Khajuraho and Orchha

The Kama Sutra was written about 2000 years ago by a professor at Varanasi University. A thousand years later, Hindu and Jain temples were built at Khajuraho, with fabulously detailed carvings. Most show daily life at the time, but about 10% of the carvings were influenced by the Kama Sutra, and depict tantric love as it existed at that time.

Because the royal families never lived here, there are no forts, and the temples are the attractions. Khajuraho is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We spent a day touring the temples and also enjoyed all the monkeys that were on the temple grounds. and saw a sound and light show at the temples in the evening.












At Orchha our room was large and secure, and the hotel grounds were lovely, but the temples almost seemed “routine,” and after a day we were ready to continue to Agra.

Perhaps the most amazing part of this day was the train station, not small, but with only a tiny ticket counter, no waiting room of any kind, and thousands of people on the several tracks waiting for trains. When one pulled out there were literally a dozen guys running alongside each door trying to climb aboard.

But that wasn't as stunning as the porter who carried our bags. Not young, perhaps 130 lbs., he appeared when the car reached the train station, and then put BOTH of our bags (about 49 lbs. each) on top of his head and proceeded up through the station, across the tracks, and down to our location, at least 200 yards. With 100 lbs. balanced on his head!! I tipped him about $1.10, he was thrilled, and so was I! We didn't want too many internal flights (security, hassle, delays, baggage risk, etc. etc.) but we're also glad we don't have any other train trips. Fran thinks the Bollywood movies that portray people falling in love on trains may be slightly exaggerated!