The word Orchha means “hidden” and just like its name this weekend trip from Delhi, was hidden to us. Before visiting Orchha, we had no idea of such a hidden gem, so close to Delhi.
The icing on the cake is that for this trip there is no need to take any leaves from work.
If you are looking for an offbeat weekend trip from Delhi, this 10-minute read is sure to give you every piece of information that you need to plan your trip.
Table of Contents
About Orchha – A weekend trip from Delhi
The historical town of Orchha on the banks of river Betwa is in Madhya Pradesh and offers a perfect weekend trip from Delhi. The best we like about Orchha is that it is a bit laid-back, a bit historical, a bit spiritual, a bit adventurous, and a bit peaceful!!!
The grandeur of forts, the architecture of temples, a few adventures, and the way it looks during sunrise will certainly make you feel as if you are in a world unknown to many.
Besides, another interesting thing is that Lord Rama is remembered as a King (Raja) in Orchha rather than God.
Furthermore, Orchha is famously known as a photographer’s dream destination and having talked to one of them while exploring Orchha we came to know about a few places written or mentioned nowhere.
How to reach Orchha
By Rail: You would be surprised to know that Orchha is just 5 hours from Delhi by train. The nearest Railway Station is Jhansi, 18 km from Orchha. Jhansi is directly connected to major Indian cities by rail. It makes Orchha, a perfect weekend trip from Delhi.
On this trip, we traveled by Duronto Express from Delhi (4:00 PM) to Jhansi (8:30 PM). From outside the Jhansi Railway Station, we got an autorickshaw (INR 200) and reached Orchha in just 30 minutes. If budget is not an issue, you might book a taxi as well from Jhansi.
Note : Reserve the train tickets well in advance.
By Air: Gwalior is the nearest Airport which is around 125 km from Orchha. Gwalior is connected to major Indian cities by Air. You can book a taxi from there to reach Orchha.
By Road: The nearest bus station is at Jhansi. And Orchha is well connected by road to major cities of MP and with other parts of the country. From Delhi, it is around 470 kms.
Where to Stay in Orchha
Orchha has accommodations for every budget. You can book a hotel online as per your budget.
We stayed in Orchha Palace hotel & Convention Centre. It is a luxurious property equipped with all modern comforts. It is just 2 km from the major attractions of Orchha. We found it to be a nice place to stay especially in Pandemic times as proper sensitization and protocols were followed in the premises.
The sprawling grounds of the hotel are great for bird-watching and other activities for children and adults to enjoy. Their complimentary buffet breakfast is a soul-satisfying meal.
The room starts here from INR 3500 per day and it can go as high as INR 6000-8000 per day in season. You can book it from Booking.com.
One budget property that we found good is the Sunrise Hotel, located at walking distance from major attractions of the town. Their room ranges from INR 1000-1500 per day.
Best time to visit Orchha
October to March is an ideal time to enjoy this weekend trip from Delhi, as the weather is pleasant during this time. Avoid visiting Orchha in Summers (April – August), as the scorching heat won’t let you fully enjoy the historical and architectural glory of Orchha.
We visited in the first week of October and it was hot during the daytime but mornings and evenings felt pleasant.
Our recommendation is to visit this hidden gem between November to February. It is wintertime there in Orchha.
Local conveyance in Orchha
Orchha is a small town and most of the places are within a 3-4 km of radius. Even during late night and early mornings we felt it safe to walk. These are different options that you can use to roam around in Orchha.
- Local transport like battery rickshaws and autos are easily available. You can even hire an auto-rickshaw for a day for around INR 500 – 800.
- Rent a cycle or bike. It costs in between 200-500 per day excluding fuel depending upon the season you are visiting in.
- Orchha can easily be covered by foot.
- Also, taxi can be booked from the place of your stay.
Places to visit and things to do in Orchha
Orchha Fort Complex
It is the most famous attraction of Orchha. Orchha fort complex consists of Raja Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal. Each one of them is a masterpiece in itself.
Raja Mahal is a mix of Mughal and Rajput architecture and it used to be the royal residence of erstwhile kings of Orchha. It is famous for its Jharokhas (windows) which ensures cool air even during the scorching sun. They are designed in such a way that sunlight entering the palace creates different temperatures and moods throughout the day.
Jahangir Mahal is the finest piece of architecture and is remarkable for its vivid and fine Indo-Islamic style of architecture. This palace was built in the honor of Jahangir (a Muslim ruler) when he first visited there.
Sheesh Mahal is where you can relish a delicious meal at their restaurant Jharokha and book a stay for a luxurious experience as it is now converted into a hotel.
Each one of them is a no miss and sure to take at least half a day of yours. If you are a history buff and enjoy architecture and stuff, you will end up spending a day here.
Tickets – INR 10 for Indians, INR 250 for foreigners, additional INR 25 for Camera, and INR 220 for a Video camera.
Timings: The fort is open for tourists between 8 AM – 6 PM.
Laxmi Narayan Temple
This 17th-century temple, overlooking the town of Orchha, appears unique right from the first glance. The shape of the temple resembles a bird with open wings. Its architecture is a unique blend of fort and temple. The temple has many paintings inside.
Though the temple is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, yet, there is no idol of the goddess in the temple.
We visited the Laxmi Temple twice. Once during the daytime to see its architecture with the amazing views of Orchha from its terrace, and also during the sunrise which came out as one of the best sunrises we have ever witnessed.
Chhatris/ Cenotaphs
These are royal tombs anciently built for the Maharajas on the banks of river Betwa. We felt mesmerized by their beauty especially when the monuments turn golden during the setting sun. These Chhatris can be seen from anywhere in Orchha which made us even more curious to visit them.
Note: The ticket has to be taken from Orchha Fort Complex.
Chatarbhuj Temple
Just don’t go by the word temple, It is one of the most ancient and marvelous architectures of Orchha. Built upon a massive stone platform, this 16th-century temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. From its balcony, the view of Raja Mahal is sure to make you clap for the chap who made it. This temple is walking distance from the Orchha fort.
Ram Mandir
This is the most important place for those who visit Orchha owing to its religious significance. It is the only place where Lord Ram is worshiped as a King and called Ram Raja. Built in the 16th century, it used to be Citadel.
River Rafting in Betwa River
Betwa river is the lifeline of Orchha.
River Rafting can be done in the river as it is a good way of Birds watching and monuments tour. It’s around 4.5 km with 3-4 rapids of level 3. There is a natural reserve on one side of the river and monuments on the other side. Even though it may not be that adventurous as compared to other places of river rafting in India, but it is an experience of its own. There is a different charm of seeing the spectacular monuments of Orchha from the river.
How to book River Rafting in Orchha
You can contact Ramraja Adventures or Orchha Adventures. We loved doing rafting with them. They charge around INR 2400 for one raft in which 4-6 people can sit. Contact Mahohar Bhaiya @ +91-9893378581.
Cycling in Orchha Wildlife century
If you have ever covered a place on a cycle, you know how interactive it could go. We hired a cycle from Ramraja Adventures for a day and visited many places including a Wildlife Sanctuary. For us cycling in dense forest with complete silence was a different experience altogether. There are rivers, a watchtower, and a hunting house inside the Sanctuary. Covering those hardly takes 3 hours to and fro.
Timings: The gate opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 5:30 PM. The sanctuary is closed on Sundays. A ticket costs INR 15 per person.
Note: Most of these places in Orchha close after 5:00 PM.
Food options in Orchha
How can this weekend trip from Delhi be complete with some amazing food options.
Café Nomads
This cafe with bohemian vibes was like no other eating place in Orchha. The owner is a traveler himself who got mesmerized by the beauty of the town and decided to set up a food hub for backpackers. Mostly it is a goto place for foreigners in Orchha. We had tea, the Chinese way there (We enjoyed tea for an hour). Their Pizzas are a must-try.
Jharokha, Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal has now been converted into a hotel and its restaurant is called Jharokha.
At first, we were reluctant to visit Jharokha thinking it to be overpriced. But we were hungry and it was the only eating place inside Orchha Fort Complex. Certainly, it was the right decision as not only the ambiance is amazing but also the food is delicious and the prices are decent.
Thali at Laxmi Betwa Tarang Rooftop Restaurant
We wanted to have a taste of local delicacies as well and this place was a perfect fit. It is located just outside the Orchha Fort Complex. We went to its terrace which has an amazing view of Orchha Fort Complex and Ram Raja Mandir and had a thali there. It was amazing and we finished it in seconds.
Sit at the rooftop to enjoy your food with views.
Our weekend itinerary for Orchha
To make the most out of this weekend trip from Delhi, we utilized our days in the best possible way.
Day 1: Reaching Orchha at Night and Dinner at our place of stay
Day 2: Covering Major attractions in Orchha
- Hire an auto/bike/taxi for a day
- Visit Orchha Fort Complex. Lunch at Jharokha
- Visit Chhatris/ Cenotaphs
- Visit Lakshmi Temple
- Dinner at café Nomads
Day 2 : Exploring offbeat Orchha
- Sunrise from Lakshami Narayan Temple (We walked up to the temple)
- River Rafting Tour
- Cycling in Orchha Wildlife century.
- Lunch at Laxmi Betwa Tarang Rooftop Restaurant.
- Visit Ram Mandir
- Visit Chatarbhuj Mandir
- Sunset from the bridge on Betwa River
- Dinner at Café Nomads
- Overnight train journey from Orchha to Delhi
How much we spent in Orchha
The amount of money spent at a place depends on your accommodation, mode of transport and food.
Accommodation: We stayed for 2 nights in Orchha Palace hotel & Convention Centre. It costed us INR 3500 per night when we visited. It costs high in the season.
If you opt for budget accommodation, it will cost around INR 1000.
Travel – We traveled by train so it was nominal. Travel inside Orchha costed us around INR 500 per day in which we used e-rickshaws, autos and rented a bicyle.
Food – You can easily get good food for INR 300-400 per meal.
Others – Rafting cost is around INR 1000 per person. Also, the tickets to forts and Wildlife Sanctuary are less than INR 20 each.
Orchha is a perfect weekend trip from Delhi and here you can go alone, with friends, family, parents – It has its charm for everyone!!!
Also, do tell us in the comments about a travel destination that like Orchha, is still unknown to many!!!
Read about one more offbeat experience that we had in Kashmir.
Special Thanks for sharing such a beautiful blog with us. Really helpful and informative blog. Please keep sharing.
Thanks a lot dear Rishi. We are glad that you find the blog helpful 🙂