The distance from Orchha to Jhansi is around 16 kilometers and a taxi would cost around 500 rupees, a prepaid auto rupees 25 and a shared tempo rupees 10. No wonder we ended up using a shared one. While going there were around 13-14 people inside it and that is normal.
A Shared Tempo or a Three Wheeler at Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
While going to Orchha the tempo had a music system too that the driver switched on soon enough. I have recorded a small bit of that music and I would try to mix it with Orchha images and post it soon.
The Tempo Stand at Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
But it was the return journey that took the cake. It was nine at night and it was raining lightly. After a few kilometers on the largely dark road between Orchha and Jhansi we (all the 13-14 inside the tempo) could see the rain falling more heavily whenever it got caught in the headlights of a vehicle coming from behind.
Our co-passengers commented that the road seems to be longer at night, while coming they thought Jhansi was so close by. The road kept on going, the rain kept falling. The around one corner a group of people walking in the rain signaled to the tempo. The driver was reluctant to stop but then two people on a motorbike came along and he stopped.
They chatted and the tempo driver agreed to take on even more people. Then those 6 or 7 people kept a foot on the side and held on to the top literally hanging out of the tempo.
We covered the last 6-7 kilometers like this. I am not easily scared but mixed with rain this felt like quite a scary way to travel. Thankfully the vehicle didn't overturn with the weight or due to the wet conditions. But when I was talking about this with others they say it is quite normal! Somehow it didn't feel normal to me, maybe it was the rain that scared me.
Labels: Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh, Orchha, traffic, Travel
