Day 8 - Orchha temples, Rama festival and a cool, cool swimming pool

Thought I would go out early this Sunday morning for a solitary jog around Orchha to get my bearings. As soon as I left the hotel grounds I was confronted by a solid tide of people going for, doing or coming back from early morning ablutions in the river. I could barely get across the bridge over the river due to pressure of numbers. I jogged along the far side of the river just a short way, but the track was quite rocky and not really suitable for the aged infirm. It turns out later that armed police were out hunting bandits just along there. However I reached home safely and after breakfast we all walked out through the town centre to the main palace.
The Jahangiri Mahal Palace has a wonderful position by the river.

It seems today is a special Rama Festival - thousands of people have arrived in town from the outlying villages to celebrate at the small temple in the town square - they unlike us are all in their Sunday best. After a couple of hours wandering around the palace we fought our way back along the narrow main street, through the marketplace, past the throngs queueing to get into the temple.


In the market we were accosted by a small girl wanting to tie string bracelets on us at 10 rupees each. We gave her the money and obviously caused some confusion as we didn't barter. She walked away with a bemused look on her face examining the two notes. Shortly after she found us again with two very small charms - a crucifix and a shiva medallion saying " no cost " then ran away - obviously taking pity on these old deranged foreigners who didn't know how to do business. We carried on to the farthest temple out of town - the Laxminarayan temple,

situated on top of a small hill, but giving wonderful views of all the other outlying temples and cenotaphs. By mid afternoon the cool inviting waters of the swimming pool were calling. As well as a full size tennis court the hotel also had a table tennis version. After dinner that night we held the world series which probably ended in a draw but no one can remember.