Can someone help with transportation options from Khajuraho? I'm thinking of flying in from Varanasi, but don't want to return to Varanasi. Are their air options to Delhi, Agra or Jaipur? (The only flights to Delhi I can find are by way of ... Varanasi!) From what I read, the train station is a considerable distance from Khajuraho, so in this instance I'd prefer to fly. Any suggestions?

You can take a car from Khajuraho to Orchha (about 4-5 hours), explore Orchha (or even spend the night there) and then take a train from Jhansi (about 30 minutes from Orchha) to Agra. From Agra it's a relatively easy drive to Jaipur. I really enjoyed Orchha, although it was an incidental stop on our way to Agra. Google Orchha to see what's there.

There is no airport for Khajuraho, you have to use Varanasi and then drive about 2 hours. You are correct that that nearest train station is 4-5 hours drive away in Jhansi. My memory is that this road was quite poor, but things may have improved since then, and others may have more recent experience. The suggestion above to break up the drive with a visit to Orchha is perhaps the best option.

Just to give my two cents, I personally don’t think Kharjuraho is worth the time and trouble. Khajuraho makes all the guidebooks, but really I don’t know why. Not knowing the rest of your itin, your itin may already put you in or near sites with more sacred temples and/or with examples of superior temple carving. (Or go to the National Museum in Delhi and see some examples). The temples are not at all colourful, nor are they actively full of worshippers, which IMO are two of the main reasons to visit Hindu temples in India. I have been to India many times and revisited many places more than once, but have only been to Kharjura once. I have never felt the need to repeat the experience. (Believe me, after you have seen about the third temple and the guide pointing out with mock solemnity “woman copulating with horse”, the whole thing begins to seem faintly ridiculous. Buy a good edition of the Kama Sutra and be done with it .) I don’t feel that my Indian experience would be the poorer for never having gone. There is a major dance festival in the fall months which IMO might be the only reason to go.

Jhansi/Orcha are very interesting, but if you want to see them, you can take the train from Agra to Jhansi in 2 hours, spend the day in the area, and then take the overnight train to Varanasi (or vice versa).

"There is no airport for Khajuraho" - well, there certainly was in 2001, because I flew into it. And Kingfisher currently flies there from Varanasi, so it seems to still be there.

Sorry, Thursdays is correct. There is an airport in Khajurhao. Only having been there once, I just blanked on it.

I respectively disagree with Ciccerone concerning her view of Khajuraho. I thought that the sight was memorable, not only for the content of the carvings, but for the execution and detail of them It is a UNESCO World Heritage sight and in my opinion should be. We spent about four hours at the sight. Orcha is very interestin as well. If you can arrange your trip to see both, I would encourage you to do so.

The road between Orchha and Khajurahao is quite rough if you plan to drive. Make sure you fasten your seat belt!

But there's so much to see on an Indian road that the time will fly and you won't even notice the bumps on the way...

thank you all so much! I'm still in the early planning stages for an Oct-Nov trip. I will explore flying VNS to Khajuraho and then hiring car and driver to Agra by way of Orchha.

ber--Taking the train from Jhansi (close to Orchha) to Agra is supposed to be quicker than driving the entire way from Orchha to Agra. You also have the experience of an Indian train...

Here is the contact for our driver, Ramesh Meena: [email protected], [email protected], or +91 982 980 7074. He was wonderful and made all the difference from an okay trip to a great trip.

As I said earlier, the drive between Khajuraho and Orchha (or the other way) is a tooth-jangling trip --- not saying that you shouldn't do it, but it's not for the faint of heart. I loved riding on Indian roads, so much to see, so much to experience -- the trip from Orchha to Agra, not so much so, although we loved Gwalior and spent the night there to see the fort.

Thanks Indiana - I don't have firmed up dates yet (or firmed up anything, for that matter), but I definitely will contact Ramesh about the drive.

Oops: Orchha to Khajuraho, not Agra. Old age . . .