Khajuraho's temples were built by the Chandelas between 950 and 1050, then swallowed by jungle until a British surveyor stumbled on them in 1838 — which is why the carving survives as it does. Orchha, 170 km away on the Betwa river, is an abandoned Bundela capital where the palaces are open, free to wander, and almost empty. Two of India's great heritage sites, neither of them on the standard circuit.
Compare Khajuraho with another place →
When to go
October to March. The Khajuraho dance festival is in February. April to June on the central Indian plains is 45°C with no shade at the temples at all.
Khajuraho right now and the next 7 days
Loading the forecast…
Khajuraho, planned for you
A satellite map for every day with each stop pinned in order, photos of the places, timings, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Khajuraho · Eastern & southern groups
- TravelTrain: Delhi / Varanasi → Khajuraho₹900
- 11:00Eastern & southern groupsFree
- 14:30Light and sound show₹400
- Day 2 Western group of temples
₹49 once, 5 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
Khajuraho on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Khajuraho & Orchha · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 17 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Khajuraho & Orchha in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Eastern & southern groups2 h · free · Free, 2 km out, Jain temples among them, and almost nobody walks over.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 14:30Light and sound show1 h · ₹400 each · Evening, in the western garden. Better than these things usually are.
- 05:45Western group of temples3 h · ₹600 each · Kandariya Mahadeva is the great one. Open from sunrise — go then, for the light and the emptiness.
How to get to Khajuraho
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Train Cheapest
₹900Direct overnight services. The station is 6 km from the temples.
Bus to Orchha Last leg
₹350Or do Orchha first from Jhansi; it is 30 minutes by auto.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe western group of temples is one walled garden. Orchha's whole complex is walkable.
Bicycle
₹150The eastern and southern temple groups are 2–3 km out and flat.
Auto
₹150Between the temple groups, or station to town.
Car + driver
₹2,600For Panna, Raneh Falls and the Ken river in one day.
Where to stay in Khajuraho
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Budget room
₹700/nightPlenty within walking distance of the western group.
Heritage hotel
₹3,200/nightOrchha's MP Tourism property sits inside the old palace complex.
Riverside camp
₹2,400/nightOn the sandbank below the cenotaphs.
What to eat, and what it costs
Bundelkhandi thali
₹80Wheat, dal, seasonal vegetable, and enough of it.
Poha and jalebi
₹120The Madhya Pradesh breakfast, eaten together, and non-negotiable.
Riverside restaurant plate, Orchha
₹200Looking at the cenotaphs at sunset. Worth the markup once.
Chai and samosa at the temple gate
₹40Every morning before the western group opens.
Places to visit and things to do in Khajuraho
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Western group of temples
₹600Kandariya Mahadeva is the great one. Open from sunrise — go then, for the light and the emptiness.
Eastern & southern groups
FreeFree, 2 km out, Jain temples among them, and almost nobody walks over.
Light and sound show
₹400Evening, in the western garden. Better than these things usually are.
Orchha palace complex
₹250Jahangir Mahal and Raja Mahal, with murals, and you can climb almost everything.
Chhatris on the Betwa at sunset
FreeFourteen cenotaphs on the riverbank, free, and vultures nesting on top of them.
Raneh Falls & Ken gharial sanctuary
₹400A canyon of five-coloured granite, 20 km from Khajuraho.
Panna tiger reserve
₹2,000An hour away, and far less booked out than Bandhavgarh or Kanha.
Day trips and next stops
Orchha
₹350Bus via Chhatarpur and Jhansi
Panna National Park
₹80Bus or shared jeep
Gwalior fort
₹400Train via Jhansi
Varanasi
₹600Direct overnight train
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- April to June is 45°C on open stone with no shade at all in either site.
- Guides at the western group are insistent and of very mixed quality. The ASI audio guide is better and cheaper.
- Orchha's palace stairways are unlit and unrailed in places.
Ways to spend less
- The eastern and southern temple groups are free and a 2 km cycle away. Most visitors never leave the ticketed garden.
- Orchha's cenotaphs at sunset cost nothing and are the best hour of the trip.
- Panna is an hour from Khajuraho and gets a fraction of the safari bookings of the famous parks.
Say it in Hindi
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Khajuraho in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Khajuraho & Orchha?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec. October to March. The Khajuraho dance festival is in February. April to June on the central Indian plains is 45°C with no shade at the temples at all.
How do I reach Khajuraho & Orchha?
Train: Delhi / Varanasi → Khajuraho, 10–12 h, about ₹900 one way. Flight: → Khajuraho (HJR), varies, about ₹8,500 one way. Train + bus: → Jhansi, then 4 h bus, varies + 4 h, about ₹900 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Khajuraho & Orchha cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹1,800 on a shoestring, ₹3,000 mid-range or ₹6,400 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is train (Delhi / Varanasi → Khajuraho) at about ₹900 each way.
How many days do you need in Khajuraho & Orchha?
2 days is right for most people. That covers Eastern & southern groups, Light and sound show, Western group of temples without rushing.
Is Khajuraho & Orchha good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 5, groups 4. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Khajuraho & Orchha?
Very easy. Central Indian thalis are vegetarian by default, ₹80 and unlimited, and both towns are used to visitors asking.
Will my phone and cards work in Khajuraho & Orchha?
Phone signal: Fine throughout. Cards and UPI: Hotels and the ASI counter. Cash: Autos, stalls, small guesthouses.
Guides for Khajuraho & Orchha
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Best Places to Visit in December in India: 20 Picks by Region, with 3-Day Costs20 underrated places rated best for December in India, by region, each instead of a famous name. 3-day costs, snow,…Read the guide →
Best Places to Visit in January in India: 18 Underrated Picks, with 3-Day Costs18 underrated places at their best in January: beaches, ruins, the White Rann, plus where to find snow. 3-day costs…Read the guide →
Places to Visit Near Delhi: 13 Underrated Trips by Distance, with Real CostsUnderrated places to visit near Delhi by road distance, from Chakrata at 294 km to Munsiyari at 619 km, with the…Read the guide →
Less Crowded Places to Visit in December in India: 8 Picks, with 3-Day CostsEight underrated places at their best in December, one or two per region, each instead of a famous name. Three-day…Read the guide →Similar underrated places
OrchhaA Bundela capital of palaces, temples and riverside cenotaphs, 17 km from Jhansi station, where you walk…From ₹1,100/day · Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec
ChanderiA hill fort over a weavers' town, where Malwa sultans' gateways and Jain rock-cut giants sit a few lanes…From ₹1,300/day · Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec
Bundi & KumbhalgarhA blue town under a palace full of the best murals in Rajasthan, and a fort wall thirty-six kilometres…From ₹900/day · Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec
ManduA ruined Afghan sultanate on a plateau above the Narmada valley, with a palace between two lakes and a…From ₹1,200/day · Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec
PachmarhiA sandstone plateau in the Satpura forest, with waterfalls, cave shrines and Madhya Pradesh's highest…From ₹1,600/day · Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec
MunsiyariThe five Panchachuli peaks filling the window of a ₹900 homestay, at the end of a ten-hour mountain road…From ₹1,000/day · Apr–May, Oct–NovMake the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 17 October 2026 · Photo: StonesThatRemember · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Marcin Białek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Marcin Białek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Suyash Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Suyash Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
