Khajuraho
General Information about Khajuraho

Location
Khajuraho is located in Madhya Pradesh in central India.

Explore the sensuous sub-continent
Hundreds of miles from civilization, deep in the hinterlands of central India where the tiger still has its own domain and where the depths of the forests hold their own secrets are a small clearing. Here: a village, modest by any standards; a tank, ambitiously called a lake; groups of ancient temples, some in ruins. For most people, Khajuraho continues to remain an enigma, a quest in the arena of world art.

The modern village of Khajuraho is a cluster of hotels, restaurants, shops and stalls, near the western group of temples. The government of India tourist office is here. There are also offices at the airport and the bus stand which can be helpful with booking accommodations in the height of the season. The largest and most important temples are in the attractively landscaped western enclosure in this area. A km or so east of the bus stand is the old village of Khajuraho. Around it are the temples of the eastern group and to the south are two further groups of temples. During the tourist season, dance displays are staged at the modern purpose-built Chandella Cultural Center. Foreigners have to pay a rip-off US$ 5 for tickets. The tourist office is said to reviewing its discriminatory pricing policy.

The legacy of time
Ancient dynasties are often covered in a veil of mystery, largely because written records are rare and, as is often the case in India, myth and legend weave their way over time into the history of their origin and their reign. And when the dynasty leaves a legacy as contradictory as the Khajuraho temples, with their mix of the religious and the sensuous, the web is woven of brighter threads, the accompanying legends more colourful.

According to one theory, the erotic carvings on Khajuraho temple complex were created to prevent the rain God Indra from accidentally striking the holy place with lightning.

Architecture of the Temple Complex
In the temple architecture of India, the Khajuraho complex remains unique. One thousand years ago, under the generous and artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings of Central India, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly carved, came up on one site, near the village of Khajuraho. The amazingly short span of 100 years, from 950 AD - 1050 AD, saw the completion of all the temples, in an inspired burst of creativity. Today, of the original 85, only 22 have survived the ravages of time; these remain as a collective paean to life, to joy and to creativity; to the ultimate fusion of man with his creator. Stone figures of apsaras (celestial maidens) appear on each of the 22 temples.


Area: 21 kmē
Population: Approx. 47,492
Region: Asia-Pacific
Language: Hindi and English

Close On Heels

Shopping
There are shops located near the temples where you can purchase the local handicrafts and other souvenirs which at times make good gift items. There are a number of handicraft shops in the market opposite to the Western group of temples and the nearby Gole market. The hotels, Chandela, Jass Oberoi, Holiday Inn, Clarks Bundela and Ashok also have shopping arcades. Photo shops are also located here and cameras are available on hire.

Best Season
The place has a typical continental type of climate with summers being hot and winters cold. Best season to visit these temples is between the months of October and April.