DAY TWELVE
Managed to cycle in to view the huge palace at Orchha. Complete with secret passages, king’s and queen’s quarters and beautiful, colourful paintings on the walls. Overcome by exhaustion shortly after and had to cycle back again.
Evening we rode out to some Chhatri (cenotaphs) nearby. These are monuments to the Bundela Rajput rulers of this area and are extremely ornate. They are set right next to a river and surrounded by flowery gardens. A true haven, complete with small white rabbits nibbling happily at the grass and massive vultures on the turrets overhead.
Not far from the Chhatri on the river’s edge we met a man from California, Indian heritage, merrily preparing 108 little candles for floating on the river as a blessing to his father and good wishes to all the world. He gaily told me that each candle had some fish food in it, so every living thing could be happy. I was not so sure, the little dishes he was floating were cardboard lined with silver foil. Loads more pollution for this beautiful place.
