The
Stones of Passion
Right through the Mughal invasion and the early British
forays into India, Khajuraho temples in India remained
unknown. Rediscovered in this century, they are fine
reminders of India's glorious past.
To some, Khajuraho Temples are the most graphic, erotic
and sensuous sculptures of India, the world has ever
known. But Khajuraho has not received the attention
it deserves for its significant contribution to the
religious art of India – there are literally hundreds
of exquisite images on the interior and exterior walls
of the shrines.
Architecturally these temples are unique. While each
temple in Khajuraho has a distinct plan and design,
several features are common to all. They are all built
on high platforms, several metres off the ground, either
in granite or a combination of light sandstone and granite.
Each of these temples has an entrance hall or mandapa,
and a sanctum sanctorum or garbha griha. The roofs of
these various sections have a distinct form. The porch
and hall have pyramidal roofs made of several horizontal
layers. The inner sanctum's roof is a conical tower
- a colossal pile of stone (often 30m high) made of
an arrangement of miniature towers called shikharas.
The famous Western group of temples are designated as
the World Heritage Site and is enclosed within a beautifully
laid out park. The Lakshmana and Vishwanath Temples
to the front and The Kandriya Mahadev, Jagadami and
Chitragupta Temples displays the best craftmanship of
Khajuraho
Quick bytes
| State :
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
| Location
: |
The City of Khajuraho is situated
in the forested plains of Madhya Pradesh in the
region known as Bundelkhand and at a reasonable
distance from most cities and town centers of
the state. |
| Watch
Out : |
Western Group of Temples Eastern
Group of Southern Group of Temples |
| Look Out
: |
Khajuraho Dance Festival Held
- 25 th Feb - 30 th Feb |
Major Groups of Khajuraho Temples
For the purpose of convenience, the village of Khajuraho
has been divided into three directional areas in which
are located the major groups of temples .
Western Group Temples
These groups of Khajuraho temples are entirely Hindu,
and constitute some of the finest examples of Chandela
art at its peak. The largest being the Kandhariya Mahadev,
followed by a granite temple - Chaunsath Yogini. The
Chitragupta Temple is dedicated to the Sun God, while
the Vishwanath Temple sports a three-headed image of
Brahma – the Creator of the Universe. The Lakshmana
Temple is superbly decorated, while the Devi Jagdambi
Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Other temples in
the Western Group include the Varaha Temple with a nine-feet
high boar-incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Matangeshwara
Temple with a eight-feet high lingam, and the Brahma
Temple.
Eastern Group Temples
This group of Khajuraho tempels comprises of two historic
Jain temples – the Adinath Temple lavishly embellished
with sculpted figures, and the Parsvanath Temple, the
largest Jain temple, sculpted with charming detail.
There are other shrines such as the Vamana Temple with
apsaras in sensuous poses, and the Javari Temple that
has a richly-carved doorway.
Southern Group
This group has two impressive Khajuraho temples, mainly
belonging to the 12th century – the Chaturbhuja Temple,
with a massive, carved image of Vishnu, and the Duladeo
Temple, one of the last temples of the Chandela era,
dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Symbolising a medieval legacy, the Khajuraho temples
of India are a perfect fusion of architectural and sculptural
excellence, representing one of the finest examples
of Indian art.
Souvenirs from Khajuraho
Being one of the most visited places in India, many
shops have developed which offers souvenirs at best
of prices. There are number of stalls in front of these
temples that presents array of articles which are worth
buying.
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Held every year from 25th February to 2nd March, Khajuraho
Dance festival provides an exclusive platform to showcase
the Indian classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam,
Kathak, Odisi, Kathakali etc. For over 25 years now,
the carved stones fills with life during the month of
Feb.
Getting to Khajuraho
Air : The airport is 5 kms from the
city centre and is well connected by domestic flights
to and from Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
Train : Mahoba, Satna and Jhansi are
the nearest railway stations. All of these are well
connected by most of the major cities of India.
Road : Khajuraho is connected by regular
bus services with Mahoba, Harpalpur, Satna, Jhansi,
Gwalior, Agra, Jabalpur and Bhopal. Khajuraho is 590
kms from Delhi via Gwalior and Jhansi.
|
