INTRODUCTION

Rai Praveen was a famous women character, whose lover affair with prince Indramani or Indrajit Singh was popular in history of Orchha. Maharaja Madhukar Shah had 3 sons Veer Singh, Ram Singh and Indrajit Singh. During his rule, he assigned parts of Orchha kingdom to his 3 sons so that they will manage their own areas with no conflict for area, in between them. Indrajit Singh noticed Rai Praveen due to her sweet voice and poetic qualities and advised his father to allow the girl for higher studies and gain further knowledge. Indrajit Singh was very much impressed with her poetic qualities, sweet voice and beautiful look and thus she became his favorite concubine but not get the status of wife. In order to establish her status and pride in society, prince Indrajeet Singh built the beautiful 3-storeyed palace in year 1618. She was popularly known as the "Nightingale of Orchha". Rai Praveen mahal just close to Orchha fort. If we stand in front of fort entrance gate, Rai Praveen mahal lies on left hand-side. While visiting Orchha fort, it is visible from top floor and Unth-ghar.

RAI PRAVEEN IN AKBAR'S COURT

With the passage of time, popularity of Rai Praveen's beauty, went across the boundary of Orchha kingdom and reaches to Agra where Mughal emperor Akbar was ruling. Although Akbar was on his old-age but when he came to know about Rai Praveen beauty and poetic qualities, he expressed desire to meet her. He arrogantly summoned her to his court, thus a message was sent to Orchha kingdom. During that time Mughal dynasty was at its peak of power and Orchha kingdom has accepted their supremacy so they have no reason to defy the imperial summon. Result of such summon was anticipated to everyone that Rai Praveen will not be allowed to return back and would have to stay in Agra fort complex for rest of the life. As no option was left so unwillingly Rai Praveen was sent to Akbar's court in year 1602. Here she intelligently expressed her personal feelings in the form of a couplet:
"Viniti Rai Praveen ki, suniye Shah Sujan, juthi patar bhakat hain, bari, bayas, swan."
Its meaning was simple yet very indicative & thoughtful. Message is such that "Rai Praveen prays to her great lord that plate of partially consumed food was given to bari means person from lower caste in Hindu society, bayas means barber and swan means dog ". Indicatively she passed her message to Akbar that I am beloved of some other person thus this will be against your dignity and status to use me. Emperor Akbar got the exact message and was impressed with her intelligence and poetic ability and thus allowed her to return back to Orchha with precious gifts & prizes.

HOW TO REACH

Rai Praveen palace is located in Orchha town, close to Jahangir palace. It can be reached easy by train and road options. Here we have tried to answer how to reach Rai Praveen Palace in Orchha.

By Air

Nearest airport to Rai Praveen palace is at Gwalior (150kms) and Khajuraho (180kms). Both the airports are best suitable for reaching Orchha but have limited connectivity.

DISTANCE CHART		LOCATION MAP
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Jhansi	20
Gwalior	150
Khajuraho	180
Chanderi	110

By Train

Train connectivity to this palace is good. Orchha town is having its own railway station but as it is a small station so long-distance trains do not stop here thus it can't be considered as suitable one for reaching Orchha. Here best suitable option is Jhansi station (20kms) which is located in Jhansi town but very close to Orchha. Their is frequent transport service available from Jhansi to Orchha and vice versa. Jhansi station have direct trains from Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Bhopal, Mumbai etc.

By Road

Rai Praveen lies in main road, connecting Tikamgarh to Jhansi. It can easily be reached by bus, auto-rickshaw, cabs and other means of transport. Majority of tourists prefers tourist cabs for reaching Orchha from nearby tourist destinations like Khajuraho, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Chanderi etc.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Rai Praveen Mahal is open throughout the year for visitors. Tourists can visit this monument from sunrise to sunset. Here in Orchha, tourists can be seen throughout the year but period from October to March is considered as the best time to visit Rai Praveen Palace. Due to good climatic condition, large number of international tourists arrives here. Due to rocky region, high temperature is observed in summers due to which, fall in tourism can be seen but it never become zero. During monsoon period, we can see the Betwa river in full form with lot of rainy water and rapid flow.