Location : Khajuraho(175 km from Jhansi), Madhya
Pradesh
About Khajuraho Temples
The
fascinating village of Khajuraho is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh
in Cnetral India. Khajuraho has been endowed with a very vibrant and rich
cultural legacy. The Khajuraho group of temples stand today to speak to the
world of the ancient architectural brilliance of India. These exquisite
group of temples magnetise tourists and visitors from every nook and corner
of the world. The temples have acquired a World Heritage status and
represent a civilisation which was fully considered and perfected. Regular
flights link Khajuraho to cities like Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
History
The history of the Khajuraho Temples date back between 950 and 1050 AD. The
temples were erected during the rulership of the Chandela dynasty. The word
'Khajuraho' comes from a Hindi word 'Khajur' meaning date palm trees. And
the trees can well be fund in abundance in the area. Of a total of 85
temples, only 22 have escaped the ravages of time. These 22 temples exist to
tell a glorious story that is still untold. It took ages for the temples to
traverse their journey from anonymity to fame. It was only in this century
that the temple were rediscovered and recognised.
Architecture
The Khajuraho group of temples symbolise the architectural genius of the
Medieval Period in India. The murals and sculptures depict numerous scenes
concerning the life and time of the Chandelas. The murals exist in
celebration of the erotic state of being. The temples are testimony to the
mastery of the ancient craftsmen and artisans. Each of the structures stand
on a high platform. There are three main compartments namely the
Ardhamandapa( the entrance), the Mandapa(the assembly hall) and the Grabha
Griha( the actual sanctum). the whole group of temples fall into three
geographical divisions namely the western group, the eastern group and the
southern group of temples. The openings have lavishly carved archways. The
ceilings bear intricate carvings. The carvings create an aura of sensuous
eroticism that prevails throughout all of the sculptures. Needless to say,
apart from being sensuous and erotic, the sculptures represent an
accomplished level of detail.
The most compact and elaborate is the western group of temples. The group
is the largest and consists of the most typical Khajuraho temples. The
Kandariya Mahadeo, the Chaunsat Yogini, the Chitragupta Temple, the
Vishwanath Temple and the Matangeshwara Temple fall into the western group.
The eastern group comprises of temples like Parsavanatha, the Ghantai
Temple, the Adinatha Temple, the Brahma Temple, the Vamana Temple and the
Javari Temple. The Duladeo and the Chaturbhuj temples are in the southern
group.
» Mahashivaratri - The Mahashivratri festival is
celebrated in the months of February/March. Several thousands of
devotees arrive to take part in the celebrations and to pay their homage
to their deities. 
North
India States
