Khajuraho Temples – India

Khajuraho Temples – India

One of the World’s Great Artistic Wonders

Khajuraho is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.  Khajuraho Temples are famous for their candid erotic sculpture and delicate sensuality. The intricacy achieved in ornaments, hairstyles, clothers reiterate the incredible skill of the artisans.  They were built between 950 and 1050 A.D and are built in Indo Aryan Nagara style of architecture. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its archaeological and historical monuments.
Khajuraho represent the expression of a highly matured civilization and it is India’s unique gift of love to the world. Khajuraho oozes with passion, eroticism, dance and music and other fitnesses of creative arts depicted in sculpture and images of the temples. Life in every form and mood, has been beautifully etched out in stone, justifying the excellent craftsmanship and artistry of the Chandela Rajputs.
The fascinating village of Khajuraho is also famous for its natural beauty with refreshing rural ambience, an untouched cultural heritage. Make a trip to Khajuraho and get mesmerized by the beauty of the temples containing stunning sculptures…        

Quick Facts:

·         Famous For                    - Art Sculptures, Carved Temples and Dance Festival.

·         State                             - Madya Pradesh

·         Built by                         - Rulers of Chandela Dynasty.

·         Carved in                     - 11^th Century

·         Architectural Structure  - Ancient Hindu Architecture

·         Fact                               - World Heritage Site

·         Name derive from       - ‘Khajur’, The Date Palm

·         Temperature                -  Summer – Max 47 degree C , Winter – Min 4 degree C

 Location:

Khajuraho in India lies about 385 miles southeast of Delhi in the Bundelkhand region of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated in the heart of Central India, in the forested plains of Madya Pradesh. Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage.

Best Season to Visit:                  September to March

Route Map:

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How to Reach:

By Air:        The airport is 5 kms from the city centre and is well connected by domestic flights to and from Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
 
By Train:       The nearest railheads are Mahoba (64 km) and Harpalpur (94 km). Jhansi (175 km) and Satna (117 km) are convenient railheads for visitors from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Agra and Varanasi.

By Road:     Direct bus services connect Khajuraho with Panna, Satna, Chattarpur, Jabalpur, Mahoba, Bhopal, Gwalior and Indore. For local transport, cycle rickshaws, tongas and taxis are available.

Prime Attractions of Khajuraho:

The Temples in Khajuraho are assimilated in to three geographical divisions; western, eastern and southern.

Eastern Group of Temples:

The Eastern group of Temples has five bifurcated temples incorporated together.

Parsavnath Temple

The first one is the majestic parsavnath temple. This is one of the largest temples of the eastern group and is exquisite in its architectural details, specially the sculptures on the outer walls on the northern side. . Adinath, first Tirthankara in Jain religion is the other center of attraction and visited by the tourist as well the devotees.

Ghanti and Adinatha Temples

Ghanti and Adinatha Temples are also Jain temples adorned with magnificent wall paintings inside the temple complex. The Adinath temple is dedicated to saint Adinath and has yakshis sculptures. The Ghanti temple on the other hand houses the frieze depicting the 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother.

Brahma, Vamana and Javari Temples

The three temples of this group are dedicated to Hindu deities. The four faced Lingam in the Brahma temple, the image of sensuous Apsaras in the Vamana temple and the grand arch and extensive carvings in the Javari temple, comprise the three Hindu temples.

Western Group of Temples 

Kandariya mahadeo.temple

This is the largest and the brilliantly architecture temple and is 31 m high. This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva.  The main temple is gracefully carved in delicate details of the sculptures of the gods, goddesses, maidens and the celestial lovers. The most remarkable and worth noticing is the entrance arch, the pillars and the interior compartments

Chitragupta Temple:

This temple houses the three headed image of Lord Brahma. The entrance to this temple is truly impressive with lion sculptures on the north and the elephants on the southern stairs. Also the Nandi Bull is facing the temple. 

Chaunsat Yogini Temple:

This is the oldest temple in the group. Built in the 900 BC, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and sole granite was used for its construction. Devi Jagdambe temple is another temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.

 



 Vishwanath Temple:

This is is dedicated to Lord Brahma and has an image of three headed Brahma. The entrance of the temple is guarded by lions and and elephants ham up the stairs. The 6 ft high augustly Nandini Bull faces this temple.

 

Matangeshwara Temple:

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva falls outside this group and today has been converted into a museum which has traces of the great temples that talks about the golden history of this place.

Southern Group of Temples:

Southern group of temples are five kms from the Khajoraho village. This group has two temples,  both being Hindu, the Chaturbhuj temple and the Duladeo temple.

Chaturbhuj temple    has a massive, intricately carved image of Vishnu.

Duladeo temple    is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Dance Festival :    Every spring the stones of Khajuraho come to life during the prestigious 7-day Khajuraho Dance Festival. It is a cultural festival for the celebration of the Indian classical dance and music, believed to have basically originated in the Hindu temples. This is a time when the glory of the temples is celebrated with true fervour and joy

Where to Stay:

Here are some of the top rated hotels for accommodation.

·         The Lalit Temple View Hotel

·         Taj Chandela Hotel

·         Hotel Usha Bundela

·         Hotel Harmony

·         Zen Hotel

Where to Eat:

Some of the best restaurants are

·         Siddhartha Hotel Restaurant

·         Blue Sky restaurant

·         La Dolce Vita

·         Paradise

·         Italian Restaurant

·         Blue Sky

Shopping:

You can find more shops around the Western Groups of Temples. The traditional handicratts and handlooms, which are made by the ace craftsmen here are the most famous. Here textile weaving is a major skill, so you can pick up a variety of richly made saris and Indian wear. Another hot favorite is the small replicas of erotic sculptures carved from shone and bronze.

Ogle Market, Oswald Complex and the City Centre are the main shopping places here. There are also the Government Emporiums and numerous private shops, where you can find variety of various crafts.

Travel Tips:

Take care not to be misguided by touts/Road Guides, that are standing outside the hotels. Best to wear Indian Dress. Don’t wear heavy jewellery and display bulk cash.

Keep vigil eyes on your belongings and avoid speaking to strangers by late evenings. Make your stay comfortable by planning to stay at place, where most of tourist staying.

For nearby excursion, never prefer private jeep as they are unregulated. Take care and have an enjoyable trip…!

Thank You & Visit Again…!