Raj GuptaGoing on an Orchha trip and wanting to know how to spend a day in Orchha? Below you will find my one-day Orchha itinerary to help you plan your amazing trip.
Orchha is a lovely medieval town on the bank of the Betwa River. The town is bursting with ancient forts, beautifully tiled temples and royal tombs. Also, famous for the Ram Raja Temple, the only temple in the world where Lord Rama is worshipped as a king.
Rudra Pratap Singh founded this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 16th century, and the town served as the capital of Bundelkhand from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Orchha means “hidden,” and the town is still hidden from tourists. As a result, this town is ideal for tourists who dislike tourist hotspots.
Many tourists choose Orchha as a stopover between Agra and Khajuraho, which I did several times when travelling with groups. I genuinely admire the slow and peaceful lifestyle of the Orchha people.
If you have never visited a small town in India, Orchha will give you a wonderful experience. I planned this one-day Orchha itinerary, but I recommend staying for two or more days.
Here is my one day Orchha itinerary.
Table of Contents
Things To Do In Orchha
One Day Orchha Itinerary
Start by Visiting Betwa River
Orchha’s Betwa River is a beautiful rocky river, only a 2-minute walk away from the Orchha Fort Complex. You can easily spend a couple of hours sitting on the river’s bank and watching the surroundings. The river is well-known for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
The Betwa River also offers rafting and kayaking opportunities. Don’t forget to cross the bridge and get to the other side of the river to capture an outstanding shot of the Chhatris (cenotaphs). After spending some time at the Betwa River, proceed to the Group of Cenotaphs (Chhatris).
Timing:- 24 Hours
Duration of Visit:- 30 Minutes.
Admire The Group of Cenotaphs (Chhatris)
The Chhatris of Orchha are a series of cenotaphs built in honour of the king and queen on the banks of the Betwa River. There are 14 chhatris with gardens on either side. All are nicely preserved and kept up.
These chhatris are ideal for spending time wandering around, admiring the magnificent architecture, and capturing some amusing photos.
After admiring the architecture and surroundings of the chhatris, we proceeded to the Orchha Fort Complex. You will arrive at the Orchha Fort ticket counter in 7 minutes.
Timing:- 9 Am – 6 Pm
Duration of Visit:- 30 Min – 1-hr
Visit the Orchha Fort Complex( (Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal)
The most prominent and important sight in Orchha Town is the Orchha Fort, which you don’t want to skip from your itinerary. Rudra Pratap Singh, the Bundela Rajput king, built the fort in the 16th century.
The fort contains various palaces and monuments, but the most beautiful architectural treasures are Jahangir Mahal and Raja Mahal (Raj Mandir).
Admire Jahangir Mahal
Jahangir Palace is the most attractive in the whole complex because of its excellent Mughal and Rajputana architecture. Raja Bir Singh Deo built it in 1605 to welcome Mughal Emperor Jahangir for a one-night visit at Orchha.
This is a three-storied structure, and all floors have access for tourists via stairs. From the top level, you can get a panoramic view of Orchha.
Witness Raja Mahal
Raja Mahal (King’s house) was the place where the royal family stayed till 1783. The palace was built in a square design, and the outside architecture of Raja Mahal is relatively simple. However, inside the building, you will find stunning artwork and paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Within the Orchha fort, my favourite building is the Jahangir Mahal, and I spend a lot of time visiting all of the floors. In the evening, there is also the option of attending a light and sound show in the fort. After visiting the Fort, proceed to Chaturbhuj Temple, which is only a 5-minute walk away.
Timing:- 9 Am – 5 Pm
Duration of visit:- 1 – 2 hours.
Pay a Visit to Chaturbhuj Temple
The Chaturbhuj Temple will be the first thing you see as you make your way toward the Orchha fort complex due to its height. This temple is one of Orchha’s biggest attractions. King Madhukar Shah constructed the fort about 1600 AD at the wish of his wife.
Chaturbhuj means “four-armed,” and the temple was named after Lord Vishnu’s four-armed avatar. This temple was originally built for Lord Rama but was eventually devoted to Lord Vishnu.
The architecture of this multistory temple is a fusion of temple, fort, and palace elements. Inside the temple, there is only one sculpture of Radha Krishana, which surprised me.
Remember to climb the stairs to the top of the temple for a stunning view over Orchha town and fort. After visiting Chaturbhuj, walk to Ram Raja Temple, which is only 2 to 3 minutes away.
Timing:- 9 Am – 5 Pm
Duration of Visit:- 30 Minutes
Discover Ram Raja Temple
Ram Raja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple is the only temple in India where Ram sculpture holds a sword and shield and is worshipped as the King of Orchha.
Every day, a large number of tourists visit Ram Raja Temple. Inside the temple, you will see a unique sculpture of Lord Rama with his family. You can go to the temple to attend the Arti ceremony, which takes place in the morning and evening.
| Aarti Timing | February to October | October to February |
| Morning | 8 AM | 9 AM |
| Evening | 8 PM | 7 PM |
Note:- Remember that leather articles such as belts and wallets are not permitted within the temple, and photography is also prohibited.
Timing:- 8 Am-12:30 Pm, 1-8 Pm.
Duration of visit:- 30 Minutes.
Take a visit to Laxminarayan Temple
Laxmi Narayan Temple is 1 km away from Ram Raja Temple. This magnificent temple is dedicated to Lord Laxmi and was established in 1622 by Vir Singh Deo. The most surprising fact about this temple was that there wasn’t any idol of Lord Laxmi or Narayan.
You will find Ganesh sculpture at the entryway, as well as Krishna and Rukmini within the temple. This structure, like the Chaturbhuj temple, features a fort and temple architecture style.
Several murals and carvings reflect the epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharta on the temple’s walls and roof. You will also find artwork depicting British culture and lifestyle.
This temple is one of the finest temples to see on this one-day Orchha itinerary, so don’t miss it. Later in the evening, you may see the light and sound show in the Orchha fort.
Timing:- 9 am – 5 pm
Duration of the Visit:- 30 Min -1 Hour
Enjoy the Orchha Light and sound show
If you are interested in history, you can see a light and sound show in the Orchha fort. The show is an hour-long that takes you through the history of the fort.
The show starts with a short introduction to the history of this area, followed by a light and sound presentation about the life of the Orchha Kings. The last part of the show is about how this fort came to be what it is today.
The show is presented in both Hindi and English; the English show begins at 7:30 p.m., while the Hindi version begins at 8:30 p.m. However, this timing is not fixed, and neither is the show sequence, which may be modified.
One Day in Orchha Itinerary Map
Is Orchha worth visiting?
Yes, Orchha is the finest destination to spend a weekend or a single day away from the hustle and bustle of the city and visit wonderfully architected forts and temples. If you are a foreigner, Orchha will provide you with a flavour of life in a little Indian town.
How many days are enough for Orchha?
The answer to this question is dependent on your travel style. One day is more than enough if you only want to visit the fort and temples and relax by the river. Yet, if you want to see monuments and spend some quiet time with no plans or haste, simply enjoy the surroundings and reset yourself.
This is a terrific spot to do it. You can easily spend two to three days in Orchha. I went to Orchha several times only to rest for two or three days.
What is the best time of year to visit Orchha?
The best time to visit Orchha is September through March when the temperatures are mild and cool and visiting monuments and markets are more pleasant.
The hottest months are April through June, when temperatures can reach 47°C. July and August are rainy months, with temperatures ranging from 33°C to 38°C. However, accommodation will be inexpensive at this time.
How to get to Orchha
Orchha is easy to reach by Train, Bus and Taxi.
Train:-The best way to reach Orchha is via train. Jhansi is the nearest railway station to Orchha, which is 15 km from Orchha Town and takes around 40 minutes to reach.
There are excellent rail connections from Delhi to Jhansi, which takes around 5 hours to reach. but definitely, this railway station also connects to numerous other cities in India.
You must get down at the Jhansi railway station. To go to Orchha, take a cab or an autoriksha (tuk-tuk) from Jhansi station.
There are around 74 trains that go from Delhi to Jhansi; I have included some of the most popular ones.
Delhi To Jhansi Trains
| Trains | From | Dep | Arr | Duration |
| Gatiman Express (12050) | Nizamuddin | 8:10 | 12:35 | 4:25 |
| Bhopal Shatabdi (12002) | New Delhi | 6:00 | 10:45 | 4:45 |
| Taj Express (12280) | New Delhi | 6:55 | 14:00 | 7:05 |
You may reserve a train seat using the Indian Railway Website. This train route is quite popular, therefore I recommend making a reservation 2 to 3 months in advance.
Bus:- Regular bus connections to Jhansi are available from Delhi and other important Indian destinations. You can use the Redbus Website to make reservations for buses.
Where to sleep in Orchha
A question about where to stay comes to every traveller’s mind during planning a trip. Since Orchha is a tiny town, you don’t have many options to choose from. I have found some great hotels in Orchha, which I have personally used.
Bundelkhand Riverside Resort:- A 4-star heritage resort, dating back to 1895. This resort is situated on the bank of the Betwa river and 1.5 km from Orchha fort. The resort offers an outdoor swimming pool and a beautiful restaurant with tasty Indian and continental food.
Rooms are clean and comfortable with handcrafted furnishings. This is the hotel where I stayed many times, and I loved it.
Raj Mahal The Palace:- The Raj Mahal is a four-star hotel located 6 kilometres from the centre of Orchha. This Hotel features a large garden area with a wonderful swimming pool. The rooms are pleasant and decorated in a regal style. I felt at ease in the hotel.
Amer Mahal:- A 3-star hotel that offers an outdoor swimming pool, a massage spa, and a wellness centre, located 300 metres from Chaturbhuj temple. The hotel rooms are comfortable and nicely decorated. In front of all the rooms, there is a nice garden area.
How to get around Orchha?
Orchha is walkable because all the tourist attractions are less than 2 kilometres away. If your accommodation is a long distance away, you can take an auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) to the Orchha fort complex.
Where to eat in Orchha.
In a small town like Orchha, deciding where to eat can be challenging. Because most restaurants look the same and offer almost the same menu. In reality, Orchha provides excellent Indian and international dishes.
There are numerous cafés and rooftop restaurants in Orchha, but these are some of the greatest, which I will share with you.
Open Sky Restaurant:- I can say this is the best restaurant in Orchha in terms of food quality and service. They serve wonderful home-cooked food, and the whole family works together in this restaurant. They are extremely humble and lovely people.
Indiana Restaurant Orchha:- Rooftop restaurant, serving delicious Indian and international food, with nice and friendly staff. and offers a nice view of the Orchha Fort and its surroundings.
RamRaja Restaurant:-This is the oldest restaurant in Orchha and offers the best coffee in town. The restaurant appears small yet provides excellent Indian and international cuisine, including poha, thali, pancakes, hash browns, pizza, and much more.
Orchha Hut Restaurent:-Another restaurant with delicious homemade dishes and a very polite and kind cook. He is his wife who cooks meals with love and care. The restaurant is located on the first level and is budget-friendly.
Bundelkhand Riverside resort:- I admire this place. They serve delicious food in a beautifully decorated royal-style restaurant. I recommend you to try lunch in this Resort too.
Note: You can’t buy alcohol in Orchha, Because there isn’t any shop available, Yet there are still some restaurants that are selling beer. Mediterraneo is one of them. If you want to buy alcohol, you need to go to Jhansi.
More Things to Do In Orchha
Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary
The Orchha Wildlife Century is located right across the Betwa river and is easily accessible by foot. According to Century personnel, the best time to sight any animal is early in the morning. Yet, it is rare to discover any animal.
If you enjoy nature walks and being surprised by wild animals while wandering, this is the perfect spot for you. From the wildlife century, you can take some fantastic photographs of the chhatris and the river.
Rafting and kayaking in Orchha.
Rafting on the Betwa River is a wonderful experience. It is ideal for beginners because the rapids are gentle. Rafting here is a relaxing experience with beautiful views. Also, early morning kayaking on the Betwa River is excellent for witnessing the breathtaking sunrise.
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I hope this one-day Orchha itinerary helps you make the most of your visit to Orchha. I enjoy visiting Orchha to spend some lazy time and I believe anyone else does as well. Are you planning to visit Orchha? If you have visited Orchha, how was your experience?
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