Cenotaph of Maharaja Pahar Singh, Orchha Madhya Pradesh, India.
The tradition of building chhatris in the areas of Rajasthan like Udaipur, Jaipur, Mendore, Jaisalmer, Badabagh, Kota, Bundi etc. This tradition of building monuments in the memory of their nobles and beloved rulers reached Orchha in Bundela style architecture. Chhatri or Cenotaph of Maharaja Pahar Singh represents a developed stage of Bundela cenotaph architecture. Orchha’s ruler Raja Pahar Singh who ruled Orchha from 1641-1663 AD was the son of Maharaja Veer Singh and younger brother of Maharaja Jujhar Singh. After his death, his son and successor Raja Sujan Singh who ruled Orchha from 1663-1672 AD built this cenotaph in the memory of his Father.
The ground plan of the cenotaph consists of a square garbha-griha means the cremation site on a square platform as it’s the major feature of Nagara style architecture with a verandah on all sides having an arched gate. The garbha-griha is of sarvatobhadra style means can be accessed from all the four directions. Its exterior portion shows step for tower and chhajja or stone hanging on the third floor. The three-storeyed structure is crowned with a shikhar of Nagara style. At the corners, there exist square cells crowned with domes and canopies. The domes and Nagara shikhar are variously decorated representing integrated Bundela style. Interior arches are lobbed or in Petal shapes and vaulted ceilings with plasters.
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