In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Orai
Orai is a half-day stop on the road between Kanpur and Jhansi: see Chaurasi Gumbad, visit the water park, then move on. One night if you need a break.
Orai is a market town in Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region, best known for the 15th-century Chaurasi Gumbad tomb in nearby Kalpi and a water park. Most travellers pass through on the Kanpur–Jhansi highway; the town itself has little to detain you beyond a meal or a short stop.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
Get in
By air
- KNU · Kanpur Airport
- Domestic; about 90 km (56 mi) north. Buses from Kanpur to Orai.Domestic; about 56 mi (90 km) north. Buses from Kanpur to Orai.
- GWL · Gwalior Airport
- Domestic; about 120 km (75 mi) west. Buses from Gwalior to Orai.Domestic; about 75 mi (120 km) west. Buses from Gwalior to Orai.
Typical fares
- Auto-rickshaw within town
- ₹50–100 (check)
- Auto-rickshaw to Kalpi (one way)
- ₹400–600 (check)
- Bus Orai → Jhansi
- ₹150–250 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws are the main option; negotiate the fare before you get in. Walking is fine for the market area.
See and do
Known for
- Chaurasi Gumbad (Kalpi)
- Ocean World Water Park
- Om Bazar
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kalpi (Chaurasi Gumbad) | Auto-rickshaw from Orai, about 35 km (22 mi) northeast, 45 minAuto-rickshaw from Orai, about 22 mi (35 km) northeast, 45 min | About 1 h |
| Jhansi | Bus or train from Orai, about 120 km (75 mi), 2–3 hBus or train from Orai, about 75 mi (120 km), 2–3 h | About 2.5–3.5 h |
| Mahoba | Bus from Orai, about 100 km (62 mi), 2–2.5 hBus from Orai, about 62 mi (100 km), 2–2.5 h | About 2.5–3 h |
Sleep
- Orai town centre
- Near the bus stand and railway station; basic hotels and OYO rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Too expensive. | बहुत महंगा है।bahut mahanga hai. |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bus stand kahan hai? |
| Please take me to the station. | कृपया मुझे स्टेशन ले चलिए।kripya mujhe station le chaliye. |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat (April–June) can exceed 45°C; carry water and avoid midday sightseeing.
- Auto-rickshaw drivers may quote inflated fares for out-of-town sights like Chaurasi Gumbad.
- Om Bazar opening hours are irregular; check Facebook before going.
Orai is generally safe, but petty theft can occur in crowded markets. Avoid walking alone after dark in isolated areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Orai yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Chaurasi Gumbad (Kalpi)
- Ocean World Water Park
- Om Bazar
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Orai, revision 5241007 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241007
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/orai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.