Das Koenigreich Orcha wurde 1501 gegruendet. Sein erster Koenig starb einen heldenhaften Tod, als er bei dem Versuch, eine heilige Kuh vor den Klauen eines Tiger zu retten, selbst zur Beute wurde. Vom Glanz des ehemaligen Koenigreiches sind heute ein kleines Dorf mit etwa 8'500 Einwohnern uebrig sowie zahlreiche eindrueckliche Ruinen von Palaesten und Tempeln mit arabischer Architektur, die zwischen dem gruenen Blaetterdach des umliegenden Waldes herausragen. Und weil wir nicht oft die Gelegenheit bekommen, wie ein Maharaja zu residieren, haben wir uns diesmal mitten im alten Palast einquartiert, im Hotel Sheesh Mahal. Das Zimmer ist groesser als unsere letzte Wohnung und die Aussicht wahrhaft koeniglich.
The kingdom of Orcha was founded 1501. Its first king died a heroic death while trying to rescue a holy cow from a tiger, becoming the bait himself. Today what's left from the glory of the former kingdom is a small hasslefree town of 8'500 inhabitants as well as numerous impressive ruins of palasts and temples starring Arabic architecture, which are dotting the surrounding green forest. Because we don't often get the chance to reside like a Maharaja we chose to stay in the old palace itself in the Hotel Sheesh Mahal. The room is bigger than our old flat and the view truly royal.
Das ansonsten verschlafene Orcha zeigte sich waehrend unserem Besuch in Festlaune. In einem zehn Tage andauernden Festival zu Ehren des Gottes Ganesh (Ganesh Chaturthi) wurden unter anderem der Ramayana-Epos bis Mitternacht rezitiert (aus maximal aufgedrehten Boxen versteht sich) und eine Art Mini-Street Parade mit farbbeklecksten jungen Maennern, die ausgelassen zu Hindi-Techno tanzen. Am letzten Tag des Festivals fuhren Lastwagenladungen voller Pilger aus den umliegenden Doerfern mit ihren Ganesh-Statuen zum Betwa Fluss, von wo aus Ganesh zurueck zum Olymp der Goetter (Mt. Kailash in Tibet) reist und die Suenden all seiner Verehrer mitnimmt.
Otherwise sleepy Orcha was in a party mood during our visit. In a festival lasting ten days in honor of the god Ganesh (Ganesh Chaturthi) there were recitals of the Ramayana Epos until 12 pm (of course with the volume of the speakers on the max) and a sort of miniature Streetparade with young man sprinkled with colour dancing happily to hindi-techno. On the last day of the festivities, truckloads of devotees from the nearby villages brought their Ganesh statues to the Betwa River from where the god will return to the realm of the gods (Mt. Kailash in Tibet) and take with him the sins of his devotees.
The kingdom of Orcha was founded 1501. Its first king died a heroic death while trying to rescue a holy cow from a tiger, becoming the bait himself. Today what's left from the glory of the former kingdom is a small hasslefree town of 8'500 inhabitants as well as numerous impressive ruins of palasts and temples starring Arabic architecture, which are dotting the surrounding green forest. Because we don't often get the chance to reside like a Maharaja we chose to stay in the old palace itself in the Hotel Sheesh Mahal. The room is bigger than our old flat and the view truly royal.
 |
| Unser koenigliches Kaemmerchen - Our royal chamber |
Otherwise sleepy Orcha was in a party mood during our visit. In a festival lasting ten days in honor of the god Ganesh (Ganesh Chaturthi) there were recitals of the Ramayana Epos until 12 pm (of course with the volume of the speakers on the max) and a sort of miniature Streetparade with young man sprinkled with colour dancing happily to hindi-techno. On the last day of the festivities, truckloads of devotees from the nearby villages brought their Ganesh statues to the Betwa River from where the god will return to the realm of the gods (Mt. Kailash in Tibet) and take with him the sins of his devotees.
Um dem Trubel zu entfliehen, haben wir uns auf's Velo geschwungen und sind durch das Naturreservat auf der anderen Seite des Flusses geradelt. Trotz dem Geschepper, das unsere alten Drahtesel veranstalteten, konnten wir Makaken, Languren, Geier, Falken und einen Hirsch sichten.
To flee from the hustle and bustle we cycled through the Nature Reserve on the other side of the river. Despite the racket of our rickety bikes we were able to spot macaques, langurs, vultures, hawks and a deer - oh dear!
To flee from the hustle and bustle we cycled through the Nature Reserve on the other side of the river. Despite the racket of our rickety bikes we were able to spot macaques, langurs, vultures, hawks and a deer - oh dear!
