Orchha
Fort palaces, riverside chhatris and the Ram Raja Temple, where Lord Rama is worshipped as the town's king, in the Bundelkhand region of central India.
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Orchha is a historic town in Niwari district, Madhya Pradesh, on the Betwa River in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Bundela Rajput ruler Rudra Pratap Singh founded it some time after 1501 as the capital of his princely state. Its fort-palace complex sits on a seasonal island in the river, enclosed by a battlement wall, and the Raja Mahal is its most notable building. Visitors come for the palaces and temples, and for the Ram Raja Temple, where Lord Rama is worshipped as the town's king.
Chhatris, memorial cenotaphs, stand along the Betwa and near the fort. Across a bridge on the outskirts, the royal enclave includes Jahangir Mahal, a Mughal-style palace with corner domes and balconies. The Ram Raja Temple occupies a former palace, and police give the deity a guard-of-honour salute each day. Orchha is about 15 km from Jhansi, the nearest major railway hub, and about 126 km from Gwalior.
Orchha in five
- Reach it from Jhansi, 16 km awayJhansi is the railhead on the Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Chennai lines, and taxis and autos run to Orchha in under an hour. Gwalior and Khajuraho are the nearest airports, a long drive off.
- Stay a night for the quiet hoursDay-trippers from Jhansi and Khajuraho fill the palaces by late morning. Dawn at the chhatris and evening at the riverside have a calmer feel, and the aarti at the Ram Raja Temple is the town's main evening event.
- Treat the Ram Raja Temple as a living shrineRama is worshipped here as a king, and the temple has its own rules on photography and phones. Dress modestly, remove shoes at the gate and follow staff instructions.
- Buy the fort complex ticket at the gateThe palaces and temples sit around a shared complex with its own entry. Check current prices at the ticket office rather than relying on old numbers, and carry small notes.
- Add Orchha to an Agra and Khajuraho loopTrains link Agra to Jhansi, and Khajuraho is a long drive east. A night in Orchha makes a calmer middle stop between the Taj and the temples.Khajuraho
Need to know
- Airport
- Gwalior or Khajuraho, each a long drive; Delhi is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Train to Jhansi, then taxi or auto about 30–45 minutes
- Getting around
- Walking, autos and a bicycle for the river path
- Best base
- Near the Betwa bridge or palace gate
- Time needed
- 1 night; 2 with Jhansi and Datia
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Cool, clearJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low14°Mild, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low20°WarmMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh40°Low25°HotAprilClear
Poor
- High
- 40°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh42°Low29°Very hotMayClear
Poor
- High
- 42°
- Low
- 29°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh40°Low30°Pre-monsoonJunePartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 40°
- Low
- 30°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pre-monsoon
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh34°Low28°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 381 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- AugustRain24 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 348 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°HumidSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 235 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Humid
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh33°Low23°Warm, dryOctoberClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- NovemberClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low17°Mild, dryNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low13°Cool, dryDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Orchha, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Orchha
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Orchha
05:34 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°18°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed30°18°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu31°18°0%Thursday: Clear. High 31°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri31°19°0%Friday: Clear. High 31°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat31°19°0%Saturday: Clear. High 31°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun31°17°0%Sunday: Clear. High 31°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 01:42 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Jhansiabout 30–45 minutes by roadThe railhead town with a hilltop fort.
- Khajurahoabout 3–4 hours by roadA UNESCO temple group famed for its carvings.Read the guide
- Agraabout 3 hours by fast train from JhansiThe Taj Mahal city on the usual loop.Read the guide
Before you go to Orchha
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Orchha, checked
- Check the entry requirements for your nationality on the official Indian e-Visa portal before you travel, as many foreign nationals need a visa.Source
- Leather items are not allowed inside Ram Raja Temple, so leave leather belts and bags outside before you go in.
- The tunnels of the Sawan Bhadon twin pillars near the temples are closed to visitors, so do not try to enter them.
- Neglected ruins and buildings around Orchha are home to bees, wasps and other stinging insects, so watch where you put your hands and feet.
Plan around Orchha
Temple carvings 3–4 hours east
Read the guideAgraTaj Mahal and Agra Fort by train
Read the guideMadhya PradeshForts, tigers and temple towns
Read the guideAll of IndiaRegions and how to plan a trip
Read the guideIndia e-VisaApply before you fly into Delhi
Read the guideGetting around IndiaTrains for the Jhansi route
Read the guideOrchha FAQ
Is Orchha worth visiting?
Yes if you like quiet fort towns and river views over big-ticket sights. It works best as a night's stop between Agra and Khajuraho, not a rushed day.
How many days do you need in Orchha?
One night covers the palaces, the chhatris and the evening aarti. A second day adds Jhansi fort or a village walk, but the town is small.
How do you get to Orchha?
By train to Jhansi, then a taxi or auto for about 16 km. Khajuraho and Gwalior have airports, though the road from either takes several hours.
What is the best time to visit Orchha?
November to February is cool and dry. March is warm, and from April the heat becomes severe. The monsoon turns the Betwa green but can limit river walks.
Can you do Orchha as a day trip from Khajuraho?
It is possible but long, as the road takes 3–4 hours each way. A night in Orchha is a better use of time.