The land
of Kamasutra ! the place of Art , Culture and Love
Khajuraho
is a small town located in the Bundelkhand region (Chhatarpur District) of
Madhya Pradesh and is famous for groups of Hindu and Jain temples. These temples
are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their beautiful and erotic rock carvings.
Khajuraho
has the Vindhya range of mountains as its beautiful backdrop. This makes
Khajuraho a more fascinating destination to visit.
Why it is
Special
Khajuraho's
art is a manifestation of the essence of the philosophy of Indian aesthetics.
The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho depicting Kama Sutra are unique in the
world. These sculptures representing the Indo-Aryan architecture, congeal in
stone a lyrical paean to love and passion and reflect the Chandela dynasty's
passion and immense appreciation for the forbidden art, paradoxically, in the
land of Kama Sutra. They cannot be passed off as just erotic sculptures, the
temples have some of the most revered Gods of Hinduism.
Khajuraho,
one of the World Heritage Sites, is famous for the sculptures displayed in the
temples. It is actually a village that is situated in the Chhatarpur District
of Madhya Pradesh. This place is well known for a number of medieval Jain and
Hindu temples, popular for the erotic sculptures. Khajuraho got its name from
‘khajur’ meaning palm and date. These temples were built in a time span of
hundred years, from 950 – 1050. History states that the Jains inhabited the
eastern side of Khajuraho, which is evident in the number of Jain temples
situated in this region. As a part of renovation, a wall has been constructed
enclosing the Jain temples, with the exception of Ghantai temple that lies
outside.
Climate and
Best time to Visit
Khajuraho's climate is quite extreme, with wide variation in day and
night temperatures along with minimal rainfall. Summers are hot at 45°C and
winters pleasant at 27°C. Rainfall of 114 cms annually. As summer is too hot,
winter is a good time to visit. A good time to visit is March, when the annual
Dance Festival takes place. So the best time to visit Khajuraho is from September
to March.
How to Reach
Khajuraho airport is well connected from Mumbai , Delhi , Varanasi
Audio Guides
Official Smartphone App
What to See :-
Western
Group of Temples
Eastern
Group of Temples
Southern
Group of Temples
Dulhadev
Temple - The last temple of Khajuraho, lies to the south of Ghantai temple. The
temple enshrines a Shivalingam. The apsara and ornamented figures are the
temple's most striking features.
Beejamandal Temple - It is a ruined temple, and
is near the Chattarbhuj Temple
Chattarbhuj Temple Or The Jatkari Temple - Built
in 1100 A.D., is well-known for its architecture, and is also the only temple to
be devoid of any erotic sculpture. 3 km away from the Eastern Group. Facing
West, have to take 10 steps to reach the sanctum. The massive 9 feet
intricately carved Vishnu idol in Chaturbhuja (four-armed).
Light and Sound Show at Western group of temples - After visiting the temple complex is over, the sound and light show, narrated by the Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachhan, is held every evening. Entry ticket Rs. 120/- for Indians and Rs. 300/- for foreigners.
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Khajuraho Festival of Dances is celebrated at a
time when the hardness of winter begins to fade and the king of all seasons,
spring, takes over. Feb - March The most colorful and brilliant classical dance
forms of india with their roots in the ling and rich cultural traditions across
the country, offer a feast for the eyes during a weeklong extravaganza here.
Jain Temples -
Owing to the renovation measures from time to time, it seems that the white Jain temples are comparatively new. The life-size sculpture of Jain God is praiseworthy. On your visit, you can also spot sculpture of animals inside the temple complex. Besides the sculpted figures, the architectural beauty of the white as well as other Jain temples are noteworthy.
Most important temple in the Jain Temple series is the Parshvanatha Temple, which is the largest of all. There is a statue of Parshvanatha inside the holy temple, who was a Jain Tirthankara. This temple is popular for the non erotic sculptures of Khajuraho. It is said that some of the best non erotic sculptures are found in this temple. One of the well known sculptures of this temple is the celestial beauties, known as ‘Sura Sundaris’; one of them is applying make up and the other one is removing a thorn from the feet. You can spot this beautiful work of art in the southern façade of the temple. The most talk about sculpture in the northern façade is a sura sundari tying ankle bells.
Are you still hesitant to decide your next travel destination? The pictures in the Picture India gallery can help you to make your decision; you can also make a note of the important attractions of the Jain temples in Khajuraho.
Getting
Around
A good way to get around and see the temples as well the village life in
Kharujaho is by bicycle, which you can easily rent in the bike shops near the
main temple complex, or bicycle rickshaw. They charge Rs.20 per day.
Beware of the fake school teachers, principals and students who are too
much interested in your dollars as donation, which hardly goes to the school
itself.
There are many car rental companies available. The Auto rickshaws
provide a comfortable enough ride around the small town. Also they offer a lot
cheaper deal with a friendly guide in the rickshaw drivers
