Cenotaph of Maharaja Sujan Singh, Group of Cenotaphs, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Like the Mughals, the Rajput kings built grand and decorated chhatris or Cenotaphs at the cremation site. These Cenotaphs appear to be models of temples. The Chhatris made in Orchha and the Chhatris made in Mendore Rajasthan are almost similar.
Maharaja Sujan Singh who ruled Orchha from 1663-1672 A.D. and he died in 1672 A.D. His younger brother and successor Raja Indramani started construction of the cenotaph, which his son Raja Jaswant Singh completed.
The structure represents a developed stage of Bundela chhatri architecture. The ground plan of the cenotaph is built on a square platform. At the centre exists a square garbha-griha with verandahs on all four sides having arched gates. At the corners, there are square cells. The central garbha-griha is of sarvatobhadra style means it can be accessed from all the four directions through four doors or entrance gates on all four sides. The three-storyed structure is crowned with a shikhar of Nagara style. The cenotaph is an important heritage of Bundela architecture.
Visitors must not be confused by the construction style as they seems to be like temples but they were the cremation site of particular kings or Royal members.