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The temples of Khajuraho
The fascinating temples of Khajuraho, India's unique gift of love to the world,
are the state of Madhya Pradesh, were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. Khajuraho derives its name from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which can be found in abundance in the
area. The divine sculptures in these temples, are a tribute to Life itself, embodying everything that is sublime and spontaneous about it. The murals depict the life and times of the Chandelas, and celebrate the erotic state of being. They not only testify to the mastery of the craftsman, but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs under whose reign, these temples were constructed. With the wane of the Chandela empire, these magnificent temples lay neglected, and vulnerable to the ravages of Nature. It was only in this century, that they were rediscovered, restored and granted the recognition that they justly deserve. Originally there were 85 temples, of which only 22 still exist. Their style of architecture was also rather peculiar to their times. Each structure stands on a high masonry platform with a distinct upward direction to their build, further enhanced by several vertical projections to simulate the effect of an overall lightness. The three main compartments are the entrance (ardhamandapa), assembly hall (mandapa), and the actual sanctum (garbha griha). The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern. What To See The temples are divided into three geographical groups: Western, eastern and southern. The western group are the most famous and the most typical of the Khajuraho temples.  Kandariya Mahadeo
is the largest, and most typical Khajuraho temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars 31 m high. The sanctum enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine is ornately carved and depicts various gods, goddesses, apsaras
(celestial maidens) in elaborate detail. The entrance arch, the massive pillars and ceilings are adorned with exquisite carvings, that leave the visitor spellbound.
The oldest surviving shrine is the Chaunsat Yogini. One of the three granite temples, this one is dedicated to
Goddess Kali but the image has not survived. The Chitragupta Temple is dedicated to Sun God. The imposing five feet idol is driven by a seven-horsed chariot. The Vishwanath temple has an impressive three-headed image of Lord Brahma. The exteriors are profously carved and facing the shrine is a Nandi temple with a massive 6 ft high Nandi Bull. There are few Vaishnavite temples like those of Lakshmana and Varaha temples. Eastern group consists of Jain and Hindu temples mainly.
The sculptures on the northern outer wall makes Parsavanath temple finest in the group. The largest in the group of three Jain temples, the Parsavanath image in this temple, was installed in 1860.
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 The sculptures on the northern wall depict everyday activity, in awesome detail. Within the temple, a throne faces the bull emblem of first
tirthankara, Adinath.
The other Jain temples are
Ghantai, Adinath temple. This group also has three hindu temple- Brahma, Vamana and Javari temples. Southern group of temples are five kms from the Khajoraho village. Chaturbhuj temple has a massive, intricately carved image of Vishnu. Duladeo temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
 Around Khajuraho
Eleven kilometres from Khajuraho is
the Benisagar Lake, ideal for boating and angling. Pandav Waterfall on river
Ken has is believed to be a spot where the Pandavas of the Mahabharata are believed to have spent a part of their exile.
Other attractions include Ranch Waterfalls,
famous for the rock formations; Rajgarh Palace, at the foot of the Manjyagarh
hills; Panna, a historic town and capital of the Bundela kingdom;
Dhubela Museum, located in an old fort, on the Jhansi - Khajuraho road. It houses the personal effects of Chhatrasal and other Bundela rulers.
Ajaygarh Fort and Kalinjar Fort, two
of the forts belonging to the region's erstwhile rulers are also
located close by, as is Panna, India's only diamond mine.
Also in the vicinity are the Panna National Park
and Bandhavgarh National Park.
The former is spread over 546 sq. km along the east bank of the river Ken. Dense forest cover, rocky gorges and waterfalls make for ideal wildlife watching.
Festivals
Khajuraho Dance Festival -To mark the true spirit of Khajuraho, a dance festival is held here in March, every year, wherein, ace artistes of various dance forms participate.
Mahashivaratri (Feb/Mar) - The Bundelkhand region is a strong hold of Shaivites, so Shivaratri is held with pomp and gaiety in the area. Devotees travel hundreds of miles to worship at the Matangeshwar temple. A ten-day bazaar is held which attracts pedlars and gypsies from other parts of state.
How to Get There
By air: A daily Boeing 737 service links Khajuraho with Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, and
Kathmandu.
By rail: The nearest railheads are Jhansi (172 km), Satna (117 km) which are linked to Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. From Jhansi and Satna one can take buses or taxis to
Khajuraho.
By road: Khajuraho is connected by regular buses with Satna, Harpalpur, Jhansi and Mahoba.
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