We arrived at Orchha late in the evening after a long, hard drive from Chanderi. Not only had we driven through a huge thundershower, but we had also experienced a lightning bolt that must have been inches from our car! Luckily our driver had excellent knowledge of the roads, and after taking many short cuts we arrived at our destination. Orchha is a small and very picturesque town that features more and more on tourist routes. It is famous for its temples, palace and cenotaphs – huge monuments put up to remember former rulers (take into account that Hindus are cremated and so there are no Hindu graves).

Our hotel was a former palace that belonged to the local rulers  – a grand building that was simply incredible to look at.

The following day, we toured the highlights of the town. It is spectacular – a huge city palace, atmospheric market area,  and overall very interesting. Being back on the tourist trail we saw many foreign visitors, and lots of wifi and coffee shops. That night we visited a temple to watch a crowd of thousands praying to the local deity – one massively revered in the region.

Although we try keep off the main tourist routes, sometimes paths intersect. Orccha is definitely very well established on the tourist trail and it’s funny how in the previous days we had become used to being the only foreigners around.