¤ The Stones of Passion
Right through the Mughal invasion and the early British forays into India, Khajuraho temples in India remained unknown. Rediscovered in this century, they are fine reminders of India's glorious past.
To some, Khajuraho Temples are the most graphic, erotic and sensuous sculptures of India, the world has ever known. But Khajuraho has not received the attention it deserves for its significant contribution to the religious art of India – there are literally hundreds of exquisite images on the interior and exterior walls of the shrines.
Architecturally these temples are unique. While each temple in Khajuraho has a distinct plan and design, several features are common to all. They are all built on high platforms, several metres off the ground, either in granite or a combination of light sandstone and granite. Each of these temples has an entrance hall or mandapa, and a sanctum sanctorum or garbha griha. The roofs of these various sections have a distinct form. The porch and hall have pyramidal roofs made of several horizontal layers. The inner sanctum's roof is a conical tower - a colossal pile of stone (often 30m high) made of an arrangement of miniature towers called shikharas.
The famous Western group of temples are designated as the World Heritage Site and is enclosed within a beautifully laid out park. The Lakshmana and Vishwanath Temples to the front and The Kandriya Mahadev, Jagadami and Chitragupta Temples displays the best craftmanship of Khajuraho
| State : | Madhya Pradesh |
| Location : | The City of Khajuraho is situated in the forested plains of Madhya Pradesh in the region known as Bundelkhand and at a reasonable distance from most cities and town centers of the state |
| Watch Out : | Western Group of Temples Eastern Gropu of Southern Group of Temples |
| Look Out : | Khajuraho Dance Festival Held - 25 th Feb - 30 th Feb |
| World Heritage Site : | Western Group of Temples |
For the purpose of convenience, the village of Khajuraho has been divided into three directional areas in which are located the major groups of temples .
Western Group Temples
These groups of Khajuraho temples are entirely Hindu, and constitute some of the finest examples of Chandela art at its peak. The largest being the Kandhariya Mahadev, followed by a granite temple - Chaunsath Yogini. The Chitragupta Temple is dedicated to the Sun God, while the Vishwanath Temple sports a three-headed image of Brahma – the Creator of the Universe. The Lakshmana Temple is superbly decorated, while the Devi Jagdambi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Other temples in the Western Group include the Varaha Temple with a nine-feet high boar-incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Matangeshwara Temple with a eight-feet high lingam, and the Brahma Temple.
Eastern Group Temples
This group of Khajuraho tempels comprises of two historic Jain temples – the Adinath Temple lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, and the Parsvanath Temple, the largest Jain temple, sculpted with charming detail. There are other shrines such as the Vamana Temple with apsaras in sensuous poses, and the Javari Temple that has a richly-carved doorway.
¤ Southern Group
This group has two impressive Khajuraho temples, mainly belonging to the 12th century – the Chaturbhuja Temple, with a massive, carved image of Vishnu, and the Duledeo Temples, one of the last temples of the Chandela era, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Symbolising a medieval legacy, the Khajuraho temples of India are a perfect fusion of architectural and sculptural excellence, representing one of the finest examples of Indian art.
¤ Souvenirs from Khajuraho
Being one of the most visited places in India, many shops have developed which offers souvenirs at best of prices. There are number of stalls in front of these temples that presents array of articles which are worth buying.
¤ Khajuraho Dance Festival
Held every year from 25th February to 2nd March, Khajuraho Dance festival provides an exclusive platform to showcase the Indian classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odisi, Kathakali etc. For over 25 years now, the carved stones fills with life during the month of Feb.
¤ Getting to Khajuraho
Train : Mahoba, Satna and Jhansi are the nearest railway stations. All of these are well connected by most of the major cities of India.
Road : Khajuraho is connected by regular bus services with Mahoba, Harpalpur, Satna, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Jabalpur and Bhopal. Khajuraho is 590 kms from Delhi via Gwalior and Jhansi.
¤ Accommodation
Whether there are any good hotels in Khajuraho or not? Probably you don't have to worry much as there are number of hotels in Khajuraho. Ranging from budget to deluxe, hotels in Khajuraho offer good accommodation at your price.
Chaturbhuja Temple, Architectural Khajuraho Temple
¤ Location
Built in 1100 A.D. it is one of the well known architectural temples of Khajuraho, located about 3km from the village, near the Eastern Group of temples i.e. Lakshmana, Kandhariya Mahadeva. This temple faces the West, standing on a platform, which is approached by a flight of ten steps. The floor of the platform is paved with white sandstone. The architectural and sculptural traditions of this temple are quite similar to the Javari temple. The temple on plan consists of a shikhara, a square sanctum, an antarala, the mahamandapa and an ardhmandapa which are interconnected and located on the same axis.
¤ Main Attractions
The highlight of this temple is a massive 9ft high, intricately carved image of Lord Vishnu, in Chaturbhuja (four-armed) form. Here he gesticulates possibly varada (boon-giving) with his now broken lower right hand, and abhaya with his upper right hand, holds a manuscript along with a lotus stalk in his upper left hand, and possibly a water pot or conch shell in his lower left hand.
The Chaturbhuja Temple is the only temple in Khajuraho which lacks erotic sculptures, with the bands on the walls of the temple set with architectural images of dikhpalas, ashtavasus, nymphs and the recesses of mythical lions.Though this temple belonging to the Southern Group, is impressive and has been preserved in major portions, still signs of decline are evident.
Devi Jagdambi Temple Tour in Khajuraho
The Devi Jagdambi Temple stands on the same platform as the Kandariya Mahadev Temple.
It is a smaller and much more delicately proportioned temple and is decorated with some of the finest sculptures at Khajuraho.
Take a tour,The garbha griha now houses a huge image of the goddess (Devi) of the Universe (Jagdambi), though it most probably started out as a Vishnu temple. It has the usual three bands of sculptures around it, but the third and most uppermost of these showcase some of the most erotic sculptures in Khajuraho.
Kandariya Mahadev Historical Temple in Khajuraho
Travel to westwards from the Lakshmana Temple, along the garden path one comes to the largest and most handsome monument at Khajuraho, the Historical Kandariya Mahadev Temple.Built in around 1025–1050 AD, this historical sandstone structure (like all the other temples built entirely without the use of cement and mortar) stands almost 30m above ground level and is as long as it is tall.
The temple is dedicated to Shiva (the destroyer of the Hindu Trinity of Gods), with a linga (phallic representation of Lord Shiva) at the centre of the garbha griha (the womb or innermost chamber of the temple).
¤ The Historical Temple Sculptures
The temple stairs lead to a platform decorated with rich sculpted figures of women in a variety of poses. There are women playing with a ball, some engaged in writing a letter, others applying make-up and absorbed in a multitude of other activities. On the southern and northern sides, between the balconies are the large-scale erotic panels. In fact the mithuna (sensuously carved erotic figures) on the Kandariya Mahadev include some of the most energetic eroticism to be seen at Khajuraho.
Below the bands of the main body of the temple are smaller, narrower friezes depicting court life, the army, and processions of elephants and horses. This Khajuraho temple is can be approached by the eastern stairway that has the most fantastically ornate toran (frieze) of the entire group of temples. The floral toran is carved out of a single block of stone.
Lakshmana Temple in Khajuraho
¤ Well-Preserved Stone Temple of Khajuraho
To the left of the entrance a path takes you up to the famous Lakshmana Temple, a grand edifice that stands on a high platform. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu – the preserver of the Hindu Trinity of Gods. If you are one of those who realise after coming all the way here that you won’t be able to walk so much, take heart – this temple alone will make your trip.
Dating from 930-950 AD it is one of earliest Khajuraho stone temples going in Khajuraho. Considering its age, the Lakshmana Temple is remarkably well-preserved; in fact it is one of the best preserved temples of the whole lot.
According to the inscription on the Lakshmana Khajuraho Stone Temple, it was built by a certain King Yasovarman to install a Vaikuntha-Vishnu image (which can still be seen here) gifted to him by his Pratihara overlord, Devapala. The image was brought originally from Tibet (or Bhosa as it was known then), where the cult of worshipping Vishnu in his Vaikuntha (the multi-headed Vishnu) avatar was popular.
¤ The Exclusive Carving of Khajuraho Stone Temple
The outer wall of the Lakshmana stone Temple in Khajuraho is exquisitely carved – indeed every inch of space bears the mark of the sculptor’s artistic flight of fantasy. In front of it are two open pavilions or mandapas.The one furthest to the south is the Varaha mandapa with a huge image of the standing Varaha (the boar incarnation of Vishnu), the preserver who rescued the earth from primeval floods (the ones that Noah sailed too, one presumes).
The entire body of the divine creature is carved in low relief along with the figures of more than 600 gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Besides the Varaha mandapa is a reconstructed Devi mandapa which once contained an image.
¤ The Sculptures
The platform that the temple stands on has a charming sculptural frieze of elephants and horsemen in procession. On the southern side are a few of the more explicitly erotic panels. Climbing the stairs one reaches the broad platform of the temple meant for the ritual pradakshina or circumambulation.
It is noteworthy in having a boundary railing and a subsidiary shrine in each corner. The most delectable part of the Khajuraho stone temple scheme is the bands of sculptural decoration with exquisite figures of apsaras (celestial courtesans/nymphs), the guardians of the directions and other divine creatures. Erotic panels take a central position on the two balconies of the stone temple. On the western side are a few outstanding sculptures and the voluptuous, curvaceous forms of nude women with ornate jewellery.
The Khajuraho stone temple faces east and a steep flight of stairs leads up to the inner sanctum placed high above ground level. There is an entrance porch, a hall of pillars and interesting sculptural motifs on the sidewall. The inner ritual passage winds around the sanctum and is dressed with bands of sculpture in imitation of the temple’s external wall. The deity’s alcove is raised above floor level and contains within its dark interiors a large image of the Vaikuntha Vishnu, bearing three heads representing his various incarnations.
Parshvanatha Jain Temple in Khajuraho
The temples of this Eastern group are enclosed within a high compound wall, although some of them are also scattered around the old village of Khajuraho. Several of the Jain temples are still in worship and contain sculptures and carved doorways from older ruined temples of the area.
¤ Largest of The Jain Temples
Within the protected zone is the Parshvanatha temple, a medium-sized building compared to the western group. It is the largest of the Jain temples and has an image of Parshvanatha, a Jain Tirthankara in the sanctum.
The Jain temple has been heavily renovated in this century. Some of the best known non-erotic sculptures of Khajuraho are found here, particularly the lovely sura-sundaris (celestial beauties) – one applying make-up and another removing a thorn from her feet on the southern façade and yet another tying on ankle-bells on the northern facade.
5 star hotels
Jass Trident
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3 star hotel
Hotel Khajuraho Ashok
Usha Bundela
Kairali Ayurvedic Health Spa
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