Riverside Ruins & Lost Temples

Travel time - Agra to Orchha via Jansi: approx 2.5 hours by train and 30 minutes by car to Orchha.

On day one of your India trip from Agra to Khajuraho, we've arranged your private transfer to Agra Station. Your train leaves at about 8am on its way to Jhansi. After about 2½ hours (give or take a little in India), you’ll arrive in Jhansi and you’ll be collected at the station by your driver, who will take you to Orchha (about 16 km away). Orchha is a charming small town of only 9000 residents and it is one of the few places in India that you can easily explore on foot without being approached by beggars or touts. The town is renowned for its breathtaking Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple and Lakshmi Narayan Temple. It is also set on the banks of the beautiful Betwa river. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to explore the town at your own pace. At the end of the day, you’ll tumble into bed in your hotel and drift off to sleep, tired but contented. There are limited options for cafes and restaurants so you may want to enjoy an evening meal at your hotel.

Today you are free to explore Orchha at your leisure or just relax and enjoy the lovely surroundings of your hotel. The swimming pool is great for refreshing dips if it's hot. Perhaps take a walk down to the ruined chhatris (cenotaphs to Orchha's rulers of old) down by the river where vultures roost at sundown. You can then head across the small stone bridge across the river, if water levels permit! The view of Orchha looking back across the rocks and water is really beautiful. When you reach the centre of town there is a wider granite bridge that takes you across a tributary to three abandoned 17th century palaces in various stages of repair. If you climb up to the higher levels you are rewarded with some great views. This small town has a village atmosphere where homes are brightly painted and goats and cattle wander the quiet streets. Orchha only really gets busy when pilgrims come to town to visit the temples. If you're short on time, and don't mind a fast paced trip, we can reduce your time in Orchha to one night. Just let your India Travel Specialist know!

Travel time - Orchha to Khajuraho: approx 4 hours
 
The next stop en route from Agra to Varanasi is another tranquil town that is much better known and famous for a series of impressive temples; Khajuraho. Many tourists pass through this UNESCO World Heritage Site to take a tour of the Khajuraho temples. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the western temples of Khajuraho accompanied by a local guide, principally known for their erotic scenes as depicted in the Kama Sutra. The Khajuraho temples are about 1000 years old and they are still in incredibly good condition, even though there are only 22 of the original 85 temples still left. The jungle engulfed some of the temples and even though the villagers maintained them as best as they could they were considered 'lost and then found' by an Englishman in the 19th century, but this is debatable! The many intricate carvings that cover the Khajuraho temples depict all kinds of scenes from daily life and your guide will explain the history that surrounds them. You’ll stay in a comfortable hotel with a pool, set in quiet grounds.

This module ends today in Khajuraho. After 2 nights in Orchha and an afternoon and night in Khajuraho, you'll probably want to head off to Varanasi by car and then day train. It's an early start as the train leaves early in the morning from Satna and takes about 8 hours to take you to India's holiest city on the banks of the Ganges. You'll arrive in Varanasi in the early evening.

Take a look at our Sacred City on the Ganges module. It is also possible to fly from Khajuraho on to Varanasi just ask your travel specialist. For more detail on train travel in India take a look at our India transport page.