Orchha is a small town in north Madhya Pradesh, about 15 kilometers from Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh. Orchha was founded in early 16th-century by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap, along the Betwa river. It served as the capital of Bundelkhand till the start of the colonial era, and has been called "the heart of Bundelkhand". The Bundela dynasty built a fort, waterworks, and many temples in a style that is syncretic of Hindu architecture, medieval Rajput culture, Mughal influences, along with Paramara era art.
</p><p>Orchha is midst lush forest and hills. The river Betwa divides it into two. The main section is located on the western bank and includes the Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuja Temple, Phool Bagh, Lakshmi Narayana Mandir, and cenotaphs. On the eastern bank is the Fort Palace complex on a cone-shaped island between the rivers Jam and Betwa. Within this Palace complex are the Raja Mahal (oldest), Jahangir Mahal with the greatest fusion of Hindu and Mughal style, Sheesh Mahal, Jan Bhavan, Rai Praveen Mahal, two gardens, and Mughal hammam (baths). The northern part of the island complex has buildings that housed the Bundelkhand army, palace workers and numerous small temples. The palaces are known for their chitrakala (paintings, murals) celebrating the legends of Vaishnavism.
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By the 17th-century, Orchha hosted celebrated Hindu scholars and poets, its temples became a Hindu pilgrimage destination. Orchha is now is popular tourist destination, with annual arrivals of over 100 tourists per one resident in town.
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ms_Sarah_Welch" title="User:Ms Sarah Welch">Ms Sarah Welch</a>
2021-12-13
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>