Last summer i finally travelled down to Orchha on my way to Khajuraho. Orchhaa is 15 KM from Jhansi and some 200KM from Khajuraho. After Khajuraho, Orchha must be most pictured town of Madhya Pradesh – The Heart of incredible India. I love to call it Royal Sepia Town of India which is right on the bank of boldered Betwa River making the entire setup very picturesque. Once Orchha was the epitome of royalty, magnanimity and prosperity, but now it belongs to the India’s one of the most backward region- Bundelkhand.
Delhi to Orchha
I spent first five years of my life in Jhansi and visited this place for many picnics, as told by parents. The only memory of those visits i have, is of a boy taking a jump from the Bridge into River Betwa. Since childhood, whenever i encounter the name Orchha, the image of the boy diving into river pops up in my mind. So, when i was all set to travel down to Khajuraho via Orchha, i decided to locate the bridge and spend some time there. I was not sure if, after almost 30 years, i would find those diving boys. But the itch was too strong and i had to do it. As soon as i entered the town of Orchha, i asked about the bridge on the Betwa and headed straight there with a thumping heart. And then what i see was like giving breath to my the oldest and the only memory of Orchha. It was a sheer Deja Vu and Eureka Moment for me. I could see many teenage boys taking dives into the river from Bridge, i spent close to 2 hours there with them and enjoyed every bit of it.
Bridge on Betwa River
Ready to Dive
Turn by Turn
Glorious Dive
Boy of Betwa River
Post Diving Moment
Underwater
Dive from the River Bank
Fun moment…enjoying the attention!
A would be broad shouldered Man!!
Diving Dynamics!
Shouldn’t he be trained for Olympics??
This time Orchha was all about these boys of Betwa as visit to other places of so called interest might have played a spoilsport to my memories. So, from this bridge i started my journey onwards to Khajuraho.
How wonderful it would have been, to go back and relive those childhood memories.
Enjoyed reading this, and what stunning photography.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Carl,
Truly it was wonderful. Orchha is a wonderful tourist destination, but for me only these boys were everything.
I am delighted that you liked the photography.
Orchha indeed is in my to do list!
Hii Abhinav,
Orchha is a must visit Bro. U may club Orchha with Khajuraho as well.
Cheerz!
How cool! Looks like a beautiful spot. Amazing photos as well. My oldest loved jumping into water, i’ll have to show him this.
Wow…. so sweet. C u again with more encouraging words!
Your post made me think back to my own childhood. Oh to be that young again for a day!
So true.
It sounds simple and silly, but one of my favorite parts about traveling is watching the locals (especially kiddos) in their natural element. It is so refreshing to see little ones so carefree and happy that it is a good reminder for your soul to be the same!
So true. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Oh it’s wonderful that you were able to revive this childhood memory! When something remembers me of my childhood, it always feels like home.
Absolutely. Lets engage more often.
Such a wonderful story of a memory from your childhood!
Indeed :))
Love this sweet photo essay of your childhood memory come to life!
Great captures and such a wonderful story. I love thinking about childhood memories.
It is amazing that after 30 years the tradition is still alive. I can imagine how fulfilled you felt.
They look like they are having so much fun
Love the photography! It looks like a wonderful place.