Yagya Shala, Orchha Fort, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The kings of Orchha were famous for their love of art, architecture and bravery with religious inclination. For religious rituals, they had built many temples and Yajnashalas. This attractive sacrificial hall is situated near the northern wall of the fort on the banks of river Betwa.
This magnificent monument is surrounded by four walls infact it’s a complex which can be accessed by an entrance gate. It’s a rectangular structure and built with arched gateways in all the four directions to access the central hall which is covered with a large fluted dome. It has a high ceiling and arched corners are forming the octagonal base for the fluted dome. This massive central dome is built with archways functions as ventilators aligned to the entrance archways, decorated with hanging balconies their roofs are crowned with unique style of domes. Stone pillars are supporting the hangouts balustrade and domed roofs of these balconies. Moldings, cornice and brackets supporting the chajjas are the featured elements. All the four corners above the roof are built with canopies raised on four arched pillars supporting the lintel, brackets, chajjas, balustrade and octagonal drum as a base for the dome which are of same pattern as of main central dome but proportionately small in size. Interior is elegant as decorated with stucco and arched niches.
This elegant Yagya Shala is neglected by the ASI or by the State Government. There are many thorny bushes, wild grass growing inside the premises and it is accessible through the field. Such a bad condition of such an ancient valuable heritage is beyond comprehension and also tourists do not reach there. But this monument is magnificent and represents the Bundela architecture.
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