Top 10 Tourist Places of Bundelkhand

Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh is one of the chief tourist places that attract travelers. From ancient monuments and museums to the beautiful tourist places nearby, Bundelkhand seems to be the ideal tourist spot. Tourists in Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh in India not only love to explore but also shop for souvenirs. Shopping in Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh is a really exciting affair. There are a number of markets and bazaars in the region that sell antique objects, curios, and handicrafts.

Brihaspati Kund

According to Hindu Puranas, it is said that Dev Guru Brihaspati had built an ashram here. Another story about it is that Lord Rama resided here during his 14 years of exile. Brihaspati Kund is also known as Niagara Falls of India. It is very famous for its natural beauty. It is located in the Panna district which is 37 KM from Panna, 75 KM from Chitrakoot, and 50 KM from Banda. Kalinjar Fort is only 29 kilometers away from Brihaspati Kund. The height of Brihaspati Kund is about 400 feet. It is situated near Pahadi Kheda village of Panna district. The path to reach the bottom of Jupiter Kund is very narrow and hilly. That is an adventure in itself. People also come here to enjoy camping and trekking. Due to the beauty of this place, people come here to have a picnic with their families and admire the natural beauty. Brihaspati Kund is situated on the Baghin River. The river originates from the Panna hills. This waterfall is very vast and high so the sound of water falling from the waterfall can be heard from far away.

Shabri waterfall

Shabri waterfall is in Chitrakoot. It is one of the most beautiful places in Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh. This waterfall falls from the height of 40 feet in three parallel streams passing through the dense forests. Water collects in a pond, and again this water goes forward and falls from a height of 100 feet. Due to this, its beauty looks more attractive. It is said that in the mythological period, Lord Rama took a bath at this place after eating fruits from Shabari Mata, and for that reason, the name of this place was named Shabari Kund. Shabari Falls is 53 km from Brihaspati Kund. This waterfall is 47 km from Chitrakoot and 108 km from Banda. It is located in Dudaila village in Chitrakoot district. The best time to visit the Shabri waterfall is during the rainy season. Due to this more water flow is seen here. The best time to visit the Shabri waterfall is between July to September. Although people come here till December, in winter the water here becomes very less. So, the waterfall loses its beauty.

Shri Paramhans Dharkundi Ashram

This place is a beautiful spiritual place near Manikpur-Satna. Here people experience natural spirituality. There is a small reservoir in this ashram. It is said that there was a dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhishthira in this reservoir. Yudhishthira gave all the answers to Yaksha’s questions and got his brothers alive. This place attracts tourists with its beauty and serenity.

Rahila Sagar Sun Temple

It is located in the Mahoba district of Bundelkhand. which was built by the Chandelas. It is a good example of Indian cultural heritage. It is located near Rahiliya village, 3 km south of Mahoba. The Chandela kings used to worship Surya in this temple. Worshiping the Sun is considered a source of energy, health, and positivity. This temple was built by the fifth Chandela king Rahila Devvarman. By the name of the king, this temple was named Rahila mandir. The architecture of Rahila Sagar Sun Temple is in Pratihara style. In this temple granite stones have been used, the use of these stones can also be widely seen in the Khajuraho temples. This temple is open from three sides according to the Vastu Shastra and closed from the west side. The nearest airport to this temple is Khajuraho, New Delhi, and Lucknow. The distance of Khajuraho Airport from the temple is 70 km. The nearest railway station is Mahoba. Inside the Rahila Sagar Sun Temple, a lake, sun temple, flagon, and a beautiful park are situated. It is said that the water of this pool never dries up. The Chandela rulers used to worship the Sun only after taking a bath in the pool.

Kalinjar Fort

Kalinjar Fort is located in Banda district of Bundelkhand. It is situated on Vindhya mountain, 97 km from Khajuraho. This fort had been considered impregnable and invincible. There are many ancient temples in this fort, some from the Gupta period. There is a Shiva temple here, about which it is believed that Lord Shankar did penance here after consuming the poison emanating from the churning of the ocean. A fair is held here on the day of Kartik Purnima. In ancient times, this fort remained under the Chandela Rajputs and then again under the Solankis. In this fort Mahmud Ghaznabi, Qutubuddin Aibak, Sher Shah Suri, Humayun attacked to win this, But they were not able to win it. During this victory campaign, Sher Shah Suri was killed by a cannon shot. During the Mughal period, Akbar succeeded to win this fort. After this, it came under the possession of King Chhatrasal Bundela.  when Chhatrasal Bundela defeated the Mughals in a long period of war. During the British period, the British got a lot of hard work to control here. Since independence, it has been under the Archaeological Survey of India as an important historical heritage. Kalinjar Fort is situated at an altitude of 1203 feet above sea level. The height of Kalinjar Fort is 60 meters. It is built between other mountains of the Vindhyachal mountain range Mayfa mountain, Fatehganj mountain, Pathar Kachar mountain, Rasin mountain, Brihaspati Kund mountain. This fort has a 20000-year-old Shankhalipi. In which there is a mention of Lord Rama coming to Kalinjar in the Ramayana period. It is considered the best fort of the medieval period. Gupta style, Pratihara style, Panchayatan Nagar style, etc. have been used to build this fort. It has been built according to the Agni Purana, Brihat-Samhita, and Vastu Shastra. There are many temples built in the middle of the fort. There are 7 doors to enter the fort. Which are adorned with different building styles. It is said that the treasures of ancient kings are hidden here. Whose secret no one knows till date. There are two ponds in this fort named Buddha, Buddhi. Which have great medicinal value. This fort is situated 105 KM from Khajuraho, 78 KM from Chitrakoot, 62 KM from Banda, and 205 KM from Allahabad.

Pandav Falls

It is located in the Panna district at a distance of 14 km from Panna and 34 km from Khajuraho. This waterfall is formed by a tributary of the Ken River. Its height is 30 meters, which falls into a heart-shaped pond. It is a wonderful place surrounded by lush green forests. There are some caves from the Pandava era. It is said that the Pandavas resided here during their exile.

Panna National Park

It is situated between the Panna and the Chhatarpur districts of Bundelkhand. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1981. Which has an area of ​​542 square kilometers, in the year 2011 it was designated for Biosphere Reserve. The Ken River is the main attraction in this park. The main flora of this park is bamboo, teak, and Boswellia. Many rare and endangered species have been preserved in this sanctuary. The main animals found here are tigers, leopards, chital, chinkara, nilgai, sambar, and bear. More than 200 species of birds are found here. In which the red-headed vulture, honey buzzard, and Indian vulture are the main ones. It comes under the protected area under Project Tiger.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho temples are world-famous. Which is famous for its antiquity and artifacts. Which are beautiful, complex, full of awe and wonder. People come from abroad to see the beauty of this place. The temples built by the Chandela dynasty can be classified into three groups: Eastern, Western and Southern.

• Kandariya Mahadev Temple

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built by the Chandela rulers in 99 AD. This name is derived from the name of the Kandar form of Lord Shiva. The temple of Kandariya Mahadev is built on a granite stone foundation. In this temple, the carved sandstone is very beautiful. The walls of the temple are adorned with lotus flowers. The temple is built on a high platform. On which many beautiful sculptures are adorned. In these sculptures mainly the sculptures of horses, warriors, hunters, musicians, dancers, devotees have been made. On the other side of the temple, there are idols of deities Sur, Sundari’s, Mithun’s, Vyalas, and serpents. This temple is a wonderful example of architecture. Beautiful carvings have been done in each part of this temple. The entrance of this temple is made of Panchayatan style. On which the carvings of deities, musicians, and flagon stone are worth seeing. Each part of the temple is connected to the other. There is also a circular platform on the outer wall in the Parikrama area. The Garbhagriha of the temple is at the highest position. Stairs are containing Chandrashila to reach here. There are seven parts of the Garbhagriha.

• Matangeshwar Temple

The Matangeshwar temple was built in the ninth century by Raja Chandra Dev of the Chandela dynasty. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the few active temples in the Khajuraho. This temple is still actively used for worship. The length of the Lingam in the temple is 9 feet, and it is said that it grows by 1 inch every year on the day of Sharad Purnima. The officers measure its length every year. It is said that this temple grows not only upwards but also downwards as much as it is upwards. People come here from far and wide to see this wonderful miracle. It has special significance in the month of Sawan. For this reason, there is a special crowd in the month of Sawan. There are beautiful carvings of deities on the walls of this temple. This is a special holy pilgrimage for the people visiting Khajuraho. The light and sound show is also organized by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department in this temple. Which is presented in Hindi as well as in the English language.

Orchha

Orchha was founded by the Rajput Bundela king Rudra Pratap in the sixteenth century. Wildlife Sanctuary, Orchha Fort, and its captivating architecture, Sheesh Mahal, etc. are prominent in Orchha. River rafting is also done here in the Betwa river.

• Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary

Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Tikamgarh district of Bundelkhand. It has an area of ​​45 square kilometers. Chital and Nilgai are mainly protected here. Orchha Bird Sanctuary has nearly located the Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary. It is situated on an island between Betwa and Jamni rivers. It is home to a rare variety of plants and birds. It was established in 1994. Its distance is 2 kilometers from the Orchha fort. There are some species of tiger, langur, leopard, bear, jackal, monkey, woodpecker, kingfisher, owl, swan, wild quail, geese, etc. The best time to visit is between November to June. It is a center of attraction for sports like river rafting, fishing, trekking, voting, camping, jungle trekking, and hiking.

• Orchha Fort

The fort of Orchha was built by Raja Rudra Pratap Singh in the 16th century. It is in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. It is like an island situated between the Betwa and Jamni rivers. A granite stone bridge has been built to enter this city. It is situated at a distance of 15 km from Jhansi. There are beautiful buildings and temples inside this fort. Here Raj Mahal and Ram Mandir were established by Raja Madhukar Singh. In this fort, the Raj Mahal is the residence of the king and the queens and the Sheesh Mahal is a royal residence for the king. Which has now been converted into a hotel. Apart from this, the Jahangir Mahal was built by Raja Veer Dev in the honor of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and Phool Bagh is the place to visit here.

• Chanderi Fort
  

Chitrakoot Dham

It is located in the Chitrakoot district and is mainly famous for its spiritual and natural serenity. It is known for many famous temples mentioned in Hinduism. It has been the Tapo Bhoomi of the great saint Goswami Tulsidas. Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in Chitrakoot Dham. In this place, Bharat had come to meet Ram Ji, whose place is named Bharat Milap. The major places of interest in Chitrakoot are Ramghat and Arogya Dham, Gupt Godavari Cave, Kamadgiri Temple, Sati Anasuya Ashram, Hanuman Dhara Temple, Sphatik Shila, etc.

• Ramghat

It is said that Lord Rama used to bathe here regularly. Bharat Milap temple is situated on this ghat. Religious rituals have special significance at this ghat built on the banks of river Mandakini. The Aarti that takes place here in the evening is very attractive.

• Gupt Godavari Caves

It is 18 km from Chitrakoot City. There are two caves here, which cannot be easily entered due to the narrow entrance. There is a small pond at the end of the cave. From which the Godavari river originates. There is always water flowing in the second cave. It is said that Rama and Lakshman held court in this cave.

• Hanuman Dhara

There is a huge statue of Hanuman Ji on the top of a hill. In this temple, waterfalls from a spring near the idol. It is said that after the burning of Lanka, Shri Ram Ji made this stream here for his comfort. There is also Sita Rasoi on top of the hill, from where Chitrakoot looks very beautiful.

• Kamadgiri Temple

People here consider Kamadgiri mountain to be a very holy mountain. Considering its religious importance, devotees do a 5 km circumambulation of this mountain to fulfill their wishes. There are many temples surrounded by forests here.

• Sati Anusuiya Ashram

It is said that this was the abode of Sati Anusuiya. Here Sati Anusuya kept the Tridevs in her child form. It is situated 4 km from Sphatik Shila amidst dense forests.

• Sphatik Shila

This rock is situated on the bank of the Mandakini river. It is said that there are footprints of Mother Sita. According to the Puranas, Lord Rama and Sita used to sit and gaze at the beauty of Chitrakoot from here.

Datia

•  Datia Palace

Located in the town of Datia, the Datia Palace is a historical monument that was built in the 17th century. It is known for its unique blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The palace complex comprises several buildings, including the Jahangir Mahal, which is one of the main attractions. The palace has several stories, and the architecture is a beautiful combination of Hindu and Islamic styles. The palace is adorned with intricate carvings, beautiful frescoes, and beautiful gardens. The palace also houses several paintings and artifacts that give a glimpse into the history and culture of the region.

Jhansi

• Rani Mahal

The Rani Mahal is a beautiful palace located in the town of Jhansi. It was built in the 18th century and is known for its intricate carvings and beautiful frescoes. The palace was originally built for the queen of Jhansi and is now a popular tourist attraction. The palace has several stories and is adorned with beautiful murals that depict the history and culture of the region. Visitors can also see the beautiful gardens and fountains that surround the palace.

• Jhansi Fort

The Jhansi Fort is a historical landmark that was built in the 17th century. It is located atop a hill and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. The fort complex comprises several buildings, including the Rani Mahal and the Shiv Temple. The fort played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and visitors can see the Rani Mahal, where Rani Lakshmi Bai resided during the rebellion. The fort also houses several cannons and other weapons that were used during the rebellion.

• Ken Gharial Sanctuary

The Ken Gharial Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve that is located on the banks of the Ken River. It is home to several species of animals, including gharials, crocodiles, and turtles. The sanctuary is also known for its birdlife and is a popular spot for birdwatching. Visitors can take a boat ride on the Ken River to explore the sanctuary and get a closer look at the wildlife. The sanctuary also has several watchtowers from where visitors can observe the wildlife.