The
temples of Khajuraho are not about the usual
worshipping and religious rites performed to the
deities but more about the courtly arts, love and
passion. These unique 10th-11th century temples are
famous for their erotic sculptures and carvings on
the walls and present quite an éclat mix of
architectural science and art. Related to Chandela
dynasty founded by Chandravarman, it is said that
he, to fulfill the dream of his mother Hemvati,
built these temples. It is said that he was the
illegitimate son of this Brahmin girls and the Moon
God. The temple was meant to display all aspects of
passion and erotic fantasy, which the Moon God is
often associated with (in Hindu mythology) that
rocks the world. Khajuraho was then the capital of
Chandravarman. The temples are believed to have
introduced an artistic revolution.
The erotic sculptures are believed to be inspired by
'Kamasutra', the book on art of sex. They are also
said to depict the lovemaking of Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvati, the divine couple that are known to
be the symbols of ultimate marital bliss in
Hinduism. The temples were lost into obscurity for
several years though the tribals of the region
worshipped the deities here but they were later
discovered by the rest of the world too and soon
evolved into the second hottest destination for
tourism after Taj Mahal. The temple complex houses a
number of medieval temples and can be divided into
three main groups - the Eastern, the Western and the
Southern. Originally, there were 85 temples but now
only 22 have survived the ordeals of time. The
sculptures are also related to other courtly arts
such as music and dance. UNESCO has declared the
site as a World Heritage in 1986.
Khajuraho's Prime
Attractions
Temples
of Khajuraho
Khajuraho temples took 200 years to complete, which
is not surprising when you look at its elaborate
carvings. All the temples are planned in a similar
pattern and use temple architectural style typical
to Central India. The balanced and harmonious
architecture is adorned with uninhibited graceful
erotic sculptures that may range from simpler ones
to the most inspired ones. The temples of the
Western group are the largest and easier to
access.
Eastern Group
Comprising of five isolated sub-groups of temples in
and around present Khajuraho, the Eastern group of
temples boast of three Brahmanical temples dedicated
to Brahma, Vamana and Javari respectively and three
Jain temples dedicated to Ghantai, Adinath and
Parsvanath.
Southern Group
Most distant group of temples, it boasts of temples
dedicated to Duladeo and Chaturbhuja.
Western Group
is the largest of all the temple groups of Khajuraho.
It is not compact and located in the center but also
include the most renowned and noteworthy monuments
built during the reign of the Chandela rulers. They
are also known to have been maintained well by the
Archaeological Survey of India and the lush green
lawns surrounding them with multihued shrums and
fragrant blossoms add to their beauty. The most
prominent temples of the group are the Lakshmana
Temple, the Matangesvara Temple and the Varaha
Temple that are a part of a single complex, the
Visvanatha and Nandi temples situated near the
above-mentioned complex and the Chitragupta,
Jagadambi and the Kandariya Mahadeo temples a little
to the west of the complex.
Panna
National Park
30-minute from Khajuraho, Panna National Park offers
a beautiful experience of wilderness that includes
deep gorges, tranquil valleys, dense teak forests
and a number of wild life species such as Cheetals,
Chowsinghas, Gharials, Indian Foxes, Leopards, Sloth
Bears, Wild Boars, Wolfs and Porcupines.
Khajuraho City Facts
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Location: |
Situated in Madhya Pradesh, India. |
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Climate: |
Khajuraho has extreme tropical climate with hot scorching summers and chilly cold winters. |
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How to Reach:
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By Air: |
There are daily domestic flights to and from Agra, and Kathmandu. |
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By Train: |
Jhansi is a big railway junction near Khajuraho. The other railway stations nearby that are well connected to other parts of India are Mahoba and Satna. |
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By Road: |
Good roads and frequent bus services connect Khajuraho to other major cities such as Agra, Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Jhansi, Mahoba, Panna and Satna. |
