Khajuraho

Introduction

Khajuraho is well known all over the world for its temple architecture and exquisite sculptures. Situated in the heart of India in the state of Madhya Pradesh, it lies in the forested plains of the region of Bundelkhand. The Khajuraho temples were built between the 9th and 11th centuries by the warrior kings of the Chandela dynasty. However, the definite reason behind such mass scale temple construction that is now over a thousand years old remains unknown. According to local legend, these temples were built by the first Chandela raja to atone his mother’s sin, whose consummation with the Moon god hearalded the start of the Chandela dynasty.

These exquisitely carved temples are also the site for an annual mela on the occasion of Shivaratri which is celebrated here as the wedding of Shiva. This living tradition fits in with the new theory about Khajuraho that the temples were built as wedding chariots for the gods who came to attend the wedding.

Khajuraho combines history, architecture, culture and environment with delectable charm. It takes one away from the noise and pollution of the city, with its fresh air and scenic countryside. Its quaint charm and marvelous beauty of the temples attracts people to it and makes it Madhya Pradesh’s most famous tourist town.

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Tourist Attractions in Khajuraho

The temples of Kahjuraho are the most prominent places of tourist interest.

The Western Group of Temples

Chaunsat Yogini is the oldest of the surviving temples of Khajuraho. It is dedicated to goddesses Kali and is the only temple that is built in granite.

The Kandariya Mahadeo is considered the most evolved example of central Indian temple architecture. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the largest of Khajuraho’s temples.

The Lakshmana Temple is one of the oldest and finest of the western group of temples. Themes recurring in the sculptures are battle, hunting, and women.

The temple of Vishvanath and Nandi celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The sculptures are dominated by women in various attitudes of life like fondling babies and writing letters.

The temple of Devi Jagdamba is considered to be one of the most erotic temples of Khajuraho by many. It has the most talked-about image, mithuna, and the sensuously carved figures.

Other important temples in the western group are the temples of Lakshmi and Varaha, Mahadev, Chitragupta, Parvati, and Matangesvara.

Eastern Group of Temples

The temple of Parsvanath is the largest of the Jain temples in Khajuraho. It was originally dedicated to Adinath and later to Parsvanath.

Shantinath is the youngest of all the temples in Khajuraho. It is just a century old and has a big statue of Adinath.

The temple of Brahma and Hanuman is one of the oldest temples in Khajuraho. It is built mostly of granite and sandstone and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Mostly in ruins now, the temple of Ghantai has fine columns and chains and bells, with a figure of a Jain goddess on a garuda.

The Southern Group

The southern group only has two temples, the Duladeo which is newer and built when the creativity of Khajuraho was deteriorating. The Chaturbhuja Temple has a 3-m-high statue of Vishnu.

Excursions in Khajuraho

Khajuraho also has a number of excursion sites that are worth visiting nearby.

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Dhubela Museum is 64 km away and houses a wide variety of sculpture of the Shakti cult.

The historical city of Panna has one of the most famous diamond mines of the world and is around 56 km from Khajuraho. The Panna National Park is an ideal place for wildlife watchers.

The Pandava Waterfall on the Ken River is believed to be where the Pandavas spent a good part of their exile. The Ranch is another waterfall that lies close by.

Benisagar Lake is a tourist spot around 7 km away. The dam on Khudar River and is an ideal place for boating and angling.

Ranguan Lake is 20 km from Khajuraho. This is a site at the confluence of Ken and Simri rivers.

The Rajgarh Palace and the Ajaygarh Fort are also worth a visit.

How To Reach Khajuraho

Khajuraho is well connected by road, rail and air. It is linked by air to Delhi, Agra and Varanasi by a daily flight. It is within easy driving distance from Jhansi (172 kilometres) and Satna (117 kilometres).

The nearest railheads are Harpalpur (94 kilometer) and Mahoba (63 kilometer). Satna is on the Bombay-Allahabad line and Jhansi is also an important junction.

We offer complete travel and tour packages to Khajuraho that are inclusive of hotel booking, air booking services as well as cab and car hire services for the entire duration of your stay. Our Khajuraho tour packages are convenient, cost effective and the choicest travel options possible.

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Important Travel Information

The climate of Khajuraho is of an extreme type. The summers are hot with the mercury climbing up to 47°C. Winters can be very cold with temperature dipping to 4°C. The monsoon starts from the month of July and lasts until September. The Khajuraho festival of dance is organized in the months of February/March every year. Prominent Indian classical dancers perform here to display the best of Indian dance and music. The floodlit temples of Khajuraho with their exquisite and erotic carvings provide the perfect backdrop to the festival.