Orchha, is an ancient town in Madhya Pradesh located in the Niwari district. It is known for its temples and palaces which comprises of the raja ram mandir, Chaturbhuj temple , hardaul baithak, sawan bhado towers and the Laxmi Narayan temple. These temples are a main source of pilgrimage and are visited by thousands of people on many festivals. Our site comprises of the market outside the Hardaul
Baithak, the palace ruins of the Palkhi mahal and the Sawan Bhado towers. The market comprises of lanes of shops on both sides of the road connecting the raja ram mandir and the Hardaul Baithak and these lanes of shop continue all the way from the Hardaul baithak to the phool bagh and then towards the sawan bhado.
The market opposite the Hardaul baithak depicts an alley of shops on both sides of the lane.
They are supported by bamboo and steel rods connecting to the tarp of the structure and
many such connections of the tarps of all the stalls are hence tied on the nearby trees. The marketplace is an area covered by Ashoka trees which acts as a secondary source of shade to these markets. The experience of an individual as they first pass through these shops, a sense of all the similar items in all the stalls and shopkeepers selling the ritualistic items in the shops as people buy it and move to the Hardaul Vatika where prayers occur. It is observed that these shops shut down during the afternoon after which the day is over. The chaos and liveliness of the market is the everyday life of Orchha and the construction of these shops are done with the government consent and approval with a limited area for each of them and hence the closing/ shutting down timings of the shops are discussed among the shopkeepers keeping in mind the profit of all of them equally and also as no electricity is provided to the marketspace. The shops particularly located in the lane connecting the raja ram mandir and the Hardaul baithak gives a completely different experience as one passes through them. The shops in that lane has an experience of moving from a very intimate space to a very porous area with entrances from all sides leading to the Hardaul baithak.
The government residential quarters which happen to be a part of the Jujhar mahal have an
extended courtyard space outside these houses. The houses have extended plinths where
the everyday life of these people occur. The houses have small inside spaces and living
rooms and life happens in the in betweens of the insides and outside of their homes. Niches
are made on the walls above the doors and windows for decorative purposes. This residential area is an area of calm as to the marketplace just adjoining it. The two spaces are separated by the dominant octagonal columns. The market is an area consisting of stalls on both sides of the lane and is an area of chaos and hustle. Shade to these courtyard spaces are provided by the lanes of shops connecting the Phool bagh and the Sawan Bhado towers which are the wind towers used as a cooling system.
The section below shows a contrast of inhabitation among the spaces between the market and the residential area of the jujar mahal. A contrast is shown where the market is a place of chaos compared to the residential area which is an area of peace.
The section cut across shows the market which has grown over the years among the ruins of the Palkhi Mahal and the Hardaul Baithak with stalls taking support of the ruins to stand selling a variety of products in a relatively small space.
The long section cuts across the entire site showing how the idea of built and unbuilt doesn't dictate the inhabitation of the space but further enlarges the discussion related to boundary, access and facilities. Proved by the attempt of fencing an open public space in spite of the residence in the palace ruins and the carved out bazaar between them.
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