29/2/2012 Agra to Orcha, India

We had a bit of a sleep in before getting tuk tuks to the train station and the train from Agra to Orcha. The train ride was comfortable enough – another 4-5 hour trip which was running late but we saw plenty more amazing scenery out the window along the way. When we arrived into the station just out of Orcha our tuk tuks were waiting for us. We had a crazy 45min ride from the station to Orcha, through mad traffic with deafening horns blasting every 5 seconds, cars going every which way, dodging animals and people – it was hectic and awesome! The second half of the tuk tuk ride was a little more pleasant through countryside with less traffic…

We arrived into Orcha and checked into our ‘deluxe tents’ which were brilliant and set up with the most amazing back drop – a big temple on one side and the river on the other side.

Hermang our guide took us on a walking tour through the village and markets and up to a temple where we climbed to the top for amazing views out over the town and countryside as the sun set – spectacular.

We had another alfresco dinner after doing a bit of shopping down the market streets, then ventured back to our tents to escape the mozzies. 

Waiting for the train in Agra 

What better way to carry a ladder than on a bike...? 

Manually smashing slabs of concrete... OH&S to the max... 

Arriving in the station just our of Orcha 

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha - who knows how many there were in there! 

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha - yes that is a goat peering out the back... 

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Tuk tuk ride to Orcha

Our deluxe tent! 

The temple behind out tent

The temple and beautiful garden around our tent

The temple behind our tent

The rubbish bin near our tent 

The pool at our hotel/tent site

The rest of the hotel...

Walking into Orcha 

The old palace in Orcha 

The old palace in Orcha 

One of the temples in Orcha 

Orcha 

Learning about the sweet milk cakes they eat and use as offerings in Orcha 

Orcha 

Random goats walking through the market in Orcha 

View of the markets from the temple

Entrance to the temple 

Wasp nest in the temple roof 

View from the temple window 

View from inside the temple

Inside the temple 

View from the temple out over Orcha

View from the temple out over Orcha

Inside the temple 

Inside the temple

Inside the temple - looking over to the palace 

Inside the temple - looking over to the palace 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple - over to the palace 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple - vulture perched on the edge 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple 

View from the roof of the temple - vultures circling  

Temple in Orcha 

Orcha 

Temple in Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

The temple we climbed to the top of in Orcha 

Orcha 

The temple we climbed to the top of in Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Goats exploring the temple in Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

The beautiful women of Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha 

Orcha