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We preferred traveling by train from New Delhi Nizamuddin
railway station. The best train for Khajuraho is Rajdhani Express that runs at night and we can reach at 10am, the bad luck that we did not get ticket for this train. Our train
was at night 10.40 so could sleep well in air-conditioned train with bed sheet and pillow served to us. After a good sleep,
we reached Jhansi Railway station at 7am. Normally there are tourist buses but ply
during tourist seasons only, other days this service is casual and non-dependable. Some newspaper vendor advised us to take
bus from main bus stop so we preferred as language was not a problem for us, from station a scooter rikshaw (Taxi) charged
Rs.10/- to drop at main bus stand.
We did not feel fresh as we did not go through
morning toilet (motion) work and forgot to brush our teeth; however, we desperately needed a cup of strong tea and some
oil fried Pakodas to eat. Tea was good and Pakodas too was delicious. We had to eat something before journey as we were informed
by bus driver that could take 5 to 6 hours to reach Khajuraho. The bus was at 10am, we killed time roaming around the bus station enquiring other place for the visit. We got information
of one placed name “Orcha Temple” we decided to visit this place after we come back. Finally, at
10am we got into the bus and seated on the number allotted to us. Bus took half
an hour more to move till he jam packed the bus with passengers.
We could feel greenery and little mountains around
and small tombs over them. Sky was cloudy with normal temperature that made our trip pleasant. Bus halted at 3-4 other bus
stops during the journey so could ease passengers from exhaustion. Intention of the bus operator to jam pack the bus made
the bus crowded, though did not upset us as we had seat yet we could hear and feel shouting of disturbed unseated passengers.
Journey by bus is also favorable to socially conscious people. Can watch children selling drinking water and Ghutka (chewing tobacco) pack!! We could sense the poverty around these places especially when we saw migrating laborers in the bus. Unemployment
and casual employment is so terrible that insists them to migrate to other cities where they could find their livelihood.
Anyway this is life we have to face that poverty eradication is not in our hands, rather given by God and not by Governments.
Speaking and communicating with native villagers was very good experience, we discussed about politics, poverty, unemployment, crop and agriculture, grain market and their life style was quite
interesting. Involving with local people is a way to understand human culture, religion, and behavior.
Finally, bus reached at destination at 3pm. We were surrounded
by many rikshaw (taxi) drivers and hotel agents, lot of offers and bargains guided us to take decision to hire one rikshaw
who took us to a nice hotel. We hired same cycle rikshaw for entire evening for UD$ 4 /- (Rs.160), he took us to all prominent
temples in Khajuraho. Visit to Khajuraho was really full of pleasure and experience.
Next day we took same private bus at 12 noon and
reached Jhansi at 5.30pm. Though it was late, we decided to visit Orcha temple. The temple had huge crowd of devotees covered
long distance to reach. People were in deep emotional mood waiting outside to enter temple shrine gate. We enjoyed ceremony
in the temple .Please check video clip in this page of Bhajan (prayer) of Rama. Orcha once know for capital of Bundelkhand
is now a small village on Betwa river bank. Was founded by Bundela king during 16th century and was systematically destroyed
to create own mugal structural designs. But I perceive more of Rajputana or marwarh structures except the ancient temple which
is more towards south Indian architecture as gives Dravidian touch. I may be wrong!!!!
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