Orchha Tourism And Travel Guide

Orchha is typically a laidback town in Madhya Pradesh that has not yet been affected by modernity. Its history goes back to 1501 when it was founded by a Bundela Rajput King. Since then Orchha has generally enjoyed peace and lack of interference from the outsiders. This has helped Orchha to grow into a peaceful town with an attractive countryside. Tourism in Orchha is about several beautiful forts and palaces as well as a couple of architecturally attractive temples. There are several things one could do in Orchha too. The best time to visit Orchha is of course in winter. However, during monsoon the countryside becomes lush green and Orchha is very attractive at this time of the year as well. Here is a quick rundown of a travel guide to Orchha and what you can expect there.  

Orchha does not have an airport, railway station or even a bus station. However, Orchha’s proximity to Jhansi ensures its connectivity to the rest of the country. In a way, therefore, Orchha is accessible by air, train and road. One can also make use of the local transport to make his way around the town.

By Air:

Although Orchha is not connected by air, Gwalior, 123 km away, has an airport. One could quite easily access Gwalior from Orchha with the help of local taxis.

By Rail:

Nearby Jhansi is very well connected by rail to the rest of the country. There are Superfast Air-conditioned trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

By Road:

Similarly, Orchha is well connected by road with the rest of the country. One can quite easily access Orchha from Delhi, Mumbai or Rajasthan.

Orchha becomes unbearably hot in summer. It is therefore advisable to visit Orchha during winter, between December-February. However, one can extend this period to October-March since Orchha is pleasant during this period.

Summer (March-June):

Orchha is unbearably hot during summer when the temperature could shoot up to 47.7°C. It is therefore not recommended to attempt to visit Orchha during the summer.

Monsoon (July-September):

Besides the winter season, Orchha could be visited during the rainy season as well. During this period Orchha turns lush green and becomes very attractive. However, moving around the town during the monsoon may pose a problem. The temperature will be around a maximum of 34°C and humidity may be on the higher side.

Winter (December-February):

The winter season in Orchha is typically between December-February. However, one could extend this period from October-March during which Orchha is comfortable.

Explore the Orchha Fort Complex:

The Orchha Fort Complex has three impressive palaces within the Fort Complex. These include the captivating Jahangir Mahal, the architecturally beautiful Raja Mahal and the romantic Raj Praveen Mahal. History is woven around each of these palaces and they must be seen.

Ram Raja Mandir and Chaturbhuj Temple:

While the Ram Raja Mandir is a holy pilgrimage for Hindus, the Chaturbhuj Temple is an ancient monument that is admired by historians from world over on account of its architectural excellence.

The Chhatris:

The Chhatris enclose royal tombs within them. These are very impressive and imposing especially when viewed from the opposite bank of Betwa.

The Picturesque Rani Mahal:

Rani Mahal is a memorable palace on account of its attractive paintings and exquisite carvings. Today it has been converted into a museum which deserves a close look.

Enjoy Nature in Orchha:

The rivers at Orchha offer several options. These deserve to be tried out. Some of the enjoyable options include river rafting and boating. The Wildlife Sanctuary has a wonderful birding option wherein you could try and see as many as possible out of the 200 odd bird species that are there. The other sport options include jungle trekking, fishing and camping or hiking.

Orchha is a small town. The only recommended place for good food is the Amar Mahal which is also the top wedding destination of Madhya Pradesh. Amar Mahal can organise diverse backdrops, depending upon the occasion. These include sangeet and mehendi. There is a pool which serves as a mandap while the Chaturbhuj temple becomes an outstanding backdrop. Amar Mahal can serve you excellent breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

The special foods of Orchha and Madhya Pradesh include “bhutte ki kees”, a dish that is made in milk and corn. Some of the other popular dishes include “chakki ki Shaak”, “malpua”, “maawa baati” and “khoprapak”. Try them all at Amar Mahal.