Marpha

About Marpha

Marpha is located just four kilometres from Gupt Godavari and is known for its natural beauty, its temples and the ruins of a Chandel fort. It is a short, undemanding stop rather than a destination in itself, and it is almost always taken in on the same run as the caves.

Two things to see

The Chandel fort ruins

What survives is a ruin rather than a standing fort, and there is no formal circuit around it. It is worth climbing to for the vantage and for a sense of how the Chandel builders used this terrain.

The temples and the setting

Marpha’s temples are small and local in character, and the natural beauty of the surroundings is the reason the place appears on itineraries at all. Half an hour covers it unhurriedly.

Planning your visit

Marpha works as an add on to Gupt Godavari, four kilometres away, and needs no separate planning beyond asking your driver to include it.

• Pair it with Gupt Godavari in the same trip.
• Wear shoes with grip for the ruins, where the footing is uneven.
• Carry water; there are no facilities to count on.
• Half an hour to an hour is enough.

Best time to visit

October to March is the right season. The surroundings are at their greenest just after the monsoon, although the ruins are slippery while it is raining. Mornings and late afternoons are the pleasant parts of the day.