Khajuraho, famed all across the globe for its temples, sex and
erotic sculptures is a village located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The
village of Khajuraho has its own rural charm and boasts of a rich cultural
heritage. The temples of Khajuraho offer a unique gift of love to the whole
world. The tourism industry of India cashes heavy amount every year because
of the titillating sculptures inside the temple complexes. Among the tourist
destination Khajuraho temples fall second to Taj Mahal of Agra.
The temples of Khajuraho are much different from other temples of India.
The temples here are not about worshiping or about deities and goddesses
rather they focus heavily on eroticism that can be witnessed in the form of
sculptures etched on the temple walls. The temples were constructed during
the times of the Chandela dynasty. Earlier there were 85 temples out of
which only 20 are remaining which have withstood a great climatic
disturbances. The temples follow the north Indian Nagara Style of
architecture. The temple town of Khajuraho also has been designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sightseeing
The
temples of Khajuraho are the pride possessors of great sculptures whose
cloning is almost impossible. The entire temple complex of Khajuraho can be
divided in to three groups:
The Western Group - Most of the temples of the
Western Group are large and richly adorned very well showcasing the wealth
of the ruler of that era.Most of the temples here are dedicated to Vishnu or
Shiva.
Kandariya Mahadeo - This temple is 31 m in height and is said to be
largest of all other temples here. The temple is adorned with intricate and
exquisite carvings. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Chaunsath Yogini - This temple is very old belonging to 900 AD and
is dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is the only temple of its type solely made
of granite.
Chitragupta Temple - This temple is the chief centre of the
Khajuraho Dance Festival where most of the performers perform. This temple
is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev).
Vishwanatha Temple - The three-headed image of Lord Brahma here is
worth seeing in the Vishwanatha Temple.
Lakshmana Temple - A pretty Vaishnava temple flaunts a lintel over
its entrance depicting the divine trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and
Lord Shiva along with Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu.
Southern Group Of Temples
Duladeo Temple - On the walls of this temple you can find the
flaunting images of the celestial maidens or the apsaras.
Chaturbhuja Temple - An intricately designed carved image of Lord
Vishnu can be found in this temple.
Eastern Group Of Temples
A number of temples fall under the Eastern Group. They are:
Ghantai Temple - The Ghantai Jain Temple is famous for its
ornamental depiction of 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother and a Jain goddess on
a winged Garuda.
Vamana Temple - This temple is shows the celestial maidens or the
apsaras in a variety of sensuous moods.
Javari Temple - This temple is famous for its richly carved gateway
and exterior sculptors.
Brahma Temple - The temple contains the four-faced image of Brahma.
The temple is constructed in Granite and the shikhar is of sandstone.
Hanuman Temple - This is another remarkable specimen of Khajuraho
temple architecture containing the colossal statue of Hanuman, about 8 ft in
height.
Adinath Temple - The Adinath temple is dedicated to the Jain
Tirthankara Adinath. The lavish embellishment with sculpted figures,
including that of Yakshis is quite remarkable.
Shopper's Paradise
A discerning shopper can find peace, buying variety of handicrafts that
village of Khajuraho provides. Textile weaving is a major craft here. One
can find miniature stone carved replicas of erotic sculptures in the bazaars
of Khajuraho. The major shopping spots are:
- Gole Market
- Oswal complex
- Government Emporia
- Numerous other private outlets
A weekly bazaar is held at Rajinagar on Tuesdays, 5 km from Khajuraho.
How To Reach
Air - There are domestic flights to and fro from
Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
Train - Khajuraho is well connected to other major
cities of India through rail network. The nearest railway stations to
Khajuraho are Mahoba, Satna and Jhansi.
Road - Khajuraho operates frequent bus services.
There are also good network of roads that runs to and fro from the major
cities of India like: Panna, Mahoba, Satna, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Gwalior,
Indore, Agra and Jhansi.
