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Khajuraho
| India City: Khajuraho |
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Population : 7200
Languages : p; : Hindi.
Telephone area code : 07686
Best time to visit : October to March
Once a great Chandela capital, Khajuraho is now just a quiet village of over 7000 people. The famous temples of Khajuraho are a major tourist magnet, because they include most sublime , sensuous and erotic temple sculpture in India.
Over 80 temples, of which 22 survive, were built by the mighty Chandela dynasty. The temples are a superb example of Indo Aryan architecture. The bulk of the temples appeared in a single, sudden outburst of creating and religious energy, between the mid 10th and mid 11th centuries. The much reduced Chandela kingdom lasted almost 500 years; their capital at Kalinjar having fallen in 1203 they remained at Ajaygarh until the early 18th century.
Large number of people come to Khajuraho in March for the dance festival which lasts 10 days and draws some of the best dances in the country who perform by the western encloseure, with the floodlit temples providing a spectacular backdrop.
Western group of temples
They are all contained in one compact area and there are three main temples which follow a five part pattern.
Inside the gateway, is the first of a group of four temples is the largest one, the Lakshmana (930-950 A.D.), which is the only temple in Khajuraho to have remained intact.The decorative sculpture includes figures of apsaras (nymphs), erotic scenes and a frieze running right round the base which includes some of the more explicit erotica. The Devi & Varah temples are two small shrines opposite the Lakshmana. Outside the enclosure is , the fourth of the group and is still used for worship.
At the back of the western enclosure, is the biggest and the best of all Khajuraho temples, Kandariya Mahadev (1025-1050 A.D). The main spire soars to a height of 31m (108 ft) and every inch of the surface is covered with intricate carving. There are 872 status between 60 and 75 cm high and very few can be termed erotic. Two other temples share the same extended platform the small Mahadeva and the Devi Jagadamba with some of the finest sculptures.
Chitragupta temple at the north east corner of the enclosure, dedicated to Surya, the sun god. Despite poor condition, some fine processional, dancing and hunting sculpture relief remains. So does an 11 headed statue of Vishnu and a lintal relief of Surya being pulled along in his chariot by seven spirited steeds.
The last of the temples in this group, are the Parvati and Vishwanath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva with its large Nandi bull. Steps are flanked with elephants and lions, sculptures are dedicated exclusively to women, engaged in all types of daily activity.
Eastern group of temples
This group divided into two : Three Hindus temples and three Jain shrines within a walled enclosure.
The Jain shrines : Parsvanatha is unlike any other temple surviving in Khajuraho. The other two Jain temples are the Adinatha and the which is modern but houses fine collection of older sculptures.
The Hindu temples : Javari temple (1075-1100) is a small temple, dedicated to Vishnu, the , is dedicated to Vishnu's incarnation as a dwarf and the exterior is adorned with profusion of celestial maidens and the Brahma temple, which contains a four faced shivlinga.
Panna national park
32 km from Khajuraho is a large area of unspoilt forest which has a wide variety of wildlife.. The numerous waterfalls are famous in this area.
How To Reach
By Air
Daily flights from Delhi , Agra & Varanasi.
By Train
Nearest railhead is Jhansi (178 kms).
By Road
178 kms from Jhansi .
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