Orchha

Former capital of the Bundela kingdom on the Betwa River, with palaces, temples and royal cenotaphs scattered among the trees; reached via Jhansi station, it is central India's most enchanting old town.

Orchha lies on the Betwa River in northern Madhya Pradesh, India. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was the capital of the Bundela kingdom; today it is a small town of a few thousand people, yet it preserves a wealth of palaces, temples and royal cenotaphs and is on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List. The main sights are compact: the Orchha Fort complex on an island in the river (Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal and Rai Praveen Mahal), the Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple in the town centre, the cenotaphs on the riverbank to the south, and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple on a hill west of town, all linked easily on foot. Outside town are a wildlife sanctuary and rafting on the Betwa River. The best season is Oct–Mar; Apr–Jun temperatures often exceed 40°C, and in the Jul–Sep monsoon the river runs full and the landscape is lush. Most visitors arrive via Jhansi railway station (about 4–5 hours from Delhi on the Gatimaan or Shatabdi Express), then take an auto-rickshaw or taxi for 20–30 minutes to Orchha, which also has a small railway station. Allow 1–2 days, with side trips to Jhansi Fort and Datia Palace. Many monuments share a combined ticket; photography is prohibited inside the Ram Raja Temple, and you should remove your shoes and dress modestly at religious sites.

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