Khajuraho is well known all over the world for its temple architecture and beautiful sculptures. Located 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 constructed between the 10th 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 beautifully 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 philosophy about Khajuraho that the temples were constructed 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 wonderful beauty of the temples fascinates people to it and makes it Madhya Pradesh's most well-known traveller town.
The temples of Khajuraho are the most noticeable places of traveller interest.
Chaunsat Yogini is the oldest of the surviving temples of Khajuraho. It is devoted to goddesses Kali and is the only temple that is made in granite.
The Kandariya Mahadeo is considered the most evolved example of central Indian temple architecture. It is devoted to Lord Shiva and is the main of Khajuraho's temples.
The Lakshmana Temple is one of the oldest of the western group of temples. Th emes recurring in the sculptures are battle, and women.
The temple of Vishvanath and Nandi celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The sculptures are ruled 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.
The temple of Parsvanath is the main of the Jain temples in Khajuraho. It was originally devoted to Adinath and later to Parsvanath. Shantinath is the newest 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 eldest temples in Khajuraho. It is constructed mostly of granite and sandstone and is devoted to Lord Vishnu.
The southern group only has two temples, the Duladeo which is innovative and built when the creativity of Khajuraho was deteriorating. The Chaturbhuja Temple has a 3.5-m-high statue of Vishnu.
Khajuraho also has a number of daytrip places that are worth visiting nearby.
Dhubela Museum is 60 km away and houses a wide variety of sculpture of the Shakti cult.
The historical city of Panna has one of the most well-known diamond mines of the world and is around 53 km from Khajuraho. The Panna National Park is an perfect place for wildlife watchers.
The Pandava Waterfall on the Ken River is supposed to be where the Pandavas spent a good part of their exile.
6Benisagar Lake is a traveller spot around 7 km away. The dam on Khudar River and is an perfect place for boating and angling.
Ranguan Lake is 23 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.
Road: It is within easy driving distance from Jhansi (175 kilometres) and Satna (119 kilometres)
Rail: The nearest railheads are Harpalpur (90 kilometer) and Mahoba (630 kilometer).
Air: It is connected by air to Delhi, Udaipur and Varanasi by a daily flight.
The climate of Khajuraho is of an extreme type. The summers are hot with climbing up to 45°C. Winters can be very cold with temperature reducing to 5°C. The monsoon starts from the month of July and lasts until September. The Khajuraho festival of dance is systematized in the months of February/March every year.
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