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…!

Sundarbans National Park – West Bengal

Sundarbans National Park – West Bengal

A World Heritage Site

 The Sundarbans National Park, is the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the largest mangrove forest in the world. . The literal meaning of Sundarban is "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language and also has got its name from Sundari trees, found in abundance here. Sundarbans is one of the World’s largest delta region and  estuarine forest.

Sundarbans is paradise for wild life with greenish dense forest adventures, with meandering rivers, springs, creeks and beautiful estuaries, this place is ruled by the unique natural beauty of its surroundings.  Enthusiastic photographers, who likes to have the real panoramic region as the canvas, must come over to Sundarbans.

One who likes nature in its wildest forms, Sundarbans is the prime location which is not to be missed. Sundarbans offers a very extra ordinary view and a wild journey for a life time to recall.
It is also the perfect place for the holiday makers, who desire to rest or roam around at will, to refresh their mind and feast their eyes with the rich treasure that nature has so fondly bestowed…

Location 
   Sunderbans is situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, just south of Kolkata. Sunderban covers an area of 4262 sq. kms., where 70 percent is under saline water. Sunderbans is a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta, extending about 260 km along the Bay of Bengal. Sunderbans spreads over 54 islands and two countries (West Bengal and Bangladesh)

Best Season:   November to February

This is the ideal season, where the tigers can be seen on the river banks sunbathing.

Route Map:
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How to reach:
By air: The nearest airport is Kolkata International Airport (112 km) having link with all major domestic and International airports.

By rail: The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 kms away. The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 kms away. 

Road: Above mentioned embarkation points from Kolkata are: Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), Najat (92 km). 

from where Motor launch services are available for Sundarbans, 

The best and only means of travelling the park is to hire a boat and float down the various lanes formed by the many flowing rivers. You can travel in any of the local boats or in luxury launches namely M.V. Chitrarekha and M.V. Madhukar, which are operated by the tourism department.

Prime Attractions of Sundarbans:

 Sundarbans:

The destination is absolutely calm, quite and beautiful. The only way of seeing sunderbans is on boats. The mangrove forest is the home for various species including the royal bengal tiger. One can also be able to meet with the local tribals there. It's a combination of delta, estuary and wildlife.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve:

This is situated in a village called Piyali, in the southern part of West Bengal state in India.Project Tiger was implemented in 1973 and later the Sundarban Tiger Reserve was demarcated over 2,585-sq. km. The core area of 1,330 sq.km has been declared a National park and has been chosen as a world heritage site. The 1980 census put the population of tiger in this reserve close to 400.

 Netidhopani :  At Netidhopani, the ruins of a 400 year old temple and legends lend mystery to the atmosphere.
  The Sajnakhali Bird Sanctuary :

The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park. The kingdom of birds at Sajnekhati enchants your eyes. The most sought after sights by a bird watcher are seven colourful species of Kingfisher, white-bellied Sea Eagle, Plovers, Lap-Wings, Curfews, Whimbrels, Sandpipers and occasional Pelican. 

Ganga Sagar (Kapil Muni Ashram):

Ganga Sagar is a  religiously important tirth and   also has an exceptionally good beach for the tourists. Situated on an island in the Sunderbans, it holds the charms of a completely unspoilt beach on the estuary of the mighty Ganga. It can be approached from Kolkata either by road and then by vessel, or by luxury vessels taken from Kolkata.  

Bhagbatpur Crocodile Project:  

This is a crocodile breeding farm. This place is accessible through Namkhana.. Bhagabatput is a hatchery of the largest estuarine crocodile in the world.

Piyali
Piyali is the gatway to Sundarbans, 72-kms from Kolkatta by road and close to Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Netidhopani through waterways. A small river Piyali flows through the green paddy fields and mingles with river Matla. Picturesque Piyali delta makes an ideal romantic holiday destination.

Kaikhali :     On your way to Sunderbans you cannot afford to miss Kaikhali Island, where nature is so alive and so colorful. An ideal picnic spot.

Kanak
Kanak is one of the nesting beaches of Olive Ridley Turtles in Sunderban. The turtles migrate to the shallow coastal waters from a long distance to breed. The turtles are believed to travel upriver as far as 100 km from the sea mouth into the Sunderban.

Holiday Island
The last habitat of the Barking Deer in India is the Holiday island thronged by the tourists every year

 Flora & Fauna

The variety of the forests that exist in Sunderban include mangrove scrub, littoral forest, saltwater mixed forest, brackish water mixed forest and swamp forest.The flora includes genwa, dhundal, passur, garjan and kankra. The goran trees, whose average height varies between 1.8 metres and 3.6 metres, cover almost the entire region.
Besides the tiger, you can have a look at the Gangetic dolphin, little porpoise, fishing cat, Indian fox, jungle cat, small Indian civet, common grey mongoose, spotted deer, wild pig, Indian flying fox, rhesus monkey and pangolin.

 Frazerganj: It is a  white sand beach  is entirely different from the other beaches. It can be accessed from Kolkata, and is a three hours drive. The destination is also famous for the migratory birds.  

Bakkhali:   A wellknown beach resort, close to Frazerganj.It’s a bird-watchers’ paradise, where you can spot casuarinas and Red Fiddle Carbs.

Mayadwip: The nesting place of the Olive Ridley Turtles. 

Other tourist attractions:

Nilkamal known also as Hiron Point watching vociferous wild animals and natural beauty. Katka is another place where wind animals mare freely and also good for bird watching. Vast area of verdant valleys starting from Katka to tiger point in Kachikhali provides opportunities for adventurous wild trekking. Tin Kona Island is well known for deer and wild tiger and Dublar Char Island for fishermen. It is a beautiful island where flocks of spotted deer are frequently seen to graze.

Food and Accommodation:

Cuisine:  Indian, Continental and Bengali.

The hotels and forest lodges in Sunderbans are an ideal option for the adventure lovers. Apart from accommodation and food, the Wild Safari arrangement is the element that lures the tourists in the lodges/hotels here in Sunderbans. These Hotels offers you the thrill of staying in camps amongst the wilds of the forest

The Hotels in Sunderbans are the following:

Sundar Chital Tourist Lodge 

Vivada Crusies 

Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, Sunderban 

Sunderban Tiger Camp

Also Forest rest houses are available at Piyali, Sajnekhali and Bakkhali. Sundarbans Jungle Camp on Bali Island also offers lodging facilities.The cruise launches MV Chitralekha and MV Sarbajaya also have lodging facility.

Wildlife destinations in India:

Kaziranga National Park

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Bandhavgarh National Park

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Manas National Park

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

Corbett National Park

Travel tips:
Sunderbans is approximately 5 hours away from Kolkata which includes 3 hours of road journey and 2 hours of boat ride. Do carry sunscreen to avoid tanning. A camera & binoculars is must.

Happy Travelling….!