Khajuraho – The legendry city to experience magnificent sculpture of the Indian temples!

About Khajuraho:

Known for erotic sculpture, magnificent engravings, aesthetic architecture, the temples of Khujuraho are the must visit for every traveller to experience specimen of great Indian art. Khajuraho temples, located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of India. The Khajuraho Temples are majorly known for their erotic sculptures and carvings and revolve around the four principle of Hinduism: karma, dharma, kama, and moksha.

History:

Built by Chandela dynasty rulers around 9th and 10th century AD, the world class temples reflect the beauty of Indian art. These temples were built about 35 miles from the medieval city of Mahoba, the capital of the Chandela dynasty. After fall of Chandella dynasty (after AD 1150), Khajuraho Temples suffered massive destruction by Muslim invaders namely Muslim Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak & Ibn Battuta. These rulers have an intolerance for worship of other religions so all local citizens left the town and these temples remain in forest cover from about 13th century to 18th century. These temples were later rediscovered by T.S Burt in 1830.

Architecture of Khajuraho temple:

The complex is divided into three spheres: the Western, Eastern, and the Southern. The Western group consists of majority of  Hindu temples (Kandariya Mahadeo temple, Lakshmana temple, Chausat Yogini temple, Jagadambi temple, Vishwanath temple etc.), the Eastern comprises comprise of Jain temples (Ghantai temple, Parasvanath temple, Adinath temple, Brahma temple, Hanuman temple) while the Southern group has only a few temples (Beejamandal temple, Dulhadev temple,Jatkari and Chaturbhuj temple).  These sandstone temples follow a grid geometrical design called vastu-purusha-mandala. Mandala means circle, Purusha is universal essence at the core of Hindu tradition, while Vastu means the dwelling structure.

Visiting Hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Khajuraho Temple Online Ticket:

• Entry Fee (Indian & SAARC and BIMSTEC) - Rs.40
• Entry Fee (Foreigner) - Rs.600
• Entry Below (Children Below Age 15)

Museum Timings:

The museum is open from 8 am to 5 pm and remains closed on Fridays.

• Fee (Indian & SAARC and BIMSTEC) - Rs.10
• Fee (Foreigner) - Rs.250

The museum is located near the Matageshwar temple around the Western group of temples.

Light & Sound Show Timings:

• Summer timings: 7.30 pm to 8.25 pm (from Mar till Sep)
• Winter timings: 6.30 pm to 7.25 pm (from Oct till Feb)

How to Plan Khajuraho sightseeing:

• Western Group of Temples - Atleast Two Hours
• Eastern Group of Temples - Atleast an Hour
• Chaturbhuj Temples - Half an hour (During the sunset)
• Site Museum - Half an Hour

Best time to visit: 

October to March during winters.  If you are culturally inclined, must plan your trip to Khajuraho during the annual Khajuraho Dance festival in February.

Points of Interest: 

Apart from temples you can visit Panna National Park, Ajaigarh Fort, Reneh Falls, Beni Sagar Dam, Archaeological Museum

Shopping at Khajuraho:

You can buy statue pictures, metallic statues, wooden statues, handicraft items, ornaments, precious stones, printed ready-made garments, books describing Khajuraho history etc.

Nearby Destinations:

Jhansi, Orcha, Gwalior

Places to Stay in Khajuraho:

The Lalit Temple Khauraho, Usha Bundela, Clarks Khajuraho, Radisson Jass Khajuraho , Ramada Khuraho, Golden Tulip Khajuraho. 

How to Reach:

Khajuraho Civil Aerodrome  is 3-4 kms away from the city. It has connectivity form almost all domestic cities in the country. The nearest railway station is only 4-5 kilometers away from the city and connects only selected cities. Mahoba is the nearest major railhead which is 63 km away and provides accessibility for trains running to other parts of India.National Highway Number 75 provides better connectivity to Khajuraho from other cities through extensive road network. State owned buses, luxury coaches, private cabs, taxis and personal vehicles are easily available here.