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Voykit pocket guide · India
Satna
Use Satna as a transit hub for Chitrakoot, Maihar and Khajuraho: one night is enough. The town itself has little to hold you longer.
Satna is a mid-sized industrial town in eastern Madhya Pradesh, best known as a rail junction for reaching Chitrakoot, Maihar and Khajuraho. Its own sights are few — a handful of temples and snack stalls — so most travellers use it as a one-night stopover or a base for day trips.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (extreme heat), Jul–Sep (heavy rain)
- 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 100 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102 · All emergencies 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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Samosa or jalebi | ₹10–20 |
| Thali meal | ₹100–200 |
| Auto-rickshaw (within town) | ₹50–150 |
| Taxi to Chitrakoot (one way) | ₹1,200–1,500 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HJR · Khajuraho Airport
- About 115 km (71 mi); flights from Delhi and Varanasi. Taxi or bus to Satna.About 71 mi (115 km); flights from Delhi and Varanasi. Taxi or bus to Satna.
Typical fares
- Satna Junction → Chitrakoot by bus
- about ₹100–150, about 1 h (check)
- Satna Junction → Maihar by train
- about ₹50–100, about 45 min (check)
- Satna Junction → Khajuraho by bus
- about ₹300, about 2.5 h (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 and cycle-rickshaws cover the town; negotiate the fare before you get in. Taxis for day trips to Chitrakoot, Maihar or Khajuraho.
See and do
Known for
- Satna Junction railway station
- Chitrakoot (Ramcharitmanas site)
- Maihar (Sharda Mata temple)
- Cement factories
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chitrakoot | Bus or taxi from Satna, about 1 h | About 1–1.5 h |
| Maihar | Train or bus from Satna, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Khajuraho | Bus or taxi from Satna, about 2.5 h | About 2.5–3 h |
| Rewa | Bus or taxi from Satna, about 1.5 h | About 1.5–2 h |
| Bandhavgarh National Park | Taxi from Satna, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Near Satna Junction
- Closest to trains and buses; most budget hotels and guesthouses.
- Civil Lines
- Quieter area with a few mid-range hotels; 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) from the station.Quieter area with a few mid-range hotels; 1.2–1.9 mi (2–3 km) from the station.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the station? | स्टेशन कहाँ है?station kahaan hai? |
| I need a taxi | मुझे टैक्सी चाहिएmujhe taxi chahiye |
| Please take me to… | कृपया मुझे… ले चलेंkripya mujhe… le chalen |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
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
- Last trains from Satna Junction around midnight; taxis are available but agree on the fare first.
- Chitrakoot gets very crowded on Amavasya and Purnima (new moon and full moon).
- Khajuraho Airport has limited flights; book well ahead.
Satna is generally safe for tourists. Usual precautions: avoid walking alone late at night, keep valuables out of sight, and agree on auto-rickshaw fares before the ride.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Satna yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Satna Junction railway station
- Chitrakoot (Ramcharitmanas site)
- Maihar (Sharda Mata temple)
- Cement factories
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Satna district official website: satna.nic.in/
- Wikivoyage: Satna, revision 5034221 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5034221
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/satna). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.