![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-06-at-8.22.24-PM.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0Kinda narrow![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-06-at-8.23.59-PM.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0Gotta share the road![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-06-at-8.26.34-PM.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0Where to go?![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-06-at-8.25.19-PM.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe road was narrow, paved, and two-lanes.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t a shoulder, and the pavement edge was ragged and dropped off sharply.\u00a0 The traffic consisted of bicycles, motorbikes, buses, tuk-tuks, cars, industrial trucks with big loads, and lots of tanker trucks.\u00a0 We even had to wait on a wooden cart pulled by two horses to cross a narrow bridge.\u00a0The driving technique consisted of pulling up close behind whoever you need to pass, honking to warn them we\u2019re coming around, then racing around before we hit the oncoming traffic.<\/p>\n
Passing through the villages and towns was eye-opening.\u00a0 We see lots people living in the worst conditions, and begging as we drive by.\u00a0We could tell when we were nearing a school because there were students everywhere, walking and riding bikes (on the same roads as all the traffic).\u00a0 All along the road we passed tuk-tuks jammed with people (8 to 12) sitting on top of each other.\u00a0 Cattle are walking everywhere and stopping traffic.\u00a0 It\u2019s everything I\u2019ve seen portrayed as India, but I assumed it was exaggeration.\u00a0It\u2019s exactly as you\u2019ve seen it portrayed.\u00a0 India is expected to pass China for the largest population in the world in 2023.<\/p>\n We arrived safely (whew) in Orchha.\u00a0 I had never heard of it, but there were several elaborate palaces and temples built in the area.\u00a0 There\u2019s a river nearby, and the setting is beautiful.\u00a0 It\u2019s no wonder the Moghul rulers of the time selected this site.\u00a0We had a nice lunch, met our guide around 2:30, and began our tour.\u00a0 The palace was built in the 15th<\/sup>century.\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing they were able to design and build palaces and temples with so much detail 600 years ago.\u00a0 After our tour, we walked the town before loading up for our short drive to Jhansi.<\/p>\n Jhansi is a city of several million.\u00a0 The train station is a hub of activity, with taxis, tuk-tuks, and motorbikes whizzing everywhere.\u00a0 We meet our train station escort and head into the station.\u00a0 Our driver has to make the long drive back to Khajuraho, in the dark.\u00a0Our escort gets the tickets, and stands with us while we wait for the train.\u00a0 We\u2019re an hour early, so I always enjoy watching the people moving in and out of the station.\u00a0 Out on the platform waiting to load, beggars are working the crowds.\u00a0 The whole station is grimy and dirty, much like the city we saw as we drove in.\u00a0 Orchha is such a contrast!<\/p>\n We board the train, find our seats, and stash our luggage in the overhead.\u00a0 It\u2019s no small feat since our big bag weighs nearly 50 lbs.\u00a0 The train trip is close to two hours.\u00a0 It\u2019s far different from the high-speed trains in Japan and China.\u00a0 Porters actually tried to serve a meal in the midst of all the passenger activity as we passed through several stations.<\/p>\n We arrived in Agra around 9:30.\u00a0 Laksme, our Delhi driver, greets us as we get off.\u00a0 Shaym, our guide for tomorrow is with him.\u00a0 They take us to the Jaypee Palace Hotel.\u00a0 It\u2019s a huge hotel, and the nicest of all our hotels up to this point. \u00a0We\u2019re worn out after a day of crazy driving, walking some palaces, and a grimy (but interesting) train ride.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We met our driver for the day at 9:00am and began the drive to Orcha, and ultimately Jhansi, where we\u2019ll catch a train to Agra.\u00a0 On paper it seems like a mild drive of 4 hours, enjoying the rural scenes … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0Where we ate lunch<\/a>The river from our lunch site.<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>\u00a0Looking out from the palace over the valley<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>One of the other temple areas<\/p>\n<\/a>Sights from walking around town.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0Waiting for the train<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n