Seeing the Beguiling architecture of Orchha online, I wanted to visit this place and savour it with my own eyes.

Orcha was around 170 kms from Khajuraho, but the road was mostly highway, so one could reach in around 2 and half hours. We took a cab from Khajuraho, reached Orcha around 12pm. We covered Ram Raja Mandir, Orcha Fort, and Chatris beside Betwa River. Though we wanted to spend more time there, our 5 year old became very cranky at the end, and we had to leave in a hurry.

Ideally, one should stay a day in Orcha. Beside the Betwa river, there were many hotels, which looked like great options – From there Orcha Fort was a walking distance.

Ram Raja Mandir, Chaturbhuj Mandir

First we went to Ram Raja Mandir. The temple, like most temples was overtly crowded and noisy. It was all the things I hated in a temple. However, I was curious. So I went in, skipped the queue, offered my prayers from a distance and moved off.

Just beside was Chaturbhuj Temple. We went in and made a quick visit.

Orcha Fort

This fort was built by Bundela Rajputs around the 16th century. It had couple of main palaces which was worth seeing. Both palaces had the structures intact, most of the colors and designs were destroyed/eroded with time. Jehangir palace (one of the palaces) had quite some paintings and colors in the walls, which were still well preserved.

Lunch at Sheesh Mahal Palace inside Orcha Fort

Food was good. However, the staff made a mess of vanilla icecream we ordered. They kept bringing vanilla icecream with chocolate sauce on it, and our daughter kept refusing it. After they took back the order the second time, I happened to catch the waiter trying to scrape off the chocolate sauce with his fingers, from the top of the vanilla icecream. I gave them a earful. But it was pretty sloppy what they did.

Chatris beside Betwa River

Chatris are monuments of the Bundela Kings. They have very unique architecture. I don’t think I have see such architecture anywhere else in India. Would have loved to spend more time here. This place was just beside Betwa river – lovely ambience.