Conservation - Orchha
The conservation effort at Orchha began as a part of a 60 million rupees project sanctioned by the Government of India. In Jehangir Mahal and Raja Mahal, two of the most glorious palaces of Orchha, the conservation comprised of strengthening of roofs and balconies, restoration of decayed brackets and designs, flooring as well as restoration works in many halls and rooms. The restoration of little known ‘kothi’ or dwellings of the nobility has added its own dimension to the feudal architechture of Orchha. Main kothis and other monuments in this region include Rai Man Dau ki kothi, Himma Hamir ki kothi, Sawai Rau ki kothi, Ont Khana, Purohit ki kothi, Bakas Rai ki kothi, horse stable, Ojha ki kothi ,Shiv Mandir, Teen Dasiyon ka Mahal, Panchmukhi Mahadev temple,Yagyashala,Radhika Bihari temple, Siddha Bada ki gufa and Vanvasi temple.
The conservation efforts required to be done both in stone and brick, and in a way that the overall effort is not distinguished as new but seems as an integral part of the original. It is not an easy task, as any conservationist would realize, more so because of the fact that lately one has seen even among the specialists a tendency to over-restore. If one has to conserve authentically we must strive to realize not so much the full extent but more so the character of these monuments. The ambience needs to be recreated authentically not only in the material sense but also in the aesthetic sense. We have been able to achieve this largely in the ongoing works of restoration of the houses of the nobles, where the domestic ambience has been conserved in restoring the courtyards (the living spaces of the inhabitants) inside the buildings, while the feudal splendour has been maintained in the treatment of the outer façade. Similarly, in the restoration works of Rai Praveen palace, the gardens are being restored in a fashion which is reminiscent of the gardens of the 17th-18th centuries A.D. even to the extent of the selection of fruit and flower trees and the restoration of the old water supply system. In the restoration of the stables there was no attempt to recreate the completely fallen down roofs; rather since the plan of the structure was evident even among the ruins; only pointing and consolidation through a mixture of red oxide, juices of plants and methi was effected.
Restoration of Jahangeer Mahal
Due to environmental factors and indiscriminate human use, many portions of the mahal had been badly damaged, wall plaster, flooring slab, stone, lintel and chajja, railing stones were broken and several cracks, vegetation was found in the palace.
To restore this palace, the Directorate has done the following works:
- Lime concreting in floor and slabs
- Uprooting vegetation
- Plastering the walls and ceiling of basement
- Decorative plaster (kangura work)
- Restoration of chattries
- Chajja, stone lintel, railings, crack filling, grouting etc.
Raja Mahal
- Reconstruction of the fallen structure in North-West side of the palace.
- Lime concreting in floor and slabs.
- Chajja, stone lintel, railings
- Decorative plaster (kangura work)
- Crack filling, grouting
- Uprooting of vegetation
Raiman Dau Ki Kothi
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Oontkhana
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