Khajuraho

Facts and Figures
» Location from Major Metros : Delhi ( 596 km ), Mumbai ( ), Chennai ( ), Kolkata ( ) .

» Known for : Art Sculptures, Carved Temples and Dance Festival.

» Climate & the best time to visit : The climate of Khajuraho is extreme. The summers are hot with temperature shooting up to 47°C. On the other hand, winters can be very cold with temperature dropping down to 4°C. The monsoon starts from the month of July and lasts until September and the annual average rainfall is 114 cm. Best time to visit Khajuraho is between the months of October and March.


The city
Khajuraho is situated in the heart of northern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. It is well-known for beautiful temples, exquisitely carved in stones. These temples were built during the reign of the Chandela dynasty, around thousand years ago. These temples are example of outstanding sculptural art and architecture. The city is known to the world for its erotic sculptures. The temples of Khajuraho are dedicated to Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Jagadamba and Vishnu. Out of the 85 temples that were originally builts only 20 have survived and are taken care of as these temples were declared a world heritage site. Khajuraho has always been famous for its temples and has been most visited city in India after Taj Mahal in Agra. Signifying a medieval legacy, the Khajuraho temples are a perfect fusion of architectural and sculptural excellence, representing one of the finest examples of Indian art.

Khajuraho is also famous for its legendary Khajuraho dance festival. Nearby Khajuraho is a small village with a population of 3,000. Khajuraho is visited every year by tourists from all over the world.

Attractions in the city
» Western Group : These Hindu groups of temples, constitute some of the finest examples of Chandela art at its peak. The largest temple is 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 : The eastern group consists of two historic Jain temples - the Adinath Temple lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, and the Parsvanath Temple, the largest Jain temple, sculpted with exquisite detail. There are other shrines such as the Vamana Temple with apsaras in sensuous poses, and the Javari Temple that has a beautifully carved doorway.

» Southern Group : The southern group has two impressive temples, mainly belonging to the 12th century - the Chaturbhuja Temple, with a massive, carved image of Vishnu, and the Duladeo Temple, one of the last temples of the Chandela era, dedicated to Lord Shiva.


Other places of interest
» Panna National Park : Panna National Park is situated a mere 30-minute drive away from Khajuraho. Visit to this park can be memorable with deep gorges, tranquil valley and dense teak forests combined with the rich flora and fauna. The jungle today is a home to the variety of species of wildlife such as the Leopard, Wolf and Gharial. The Wild Boar, the Sloth Bear, the Cheetal, the Chowsingha, the Indian Fox, the Porcupine, and a host of lesser fauna are also seen. The park is closed from June to October because of the extremely harsh summers.

» Pandava Waterfall : Pandava waterfalls is situated on the Ken River, around 30 km from Khajuraho. It is believed that the Pandavas spent a good part of their exile here. Another waterfall, the Ranch, is situated at a distance of 25 km from the Pandava Waterfall.

» Rajgarh Palace : At the foot of Maniyagarh hills is Rajgarh Palace. This palace is around 50 years old and 25 km away from Khajuraho.

» Benisagar and Ranguan Lake : Both are ideal picnic spots suitable for boating. They are 11 kms. and 25 kms. from Khajuraho respectively.


How to reach
» Air : There is a daily return flight of Indian Airlines, on the route Delhi - Agra - Khajuraho -Varanasi. Jet Airways also operates flight from Delhi to Khajuraho.

» Rail : The nearest railway stations are Harpalpur (94 km) and Mahoba (63 km). Jhansi (172 km) is a convenient rail head for those traveling from Delhi and Madras and Satna (117 km), on the Mumbai-Allahabad line of the Central Railway for those coming from Mumbai, Calcutta and Varanasi.

» Road : Khajuraho is connected with Panna, Satna, Chattarpur, Jabalpur, Mahoba, Bhopal, Gwalior, and Indore by road. Direct bus services connect Khajuraho with major cities of Madhya Pradesh. For local transport, cycle rickshaws, tongas, and taxis are available