Vir Singh Deva Bundela of Orchha

Raja Mahal Orchha / Image Credit

Founded in 1531 by the Bundela Chieftain, Rudra Pratap Singh, Orchha, which literary translates into ‘hidden place’, is one of Madhya Pradesh’s greatest treasures. This historic small town on the Betwa River boasts its assembly of magnificent monuments in the form of beautiful palaces, temples and royal chhatris (cenotaphs) built along the banks of the Betwa river in the memory of Bundela Kings. 

History of Orchha Kingdom

Orchha kingdom was ruled by the Bundela Rajputs. In 1531, Rudra Pratap Singh was succeeded by his son, Bharatichand, who died without leaving an heir in 1554 and was in turn succeeded by his younger brother, Madhukar Shah who considerably extended the limits of his kingdom. 

During their reigns Bharatichand and Madhukar Shah (reigned 1554 A.D. – 1591 AD ) had to contend Afghan ruler and Sher Shah’s son Islam Shah Suri (r. 1545–53) and the Mughal emperor Akbar. Madhukar Shah was the patron of Hindi poet Keshavdas.

Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha) / Image Credit 

After Madhukar Shah’s death, his eldest son, Ram Chand, was appointed ruler of Orchha by Mughal emperor Akbar.  This was resented by Madhukar Shah’s another son Vir Singh Bundela who continued to defy Akbar till latter’s death in 1605. 

Vir Singh Bundela 

Vir Singh Bundela was commissioned by Jahangir to murder the court historian Abul Fazal  (1551–1602) , author of Akbarnama. the official history of Akbar’s reign. Abul Fazal who had opposed Jahangir’s accession to the throne was executed by Vir Singh Bundela (Bir Singh Bundela).

Vir Singh Bundela was also the patron of Keshavdas who is known for composing a eulogy of the former titled Virsinghdev Charit in 1607. 

After his death in 1627, Vir Singh Deo was succeeded by his son Jhujhar Singh who rebelled against Shah Jahan who had ascended the Mughal throne in 1628. Jhujhar Singh and his son were killed by the Mughal forces which was led by crown prince Aurangzeb.  All the treasure and several royal Bundela ladies fell into the hands of the Mughals who also demolished the massive  Orchha temple built by Vir Singh Bundela and a mosque was built on the site. One of Jhujhar Singh’s sons and a grandson were converted to Islam. 

As a patron of art and architecture

Vir Singh Bundela was a prolific builder. He built temples not only in Orchha, but also constructed the Forts of Datia and Jhansi, and temples in Mathura and Varanasi. In Mathura he had built the Keshav Rai temple which was demolished by Aurangzeb who built the Shahi Eidgah in its place. A blend of Bundela and Mughal architecture, Jahangir Mahal at Orchha was built by him to welcome Emperor Jahangir during the latter’s visit to the Bundela capital. 

Jahangir Mahal, Orchha / Image Credit

Zeb-un-Nisa: Mughal Princess Imprisoned for More Than Two Decades by Her Father

Zaibunissa Palace / Image Credit

Mughal princess Zeb-un-Nisa was the eldest child of sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. She was a poetess of considerable merit and wrote under the pen name of Makhfi (meaning Hidden One in Persian). She produced a brilliant collection of beautiful poems which were published after her death in 1702 as Diwan-i-Makhfi.

Born in 1738 in Daulatabad in Deccan, Zeb-un-Nisa seems to be antithetical to what Auranzeb stood for. 

Strained relationship between Zeb-un-Nisa and Aurangzeb had led the father to imprison the daughter for the last 20 years of her life at Salimgarh Fort which lies adjacent to the Red Fort  in Delhi.

Her grandfather, the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, had betrothed her to Sulaiman Shikoh, the eldest son of Dara Shikoh, elder brother of Aurangzeb. The marriage, however, did not take place. This is because as soon as Shah Jahan fell ill in September, 1657, it sparked a deadly war of succession among his four sons – Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad. During the course of this fratricidal war of succession Murad  and Sulaiman Shikoh were executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in the Gwalior Fort where they were imprisoned.

Barabati Fort: Legacy of Eastern Ganga Dynasty

Barabati Fort / Image Credit

Steeped in history, Barabati Fort is one of the principal visitor attractions in Odisha. 

Barabati Fort , Cuttack/ Image Credit 

Situated on the bank of Mahanadi river, this famous fort casts its historical shadow against the natural surroundings, and both history and nature blend into a rich, seamless harmony.

Barabati Fort was built by King Anangabhima Deva III of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in 1229. Anangabhima III had dedicated his kingdom to Lord Purushottama Jagannath and proclaimed himself as the deputy (Routa) of the divinity of Puri. He had founded the city of Cuttack in the 13th century. 

 

Jain Ruler Kharavela: Imperialist To The Core

Hathigumpha Inscription / Image Credit

In the latter half of the first century B.C., Kalinga ruler Kharavela professed Jainism and became its great patron. It is interesting to note that though Kharavela had embraced Jainism, which stresses on non-violence, he was an imperialist to the core and entered in sanguinary conflicts with his adversaries all over India. 

Kharavela is credited with setting up several images and his chief queen granted a rock-cut cave to the Jain monks.

The Hathigumpha Inscription  of Kharvela 

The Hathigumpha Inscription in a cavern called Hathigumpha in Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar in Odisha was inscribed by Kharavela . This inscription is the main source of information about Kharavela. 

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Murshidabad And Its Attractions

A great centre of trade in the Mughal era, Murshidabad is closely associated with events that ultimately changed the course of modern Indian history. Once the seat of government of the Nawabs of Bengal, this historical place is located on the southern banks of the Bhagirathi in West Bengal. 

The Bengal Nawab Siraj-ud-daula was defeated by Robert Clive, the architect of the British power in India, in the Battle of Plassey (now Palashi) in 1757, laying the foundation of the British Empire in India.

Today known more for its silk, Murshidabad is a district town that seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the medieval and the modern.

Named after Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb, Murshidabad came to the forefront of attention in 1704 when he transferred his capital from Dacca to this place and renamed it Murshidabad. Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal and the founder of the Nasiri dynasty which ruled Bengal from 1717 until 1740.

Watercolour painting of Murshidabad in West Bengal by Robert Smith circa 1814-1815 | British Library

Places of Interest in Murshidabad

Hazar Duari 

Hazarduari Palace at Murshidabad / Image Credit

The famous landmark of Murshidabad, Hazarduari Palace is known for its 1000 real and false doors.  Built during the reign of Nawab Humayun Sah (1824–1838), the three-storey, 114-room palace, has a rich collection of antiquities and antiques including armory, paintings, art works, stucco statues and other valuables. The palace was designed by British architect Colonel McLeod Duncan.  

Nimak Haram Deohri (Traitor’s Gate)

Namak Haram Deorhi / Image Credit

Presently in ruins, Nimak Haram Deohri or the Traitor's Gate is the gate to the residence of Mir Jafar who was the general of Siraj-ud-doula. It was Mir Jafar’s treacherous advice to Siraj-ud-doula to suspend the battle after the death of latter's trusted officer Mir Madan Khan lost the day for Siraj-ud-doula in the Battle of Plassey. 

Fauti or Phuti Masjid

Phuti Masjid / Image Source

Phuti Masjid is a mosque built by Sarfaraz Khan who had held the role of Nawab of Bengal for only one year (1739- 1740.) 

Sarfaraz Khan had succeeded his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan who had become Bengal Nawab after the death of latter's father-in-law Murshid Quli Khan. 

Chowk Mosque

Chowk Mosque – Murshidabad / Image Credit

Built in 1767 AD by Munni Begum (the second wife of Mir Jafar, the Bengal Nawab from 1757 to 1760 and 1763 to 1765) the Chowk Mosque in Murshidabad is now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).  

Motijheel or Pearl Lake is an oxbow lake in Murshidabad. This horse-shoe shaped lake broke away from the meandering River Bhagirathi centuries ago. Located at the bend of this lake is a beautiful palace named Sang-i-Dalan (Stone Palace), a towering gateway and a three-domed mosque and some other structures erected by Nawazish Muhammad Khan, nephew and son-in-law of Alivardi Khan (the Bengal Nawab after whose death his grandson Siraj ud Daula became the Nawab of Bengal).

Shettihalli Church, Hassan – India’s Floating Church

Image Credit 

Situated in the picturesque village of Shettihalli in the Hassan district of Karnataka, Holy Rosary Church a famous travel destination. Located on the Hassan-Shettihalli Road, the church gets submerged in the waters of the Hemavathy River during monsoons. 

Image Credit 

The Holy Rosary Church was abandoned in 1960 when the Hemavati Dam and Gorur Dam were constructed.

Chandra Choodeswarar Temple – A Majestic Shiva Shrine on a Hilltop

Sri Chandra Choodeswara Temple, Hosur

A Dravidian-style shrine of great antiquity, Chandra Choodeswarar Temple in Hosur in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Naduis dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Chandrachoodeswarar, meaning "the one who wears the Moon (Chandra) as an ornament on his crest or tuft of hair on top of the head”. 

Perched on a hilltop offering breathtaking views of the surroundings,  Chandra Choodeswarar Temple was patronised by all the major powers of south India including Cholas, Hoysala and Vijayanagara. 

Featuring a soaring gopuram (temple tower), Chandra Choodeswarar Temple is 40 km from Bengaluru.