Orchha (Princely State) Homepage with Pictures and Map : Rajput Provinces of India

Dynasty

Bundela

Clan

Suryavanshi Bundela

State

Madhya Pradesh

Gun Salutes

15 Agency

Central India Agency

Accession

1^st January 1950

Revenue

INR 700,000

Area

5,387 Square Kilometers km²

Population

321,364 (1901)

Privy Purse

INR 185,300

Hindi Name

ओर्छा

Last Updated

9^th Jul, 2024

Wikipedia

Wikipedia link to Orchha (Princely State) Orchha State

Present Head

HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri MADHUKAR SHAH Ju Deo Bahadur, 27^th and present Maharaja of Orchha, born 8^th December 1944, educated at Doon School, Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal, and graduated in 1964 from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, married 1973 in New Delhi, HH Maharani Snehlata Devi, born 1947, daughter of HH Maharaja Pratap Singh Malvinder Bahadur of Nabha, and has issue, three daughters and a son.

Maharajkumari Vindeshwari Shah, born 2^nd November 1975, married 25^th November 2007 in New Delhi, Yuvraj Kamlendra Singh of Jhabua.
Maharajkumari Rajeshwari Shah, born 15^th October 1977.
Maharajkumari Bijeshwari Shah, born 12^th August 1980
Raja Bahadur Rudra Pratap Shah, born 26^th May 1983.

Genealogy

Founded in about 1250. Rulers were ...

Raja Pancham Singh 1048/1071
Raja Virbhadra Singh 1071/1087, married and had issue.
- Raja Karanpal Singh (qv)
- Kunwar Randhir Singh
- Kunwar Hirashah
- Kunwar Hansraj
- Kunwar Kalyanshah
Raja Karanpal Singh 1087/1112, married and had issue.
- Raja Kinnar Shah (qv)
- Raja Shaukan Dev (qv)
- Raja Nanak Dev (qv)
- Kunwar Vir Singh, married and had issue.
  - Raja Mohanpal Singh (qv)
  - Raja Abhaybhupati Singh (qv)
Raja Kinnar Shah 1112/1130
Raja Shaukan Dev 1130/1152
Raja Nanak Dev 1152/1159
Raja Mohanpal Singh 1159/1197
- Rajkumari Jamwati Bai, married Maharajadhiraj Khuranajondhakar Parambhattarak Pratapalankeshwar Parmeshwar Bharateshwar Samrat Agniraj Sri Prithviraj Chauhan III (Rai Pithora) emperor of Ajmer and Delhi and had issue.
  - Agniraj Govindraj Chauhan, founded the Ranthambore branch of Chauhans and later his descendants founded Bhaddaiyan Raj.
Raja Abhaybhupati Singh 1197/1215
Raja Arjunpal, he ruled at Mahoni 1215/1231, married and had issue.
- Raja Virpal (qv)
- Raja Sohanpal (qv)
- Kunwar Dayapal, he settled at Etaura, and subsequent generations occupied Gurha in Bihat State, and finally Bihat itself. (cf. below)
Raja Virpal 1231/1251
Raja Sohanpal 1251/1259, married and had issue.
- Raja Sahjendra Singh (qv)
- Kunwar Ram Singh
- Kunwar Indrajit Singh, ancestor of the later Rajas of Bihat.
Raja Sahjendra Singh 1259/1283
Raja Nanak Dev II 1283/1307, married and had issue.
- Raja Prithviraj Singh (qv)
- Kunwar Indraraj
Raja Prithviraj Singh 1307/1339
Raja Ram Singh 1339/1375, married and had issue.
- Raja Ramchandra Singh (qv)
- Raja Mednepal Singh (qv)
Raja Ramchandra Singh 1375/1384
Raja Mednepal Singh 1384/1437
Raja Arjun Dev 1437/1468
Raja Malkhan Singh 1468/1501, married and had issue.
- Kunwar Kharag Singh
- Kunwar Jagjit Singh
- Rauja Rudra Pratap (qv)
- Kunwar Jait Singh
- Kunwar Shah Diwan
- Kunwar Devi Singh
Raja RUDRA PRATAP, 1^st Raja of Orchha 1501/1531, he managed to increase his lands considerably during the confusion caused by Padshah Baber's invasion; married and had issue. He died 1531.
- Kunwar Kirat Shah
- Kunwar Bhupat Shah
- Raja Bharti Chand (qv)
- Raja Madhukar Shah (qv)
- Kunwar Anand Das
- Kunwar Chandan Das
- Kunwar Durga Das
- Kunwar Ghanshyam Das
- Kunwar Prayag Das
- Kunwar Bhairon Das
- Kunwar Khande Rai
- Kunwar Udyajit Singh of Mahewa, married and had issue.
  - Kunwar Ragho Das
  - Kunwar Kosi Das
  - Kunwar Ganga Das
  - Kunwar Hridaya Narayan
  - Kunwar Bharti Chandra
  - Kunwar Prem Chandra, married and had issue.
    - Kunwar Bhagwan Das, married and had issue.
      - Kunwar Bhagwan Das, married and had issue.
        
        Kunwar Chandju
        
        Kunwar Kharag Rai
        
        Kunwar Champat Rai, married and had issue. He died after 1649.
        
        Kunwar Gopal Rai
        
        Kunwar Sarvahan
        
        Kunwar Anand Rai
        
        Maharajadhiraja Chhatrasal, Raja of Mahewa, born 1649, married and had issue. He died 1731.
        
        Kunwar Rajaraj
        
        Kunwar Jagatraj [Raja Jagatraj Singh of Jaitpur]
        
        Kunwar Hirde Shah [Raja Hirde Shah of Panna]
        
        Kunwar Unoop Singh
        
        Kunwar Bharti Chand [Dewan Bharti Chand of Jaso]
        
        Kunwar Padam Rao [Rao Padam Rao of Jigni]
        
        Kunwar Govind Das
        
        Kunwar Umrood Singh
        
        Kunwar Sher Singh
        
        Kunwar Man Singh
        
        Kunwar Mohan Singh
        
        Kunwar Dalpat Singh
        
        Kumari (name unknown) Devi, married Thakur Sabha Singh Panwar, on his marriage , he was granted the village of Salaiyah in Pargana Panwari, as well as the title of Rao, and had issue.
        
        generations
        
        Rao Nawal Singh, Thakur of Salaiyah, married and had issue.
        
        generation
        
        Rao Aman Singh, Thakur of Salaiyah, born 14^th August 1876.
        
        Kunwar Ratan Shah
        
        Kunwar Sujan Rai
      - Kunwar Kunwar Sen
      - Kunwar Man Shah, ancestor of the Garrauli Royal Family.
Raja BHARTI CHAND, 2^nd Raja of Orchha 1531/1554, he unsuccessfully tried to oppose Sher Shah on his march to Kalinjar in 1545. He died 1554
Raja MADHUKAR SHAH, 3^rd Raja of Orchha 1554/1592, a religious recluse who allowed the fortunes of the state to decline from this time; the Mughal forces invaded Orchha for the first time in 1577 when Sadik Khan managed to take Orchha after a severe fight; in 1591 the Raja seized some parganas near Gwalior and was attacked and defeated by the Imperial troops forcing him to flee to the jungles, where he died soon afterwards of a natural death; married and had issue. He died 1592.
- Kunwar Horal Deo, died 1577.
- Raja Ram Shah (qv)
- Raja Bir Singh Deo [Virsingh Dev] (qv)
- Kunwar Indrajit Singh
- Kunwar Pratap Singh
- Kunwar Har Singh Deo, ancestor of the Bhasnai branch, to which belonged HH Maharaja Lokendra Sir Bhawani Singh Bahadur of Datia.
Raja RAM SHAH, 4^th Raja of Orchha 1592/1605 (deposed), and Raja of Chanderi 1608/1612, sued for pardon and was allowed to succeed, but he was a weak ruler and was unable to keep his brothers in check; Padshah Akbar deposed the Raja and placed his brother on the gadi; he was imprisoned in Delhi for a short time, but was eventually released and granted the fiefs of Chanderi and Banpur in 1608; married and had issue.
- Kunwar (name unknown) Singh, married and had issue.
  - Raja Bharat Shah of Chanderi 1612/1646, married and had issue.
    - Raja Devi Singh of Chanderi 1646/1717, married and had issue.
      - Raja Duraj Singh of Chanderi 1717/1733, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Durjan Singh of Chanderi 1733/-, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Man Singh of Chanderi -/1760, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Anirudh Singh of Chanderi 1760/1774, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Ram Chand of Chanderi 1778/1802, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Parjapal of Chanderi 1802
        
        Raja Mur Pahlad of Chanderi 1802/1842, married and had issue.
        
        Raja Mardan Singh of Chanderi 1842/1858, the state lapsed with his death and was annexed by the ruler of Gwalior.
        
        Raja Hati Singh of Chanderi 1774/1778
Raja BIR SINGH DEO, 5^th Raja of Orchha 1605/1627, a ruler of strong principles and no scruples, he amassed great wealth and property; he was not only a great warrior but an enthusiastic builder, leaving many monuments, forts and temples; married and had issue. He died 1627.
- Kunwar Chandrabhan
- Kunwar Narhari Das
- Raja Jhujhar Singh (qv)
- Kunwar Tulsi Das
- Kunwar Beni Das
- Raja Bhagwan Rao of Datia.
- Kunwar Kishan Singh
- Kunwar Hardaul of Baragaon, married and had issue.
  - Kunwar Bejani Shah of Baragaon, married and had issue.
    - Kunwar Pratap Singh of Baragaon, married and had issue.
      - Kunwar Diwanrai Singh of Baragaon, married and had issue.
        
        Kunwar Umaid Singh, ancestor of the Banka Pahari Royal Family.
        
        Kunwar Hindu Singh, ancestor of the Tori Fatehpur Royal Family.
        
        Kunwar Samant Singh, received Bijna around 1690 and was the ancestor of the Bijna Royal Family.
        
        Kunwar Mokham Singh, ancestor of the Chirgaon Royal Family.
        
        Kunwar Aman Singh, ancestor of the Durwai Royal Family.
Raja JHUJHAR SINGH, 6^th Raja of Orchha 1627/1635, a weak and turbulent ruler, he soon plunged his state into difficulties; after serving the Mughal Emperor in the Deccan, he returned home and suspected his brother of adultery with his wife, he forced his brother to drink poison and whose name later became exalted into a local deity; he went into open rebellion against the Mughal forces in 1634-1635, but was pursued and driven into the jungles where he was killed; married and had issue. He died 1635.
- Raja Pahar Singh (qv)
Raja DEVI SINGH, 7^th Raja of Orchha 1635/1641
Raja PAHAR SINGH, 8^th Raja of Orchha 1641/1653, of Kaniyadana, married and had issue.
- Raja Sujan Singh I (qv)
- Raja Indramani Singh (qv)
Raja SUJAN SINGH I, 9^th Raja of Orchha 1653/1672
Raja INDRAMANI SINGH, 10^th Raja of Orchha 1672/1675, married and had issue.
- Raja Jashwant Singh (qv)
Raja JASHWANT SINGH, 11^th Raja of Orchha 1675/1684, married and had issue.
- Raja Bhagwat Singh (qv)
Raja BHAGWAT SINGH, 12^th Raja of Orchha 1684/1689, married and had issue.
- Raja Udwat Singh (qv)
- Diwan Rai Singh, married and had issue.
  - Diwan Man Singh (fourth son), ancestor of the Diwan Sahebs of Dhurwai.
Raja UDWAT SINGH, 13^th Raja of Orchha 1689/1735, married and had issue.
- Raja Prithvi Singh (qv)
- Raja Aman Singh, founder of Khaniadhana.
Raja PRITHVI SINGH, 14^th Raja of Orchha 1735/1752, during his rule, more of his territories were lost to the Marathas.
Raja Mahendra SANWANT SINGH, 15^th Raja of Orchha 1752/1765, he was granted the title of Mahendra by Padshah Alamgir.
Raja Mahendra HATI SINGH, 16^th Raja of Orchha 1765/1768
Raja Mahendra MAN SINGH, 17^th Raja of Orchha 1768/1775
Raja Mahendra BHARTI CHAND, 18^th Raja of Orchha 1775/1776, adopted from Bijna State.
Raja Mahendra VIKRAMAJIT, 19^th Raja of Orchha 1776/1817 (abdicated) and in 1834, adopted from Bijna State, he entered into relations with the British authorities in 1812, later abdicated in favour of his son, but resumed power on his death, married and had issue. He died 1834.
- Raja Mahendra Dharam Pal (qv)
Raja Mahendra DHARAM PAL, 20^th Raja of Orchha 1817/1834, died 1834.
Raja Mahendra TEJ SINGH, 21^st Raja of Orchha 1834/1842, adopted from Bijna State, died 1842.
Raja Mahendra SUJAN SINGH II, 22^nd Raja of Orchha 1842/1848, adopted from Bijna State, died 1854
HH Maharaja Mahendra HAMIR SINGH, 23^rd Maharaja of Orchha 1848/1874, Maharaja [cr.1865], he received a sanad of adoption in 1862. He died 15^th March 1874.
HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri Sir PRATAP SINGH Bahadur Ju Deo, 24^th Maharaja of Orchha 1874/1930, born 1854, K.C.S.I. [cr.1900], G.C.S.I. [cr.1906], K.C.B.(mil)[cr.1901], G.C.I.E. [cr.1900], K.C.I.E [cr.1894], Hon. ADC to HM, Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand [cr.1882], granted a personal salute of 17 guns; married and had issue. He died 3^rd March 1930.
- Raja Bahadur Bhagwant Singh, Yuvaraj Saheb of Orchha; married (as his third wife), the third daughter of Rana Padam Chand of Jubbal, she had issue, one daughter, and had issue, four sons and one daughter. He died vp.
  - HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri Sir Vir Singh Ju Deo Bahadur (qv)
  - Rao Raja Karan Singh Ju Deo, married and had issue.
    - Rajkumari Jayanti Devi [Rani Jayanti Devi of Koti], married Rana Devesh Chand of Koti in Himachal Pradesh, and had issue. She died 10^th March 2010.
    - Rao Raja Narendra Singh Ju Dev, married and has issue, one daughter and two sons.
      - Rajkumari Gita Rathod
      - Rajkumar Dhruv Singh Dev, married to Sadhna Singh Dev and has issues, one daughter and a son.
        
        Rajkumari Mrinalika Singh Ju Dev, studied at IIM Indore, currently residing in Zurich, Switzerland.
        
        Rajkumar Vikramaditya Singh Ju Dev, studied at Christ University, Bangalore, and finished his Masters of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA.
      - Rajkumar Rudra Singh Dev, born 3^rd September 1960, married 12^th December 1989, Rajkumari Manjari Kumari, daughter of Raja Vishwaraj Pratap Singh of Kawardha, and his wife, Rani Shashi Prabha Devi (now the Rajmata Sahiba of Kawardha), and have issue.
        
        Rajkumari Gopika Kumari, born 4^th August 1993. Did her schooling from Rajkumar College Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and presently (2014) pursuing her graduation in B.A. History Honours from St. Stephens College, Delhi University.
    - Rao Raja Gayanendra Singh Ju Dev, married and has issue, three daughters and one son.
      - Rajkumari Gauri Parikh
      - Rajkumari Hema Devi [Rani Hema Chand of Manaswal], married (as his second wife), Rana Yatendra Chand of Manaswal.
      - Rajkumari Maya Rana
      - Rao Raja Vishwajeet Singh Ju Dev, married to Archana Singh, daughter of Rao Gulab Singh of Jharkuaan (Panna) and has issues.
        
        Rajkumar Siddharth Singh Ju Dev, studied at La Martiniere College, Lucknow, later finished his education in London at University of Westminster.
        
        Rajkumar Parth Singh Ju Dev, studied at La Martiniere College, Lucknow, later finished his education from Delhi University (Delhi College of Arts & Commerce)
  - Rao Raja Jayanendra Singh Ju Deo, married and had issue.
    - Rao Raja Praduman Singh Ju Dev, married and has issue, three sons.
      - Rajkumar Brijraj Singh Dev
      - Rajkumar Mrigendra Singh Dev
      - Rajkumar Shivraj Singh Dev
    - Rajkumari Usha Kumari
  - Rao Raja Mahendra Singh Ju Deo, married and had issue, three daughters and one son.
    - Rajkumari Ila Raghuvanshi
    - Rao Raja Dinesh Singh Ju Dev, married and has issue, one daughter and two sons.
      - Rajkumari Abha Singh
      - Lt.-Col. Rajkumar Abhay Singh Dev
      - Rajkumar Ajay Singh Dev
    - Rajkumari Gayatri Kumari
    - Rajkumari Kumud Singh
  - Rajkumari Saraswati Devi [HH Rani Saraswati Devi of Khilchipur], married HH Raja Rao Bahadur Yashodar Singh, Raja of Khilchipur, and had issue.
- Kunwar Sawant Singh, second son, adopted into Bijawar in 1898, as HH Bharat Dharmendra Maharaja Sawai Sir Sawant Singh Bahadur of Bijawar.
- Maharajkumari (name unknown) [HH Maharani Sahiba of Chhatarpur], married 1884 (as his first wife), HH Maharaja Sir Vishwanath Singh Bahadur of Chhatarpur. She died sp 1920.
HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri Sir VIR SINGH Ju Deo Bahadur, 25^th Maharaja of Orchha 1930/1956, born 14^th April 1899, K.C.S.I., married 1^stly, 1919, a daughter of HH Thakore Sahib Shri Jaswantsinhji Becharsinhji of Wadhwan in Kathiawar, married 2^ndly, HH Maharani Kamlaba Sahiba, daughter of HH Maharajah Shri Bhojrajjisinhji Bhagwatsinhji Sahib of Gondal in Kathiawar, and his wife, HH Maharani Raj Kunverba Saheb, and had issue, one son and one daughter. He died 1956.
- HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri Devendra Vijay Singh Ju Deo Bahadur (by 1^st marriage) (qv)
- Maharajkumari Sudha Kumari (by Maharani Kamlaba), born 22^nd November 1930, married (as his second wife), Kanwar Ratan Singh of Dhami, and had issue. She died 25^th February 1978.
HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri DEVENDRA VIJAY SINGH Ju Deo Bahadur, 26^th Maharaja of Orchha 1956/-, born 1919.
HH Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Bundelkhand Maharaja Mahendra Sawai Shri MADHUKAR SHAH Ju Deo Bahadur, 27^th Maharaja of Orchha (see above)

OTHER MEMBERS:

Rani Mahendra Kumari, married (as his first wife), Raja Surendra Bikram Singh of Itaunja.
Rao Raja Meherban Singh, married Rani Sheela Devi, and had issue.
- Rajkumari Kamlesh Kumari, born 1958, married Kanwar Dushyant Singh of Dhami, and has issue.