 Location
Situated in the forested plains of Bundelkhand of Madhya Pradesh, this place is at a substantial distance from the other cities of Madhya pradesh.
Famous for :
Best known for Art Sculptures, Carved Temples and Dance Festival.
Climate & the best time to visit
The climate of this region is tropical. The summers are hot with the mercury climbing up to 47°C. On the other hand, winters can be very cold with temperature dipping down to 4°C. July marks the beginning of monsoon whereas September witnesses its end. The best time to travel to Khajuraho is from October to March.
The City
Khajuraho : the temple city of central India, is famous throughout the world for its elegantly carved temples in stones. Thousands of years ago, Khajuraho was a great city ruled by the Chandelas – the Rajput rulers with a control over whole Central India. Khajuraho is 595 km (370 miles) southeast of Delhi. There is a belief behind the formation of this city – in the madness of lust, the God of moon destroyed the chastity of Hemvati, a beautiful Brahmin girl. This resulted in the birth of Chandravarman who later founded the Chandela dynasty. People also consider the erotic art pieces to be illustration of Kamasutra, the relationships connecting Shiva and Parvati who are considered as the divine couple.
This temple is perhaps the largest group of medieval temples. The sculptures here also portray cultured courtly activities like dance and music.
Attractions in the city
Western Group : Most of the temples of the Western group are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Situated at the center of the massive temple, are several large and small shrines. The most important temples are the Lakshmana Temple, the Matangesvara Temple, the Varaha Temple, the Visvanatha, Nandi temples, the Chitragupta, Jagadambi temple and the Kandariya Mahadeo temple. Other temples in the Western Group include the Varaha Temple with a 9 feet high of Lord Vishnu, the Matangeshwara Temple with a 8 feet high lingam, and the Brahma Temple.
Eastern Group : In the east are Hindu and Jain temples lying near the Khajuraho village. These are Parasvnath temple, the Adinath temple and the Ghantai temple. The 3 Hindu temples are the Brahma with the four-faced lingam, the Vamana with carving of apsaras in erotic moods on the walls; and the Javari, famous for its carvings.
Southern Group : The Southern group of Khajuraho temples consists of only - the Dhuladeo temple (devoted to lord Shiva), and the Chaturbhuj temple (devoted to lord Vishnu). This group is situated 5 km away from the main Khajuraho village.
Other places of interest
Panna National Park : Panna National Park is 57 km from Khajuraho. The region is famous for its diamond industry; it is also home to some of the best wildlife species in India and is one of the most famous Tiger Reserves in the country. It is famous for its tigers as well as deer and antelopes, all around the world.
Rajgarh Palace : Located 25 km from Khajuraho and near the Peetambra-Peeth is the 150-year-old Rajgarh Palace. The palace positioned right at the base of Maniyagarh hills and is now a heritage hotel.
Pandava Waterfall : The Pandava Waterfalls named after the Pandavas brothers who are said to have resided here during their expel, is a pleasing picnic spot that is located 30 km from Khajuraho on the Panna road.
Benisagar and Ranguan Lake : Located 11 km from Khajuraho, Benisagar along with Lake Ranguan (25kms from Khajuraho) is a best place for boating and viewpoint.
How to reach
By Air : Khajuraho has an airport of its own, with flights connecting the place from almost every part of India.
By Rail : The nearest rail junctions are Harpalpur (94 km) and Mahoba (63 km). This mentioned junction is convenient for the people coming from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, Jhansi.
By Road : Direct bus services connect Khajuraho with almost every part of state.
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