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.
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.
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.
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.
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Destination Covered : Delhi - Jaipur -
Agra - Delhi |
 Duration
: 10 Nights Destination Covered :
Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi |
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Mumbai - Bangalore - Mysore - Bandipur - Coorg - Ooty - Cochin - Munnar
- Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Quilon - Kovalam - Kanyakumari -
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