Heritage trip to Gwalior, Agra and Khajuraho

I've wanted to visit these places since forever and this time when I got a chance I planned this amazing trip that took me on a historical ride around central India.

I started with Gwalior. I reached Gwalior fort in the morning. After looking around for an hour I decided to hire a guide to explain me in details. I did so also because as solo female traveller I wasn't allowed in certain parts of the fort. The wonderful guide took almost 2 hours to take me around the fort complex explaining each detail and stories. We first saw the Man Mandir palace and then moved to complex of smaller palaces. He also told the stories of the Saas-Bahu temples, Telika Mandir and Datta Bandi Chhod Gurdwara. I then went ahead to see these places on a buggy-auto. On my way to the Urvai gate, I also got to see the huge Jain sculptures cut out on the face of rocks.

I next went to the Jai Vilas Palace. This is a modern Palace showing the extravagant lifestyle of the royal family. I was done with all these spots by 2pm and went ahead to have lunch. I boarded a 4.50pm train for Agra.

Next day, I left for the Taj Mahal at 5.30am with few more people from my hostel. Hired a guide here, which I suggest is not necessary, and spent quite some time around. I soaked in the beauty that this stunning structure was. I just couldn't take my eyes off it. Headed back to the hostel by 8am. Post breakfast, I left for Agra fort. I couldn't resist hiring a guide again but made sure to bargain this time. It took me almost 2hrs to finish the fort tour. I wanted to go to Fatehpur Sikri next, but the heat for unbearable and I headed for the hostel. Since the hostel was super close to Taj Mahal I again went for a walk in the evening. I went into the Taj Nature Walk and from there is could get a glimpse of the Taj. I had to leave the park before 6 but given a choice I would've loved to spend more time here. Pancchi Petha is the most famous brand for Petha in Agra and you'll find it in every other shop but you must buy the Pethas from the original shop. However, I was a little lazy and bought some from one of the shops around Taj. After reaching the hostel I packed and left to board a night train for Khajuraho.

On the third day, I began early in the morning and headed for the Western Group of Temples after a quick breakfast. I did not hire a guide here but there was a person, who called himself the temple caretaker, who quickly explained the gist of the story and the reason these temples were made. He also explained about few iconic carvings that were repetitive in all the temples around. I went around the temple complex visiting each temple and it took me about 2hrs to finish. I decided to rest for a while before leaving for Raneh Falls. I hired a two wheeler and left for the falls which is 20kms from Khajuraho. There's a short trail that has wired fence around to watch the falls from different spots. This massive and stunning fall will definitely make you skip beat. I spent a good hour hanging around and then returned. I wanted to visit the Eastern group of temples but somehow the novelty wore off and the heat was unbearable. I went for the 6.30pm sound and light show in the Western group of temples. You would not miss much if you decide to skip this show. Before calling it a day, I was chatting with the reception person in my hotel and he happened to mention a short trek on the Dantla Hills that was 6-7km away and that I could've done the trek in the evening. I could not near to miss this opportunity and I decided to do the trek the next morning anyway. How happy I am to have decided to go.

I left for the trek on my two wheeler at 5.00am and reached there by 5.30am. It was a little confusing to find the start point of the trek as there was no one around that early in the morning to help. I hung around for few minutes till it was a little brighter and then reached the right spot. The took me 20mins to reach the top while another local girl going to the temple at the top reached gracefully and barefoot in 10mins. I reached perfectly in time for the sunrise and found a good rock to sit and enjoy the view. There are no other hills around and you get a beautiful 360° view. And that's how you can catch both sunrise as well as sunset from this point. After the sunrise I quickly descended and reach the hostel by 6.45am. I packed up and left for the railway station by 8.30am to board the train to Jhansi.

I did not have anything planned for Jhansi as I did not know how or when I would reach. After a slow lunch wondering what to do with almost 5-6 hrs I had, I booked a cab and decided to visit the Orchha Fort Complex that is 20-25kms away from the main town. I could not do justice to this place and appreciate it enough as I had overdosed myself on forts and palaces in the past 3 days but nevertheless enjoyed and understood another interesting slice of history of our country. I returned to the railway station soon after to wait for and board my train back home.

This was my first time travelling alone and I was excited and skeptical about a lot of things. I had not planned things very methodically but it worked well in my favor and I enjoyed the impromptu decisions I kept taking. It taught me so much about myself and it also taught me to trust myself. I learnt that I overestimate myself when I say I can find a place to dump my bags and be out all through out the day and that I don't need to rest. I learnt how talking to people can give you better ideas and understanding towards not just the trip itinerary but also life itinerary. I learnt how I had forgotten to enjoy train journeys and only gave importance to how fast I could reach my destination. I learnt vacations do not have to be luxurious hotels and expensive food. I learnt how to live in the present by constantly thinking about only the basic necessities and next best move. Though the trip was not perfect, I would not change a thing. It taught me so much and I feel so proud to have pulled this trip off.

Cheers to many more to come!!