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Rajput kings, like their Mughal counterparts, marked the cremation sites of royalty with grand cenotaphs or chhatris that often resemble temple structures. Orchha’s chhatris, much like those in Mandore, Rajasthan, reflect elegance and the rich legacy of Bundela heritage. The chhatri of Maharaja Sujan Singh, who ruled Orchha from 1663 to 1672, embodies a developed stage of Bundela architecture.
After Sujan Singh’s death, construction of his cenotaph began under his brother, Raja Indramani, and was completed by Indramani’s son, Raja Jaswant Singh. This three-story monument stands on a square platform, with a central “garbha-griha” and verandahs on all sides, accessible by arched gates at each direction.
Each corner houses a square cell, and the central sanctum is of “sarvatobhadra” style, open on four sides. The structure is crowned by a Nagara-style shikhar, blending royal symbolism with temple aesthetics. Though shaped like temples, these chhatris are memorials, preserving the memory of Orchha’s royal rulers and architectural tradition.