The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas
IndiaPermanent Delegation of India to UNESCO
Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (Bundelkhand Region)
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Description
Latitude and Longitude, or UTM coordinates:
Garhkundar: N25 29 35.3 E78 53 46.0
Raja Mahal: N25 21 01.7 E78 38 35.7
Jahangir Mahal: N25 21 03.8 E78 38 38.8
Datia Palace: N25 40 26.6 E78 27 15.2
Dhubela Palace: N25 00 30.3 E79 28 47.0
Jhansi Fort: N25 27 27.9 E78 34 35.7
‘The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas’ represent a serial property located in the Bundelkhand region of India. This serial nomination encompasses six significant components: Garhkundar Fort, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, Datia Palace, Jhansi Fort and Dhubela Palace. These forts and palaces embody the cultural traditions, architectural styles, and political history of the Bundela Rajputs, who played a significant role in Indian history from the 16th to the 19th centuries. They maintained a distinct identity through alliances and conflicts with the Mughals, Marathas, and the British, and constitute an essential component of India's historical narrative.
The Bundela forts and palaces not only reflect the strategic military designs and fortification techniques employed by the Bundelas but also showcase their contributions to the region’s cultural landscape through distinctive architectural styles influenced by indigenous traditions amalgamated with Rajput and Mughal artistry. The selected palace-fortresses illustrate the innovative evolution of Bundela palatial architecture reflecting an interplay of defence and aesthetics.
1. Garhkundar FortGarhkundar, the early capital of the Bundela Rajputs, is perched atop a hill and is distinguished by its defensive features, multiple layers of ramparts, and its strategic use of the surrounding natural landscape. Surrounded by steep hills on three sides, the fort's location provided natural defences and vantage points. Its construction was carefully integrated with the hill's topography, with walls and bastions following the terrain’s contours and utilizing rocky outcrops to enhance its defence. The palace of the Garhkundar fort was developed upon a symmetric plan around a central open-to-sky courtyard. The built form portrayed a distinctive palatine morphology that had been developed by the Bundelas for their Garh Mahals, drawing from the Paramsayika Mandala. Though Garhkundar is more suggestive of military use, its grand interior layout of courtyards, palaces and water features illustrate the initial Bundela eye for aesthetic pleasure palaces. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Raja Mahal
Commissioned during the reign of the Bundela ruler Madhukar Shah, the Raja Mahal in Orchha exemplifies a unique blend of planning and architectural elements characteristic of Bundela palatial design. Built around a central, open-to-sky courtyard, the palace features a symmetrical layout based on the Paramsayika Mandala. The architecture is marked by its complex exterior massing, with projecting walls, alternating pavilions, and chhatris (domed pavilions) on slender columns that add depth and rhythm to the structure. The palace reflects a fusion of Rajput and Mughal styles, incorporating elements like ogee arches, domes, and vaulted passageways, while retaining traditional Rajput features such as chhatris and intricate carvings. The palace is richly adorned with murals depicting religious, courtly, and nature themes, showcasing the artistic traditions of the Bundelas. The Raja Mahal's thoughtful planning and architectural innovation embody the Bundela dynasty's sophisticated approach to combining aesthetic grandeur with practical functionality. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
3. Jahangir Mahal
Jahangir Mahal, located in the citadel of Orchha, was commissioned towards the end of the reign of Madhukar Shah and saw major construction from the reign of Bir Singh Deo. It reflects a synthesis of Mughal architectural elegance with the robust Rajput fortification techniques, highlighted by its arched facades, extensive use of chhatris, and multi-storyed design. The palace is set along a square symmetrical plan with the lower storey creating a strong visual base for the more elaborate upper storeys. The palace is based around a large courtyard, typical of Bundela palatine planning. Jahangir Mahal can be seen as introducing flourishes of innovation in Bundela architecture and is also one of their loftiest palatial structures. The murals within the palace reflect the evolving visual identity of Bundela architecture, merging the influence of the Mughal court with the traditional aesthetic of the Bundela rulers. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Known as the Bir Singh Deo Palace, this five-storyed structure is one of the finest examples of Bundela architecture. Built by Bir Singh Deo in 1620, the palace exemplifies the meticulous planning and architectural grandeur of Bundela rulers. Its symmetrical structure, rising without a single beam, demonstrates sophisticated engineering techniques of the time. The palace is designed around a central courtyard with interconnected halls, pavilions, and chambers, emphasizing both functionality and aesthetic elegance, typical of Bundela palatine planning. The combination of chhatris, arches, and balconies also reflects the artistic fusion characteristic of Bundela architecture. The Datia Palace remains a significant cultural landmark, reflecting the strategic planning, architectural innovation, and aesthetic priorities of Bundela rulers. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India.
5. Jhansi Fort
The Jhansi Fort, built by Raja Bir Singh Deo of the Bundela dynasty in the early 17th century, is a significant representation of Bundela architectural and strategic planning. Situated atop a hill, the fort was designed with defense as a primary concern, embodying the Bundela rulers' need for security and control over their territories. Its robust, high stone walls, fortified bastions, and strategically placed watchtowers reflect an emphasis on military strength, while its location provided a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. The fort’s internal layout includes residential palaces, temples, and water reservoirs, demonstrating a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal. Though primarily a military stronghold, the presence of chhatris, arches, and ornamental carvings connects the fort to Bundela palatial traditions. The Jhansi Fort thus exemplifies the Bundela approach to architecture, where practicality and defense needs were harmoniously blended with the grandeur and elegance of Rajput-Mughal influences. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Dhubela Palace, built by Maharaja Chhatrasal in the 17th century, stands as a prominent example of continuity in Bundela palatial architecture, blending traditional Rajput elements with Mughal influences. Strategically located near the Dhubela Lake, the palace showcases a thoughtful integration of natural surroundings with architectural design, a hallmark of Bundela planning. The palace's layout revolves around a central courtyard, surrounded by pillared halls, pavilions, and residential chambers, reflecting the typical Bundela palatine morphology. Chhatris, ornamental domes, and arched windows add to the aesthetic appeal of the palace, demonstrating both the artistic sophistication and functional aspects of the era. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Justification of Outstanding Universal Value
The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas are outstanding examples of Indian palatial architecture that vividly illustrate the exchange of cultural and artistic influences in medieval India. The components of the serial property collectively depict the evolution of Bundela palatial architecture from the early phase represented by Garhkundar Fort to the more elaborate and refined structures seen in Jahangir Mahal and Datia Palace. This progression demonstrates how regional palatial architectural styles developed over time, incorporating new techniques and innovative designs.
The palaces exhibit high levels of creativity, craftsmanship and experimentation with respect to the development of a distinct Bundela palatial architectural style. The architectural layout and defensive mechanisms of the forts, such as the strategic placement of bastions and gateways in Garhkundar and Jhansi Fort and the elaborate water systems in Datia Palace, illustrate advanced fortification strategies adapted to the regional topography. These fortified palaces further reflect a high level of ingenuity in addressing both defensive and residential needs. The palace structures within the forts follow a basic mandala form of symmetrical planning with the palaces based around a square courtyard, establishing a clear palace typology. The growth of the palace complex was centred around the mansara palace form, and it is evident that they enhanced this basic schema with the dimensional articulation of the plan.
The serial property also exhibits an important interchange of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles over the centuries to create a unique Bundela visual expression. The Bundela kings assimilated elements from both the provincial network and the imperial network grounding the two different styles to create a distinct new form.
Artistic exchanges, seen in Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, and Datia Palace, highlight surface decorations such as murals, which embodied Bundela kinship and aligned them with the broader imperial network. Mughal motifs were reinterpreted through a local lens, combining elements like chinikhana motifs with complex scenes rendered in bold colors. The murals also featured symbolic themes such as ragamal and raslila, as well as secular scenes inspired by the Mughal atelier. This interchange thus highlights the aesthetic diversity of the period, underscoring the role of the Bundela palaces as outstanding centers of artistic expression.
Criterion (ii): The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas exemplify significant cultural interchange, reflecting a complex synthesis of architectural styles and artistic traditions. They reveal a blend of indigenous Bundela Rajput traditions and Mughal interactions, illustrating the dynamic nature of cultural exchange in medieval India. The palaces, in essence, underline the Bundela court's ability to assimilate and transform external influences into an elaborate Bundela architectural vocabulary.
Criterion (iv): The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas are outstanding examples of palatial architecture in India, that blends creativity, craftsmanship, and advanced fortification strategies adapted to regional topography. The serial components showcase the deep integration of defence planning with the natural landscape, in addition to reflecting an innovative interplay of defence and aesthetics, illustrating the evolution of the Bundela typology of fortified palaces in medieval India. The Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas thus possess Outstanding Universal Value as exemplary representations of medieval Indian palatial architecture, demonstrating a unique synthesis of Bundela Rajput and Mughal interactions, advanced fortification strategies, and innovative design that harmoniously integrates defense, aesthetics, and regional topography.
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
The selected forts and palaces retain a high degree of integrity and authenticity. The structures maintain their original locations, forms, materials, and craftsmanship. All major architectural and artisitic features representative of the different attributes contributing to the OUV are intact. The settings of the components with the physiographic features are largely retained in original form. The serial property thus ensures complete representation of all the essential features (planning and architectural) and processes (Bundela artistic traditions and the contextual setting) which convey its OUV.
The selected sites are notified monuments by the Government of India and the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The Jhansi Fort and Datia Palace are centrally protected monuments by the Jhansi Circle and Bhopal Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India, respectively, under provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The Garhkundar Fort, Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal and Dhubela Palace are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh under the Madhya Pradesh Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964. Within the area protected by respective departments, implementation of law as well as the management mechanism is effectively functioning.
Comparison with other similar properties
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang, China (Inscribed 1987, criteria I, ii, iii, iv): The Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing known as the Forbidden City is the supreme model in the development of ancient Chinese palaces, providing insight into the social development of late dynastic China, especially the ritual and court culture. The layout and spatial arrangement inherits and embodies the traditional characteristic of urban planning and palace construction in ancient China. The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang while following the traditions of palace construction in China retains typical features of traditional folk residences of the Manchu people, and has integrated the architectural arts of Han, Manchu and Mongolian ethnic cultures.
Both the Imperial Palaces of China and the Bundela Palace-Fortresses represent the fusion of political power, aesthetic refinement, and defensive design. They exemplify the architectural and political power of their respective regions and periods. However, the Bundela forts emphasize a fusion of artistic styles and residential comfort within a fortified structure, while the Ming and Qing palaces are more focused on ceremonial grandeur and the embodiment of imperial authority. Together, these sites reflect the cultural exchange and architectural advancements that defined their regions, contributing to the global narrative of palace and fort architecture.
Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Inscribed 1986, criteria I, iii, iv): The castles of King Edward, such as those in Conwy and Caernarfon, represent the apex of medieval military architecture in Europe, illustrating a masterful integration of concentric defensive walls, towers, and town fortifications, strategically designed to assert English control over Wales. These structures are monumental in scale, combining military functionality with symbolic expressions of power, as seen in the imposing walls and strategic positioning that command the landscape.
The Bundela Palace-Fortresses also exhibit advanced fortification strategies, but blend these with elaborate residential architecture, creating a distinct typology of fortified palaces in medieval India. While the Welsh castles emphasize pure military strength and control, the Bundela forts integrate defensive mechanisms with artistic and residential elements, such as chhatris, courtyards, and water systems, reflecting both royal grandeur and the need for protection. Both sets of structures exemplify the evolution of fortified architecture—King Edward’s castles representing the pinnacle of medieval European military engineering, and the Bundela forts showcasing an innovative interplay of defense, aesthetics, and residential functions adapted to the regional topography of India.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan, India (Inscribed 2013, criteria ii, iii): Architectural representations of Rajput gallantry, bravery, feudalism, and cultural traditions, as seen in various historical texts and artworks from India’s late-medieval and medieval periods, are seen in the six enormous hill forts of Rajasthan. Their sophisticated fortifications, which were constructed to safeguard not only garrisons for defence but also palatial structures, temples, and urban centres within the diverse physiographic and cultural zones of Rajasthan, are an exceptional testament to the cultural traditions of the ruling Rajput clans and to their support of religion, the arts, and literature in Rajasthan over many centuries.
With both possessing sizable mansabs and power within the imperial folds, Sawai Man Singh’s status in Akbar’s court is comparable to that of Bir Singh Deo’s in Jahangir’s court. Thus, both sets of structures – The Hill Forts of Rajasthan and The Bundela Palatial Fortresses exhibit the fusion of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles, but with distinct regional adaptations. The Hill Forts of Rajasthan emphasized military strength and fortifications tailored to the rugged hilltop landscapes, while incorporating Rajput palace elements and ornamental features that reflect local traditions. In contrast, the Bundela forts and palaces, including Datia Palace and Jhansi Fort, showcase a balance between defensive needs and residential grandeur, integrating elaborate courtyards, intricate murals, and water management systems. Together, these fortifications illustrate the exchange of ideas across regions, contributing to the development of distinct architectural traditions that reflect the cultural and political landscapes of their time.
Monuments and Forts of The Deccan Sultanate, India (Tentative List 2014, criteria ii, iii):The Deccan Sultanate made significant contributions to the arts and architecture of India, with iconic Indo-Islamic monuments constructed in Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur, and Hyderabad. These sites became important medieval fortifications and walled cities, showcasing a new architectural style that emerged from encounters with the Hindu heartland of the Deccan region in present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, the Deccan plateau in south-central India was home to a series of Muslim courts with a culture that blended influences from various regions.
Similarly, the Bundela forts and palaces represent a Bundela architectural style developed with a combination of Rajput and Mughal influences, showcasing a distinct regional adaptation of imperial aesthetics. While the Bundela structures emphasize artistic experimentation, with ornate murals, chhatris, and courtyards, they also integrate practical defensive features tailored to the local terrain.
Both the Deccan Sultanate and Bundela complexes illustrate the exchange of artistic and architectural ideas across regions. Both sites thus demonstrate the dynamic interaction of cultural influences that contributed to the development of architectural styles in medieval India.