Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh - Last Stop - Khajuraho and Panna National Park

On the 6th day morning we started for Khajuraho around 10:15 am. The route that we took was through Barhi, Katni bypass, Pawai, Amanganj, Panna National Park, and Mandla.
A few kilometers before Amanganj on your right there will be a restaurant Narmada Highway Treat where you can stop for restrooms (not clean but your only option); it is right before the Bharat petroleum petrol station.

You will then pay a toll of Rs 20 at Katni followed by Rs 30 at Panna.

We stopped at the Madla gate of the Panna National Park to arrange tickets for the next morning safari. The online permit booking was not available - everything was fully booked but thankfully we could club with another two guys after pleading at the ticket counter.

We then drove to Khajuraho city (30 minutes from the Madla gate of Panna National Park) and checked-in to Radisson Jass Hotel. Khajuraho has two sets of temples - the western side which has more of the Hindu temples and the eastern side which has the Jain temples. If you are looking for the much talked about architecture you need to head towards the western side.

Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh - Fourth Stop - Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is a four hour journey from Bargi Dam, Jabalpur (similar time if you are coming straight from Jabalpur). The drive is very smooth as you drive onto MP SH 11. The only problem is that you won't find a decent place to stop over for food or restrooms. If you are stopping at Maikal resort in Jabalpur make sure to use the restrooms there.

[Missed our post on Gwalior, Orchha or Jabalpur - click on the city name to go read all about it!]

Bandhavgarh National Park is known for its tiger safaris. The safari has to be booked online at https://forest.mponline.gov.in/  - make sure you book the safari well in advance. We could not get a permit for the core areas but we really wanted to do the safari so we booked for Dhamokhar region. This is a buffer area very close to the resort we were staying at. We were told that a lot of tiger spotting was happening in Dhamokar as well so we had our fingers crossed.

Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh - Third Stop - Bheda Ghat, Jabalpur

After breakfast of poha and tea at Faagun Haveli, Orchha, we started for Jabalpur around 8:20 am.
It was difficult to navigate to the highway since our phone network was not working. After asking around we found our way. The initial route was through a very rural area until we hit the national highway 44. There is a Rs 85 toll for Jhansi Lalitpur section. At Lalitpur another toll of Rs 65 is charged.

Another toll at Malthone for Rs 90. The highway has clean roads except you need to be careful of animals coming across at places which have adjacent villages. Near the Rehil region the road gets narrow so move slow for about 2-3 km.

After Rehil region another toll for Jabalpur is charged at Rs 25. There are literally no places to eat or stop. One petrol pump (Indian Oil) about 90 Km before Jabalpur had clean washrooms.
Further on another toll for Rs 25 at Patan.

Bheda Ghat, Narmada River, Jabalpur

Route is generally scenic going through fields and some stretches of foresty areas. We headed straight to the V Vrindavan Resort, Bheda Ghat, Jabalpur. This was going to be our home for the night. The highway road was under construction with a lot of trucks. The resort is located at the best location possible, right across the Dhuandhar falls. The A/c deluxe room was very big in size but it's like a 2 star property, bare minimum stuff, an almirah, and very basic toiletries.

Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh - Second Stop - Orchha

If you have just joined me on my journey through Madhya Pradesh, you can read all details about when and where we started from and our travel through Gwalior in the post Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh [ Gwalior, Orccha, Jabalpur, Bandhavgarh, Khajuraho]

Continuing with the road trip series.....

We started around 12 from Gwalior towards Orchha. The road is quite bumpy in a lot of places before it clears out. Took us 3 hours to reach Orchha fort.

Orchha,Madhya Pradesh

There is a ticket of Rs 10 for adults and Rs 15 for the camera. The same ticket is needed at Cenotaphs so make sure you keep it safe. Parking is outside the fort almost in the market area. We had lunch (thali) at a small restaurant just outside the fort (RamRaja Restaurant & Cafe - expensive as compared to other places since its targeted towards foreigners but the thali was good).

Keel Darwaza (door) Orchha Fort, Madhya Pradesh

Orchha fort has two main palaces, Raja Ram palace and Jahangir Palace. Sheesh Mahal is also there which is now turned into a hotel. You can drive up to Sheesh Mahal and walk down to the other two forts which are adjacent .Both are in a very bad state with mostly the outer structure standing now. There are a lot of steep steps throughout the fort if you wish to climb to the higher floors - the view is amazing from the top but yet my legs were crying when I came back.

Road Trip Through Madhya Pradesh [ Gwalior, Orccha, Jabalpur, Bandhavgarh, Khajuraho]

Starting the new year with a post on my road trip through Madhya Pradesh, India. Madhya Pradesh is geographically in the middle of India. It's a state that boasts of hills, rivers, national parks and an overload of heritage. The land known for providing the basis of Kama Sutra, Madhya Pradesh is a lot more. Come join me as I narrate the entire journey from Greater Noida (situated on the border of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) through 5 locations in Madhya Pradesh.

I will try and do a summary post listing down the route, condition of the roads and the total toll you need to give at each place. All this information is in the narrative as well; seat belts on, let's zip ahead!

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