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Khajuraho Tourist Guide
Khajuraho, the temple city of central India, is famous throughout the world
for its exquisitely carved temples in stones. Thousands of visitors and
tourists from all over the world flock together to envisage this immortal
saga of Hindu art and culture engraved in stone by shilpies (stone craftsmen)
a millenia ago.
Today, apart from the temples, Khajuraho is a small village but a thousand
years ago it was a large city of the Chandelas, medieval Rajput kings who
ruled over Central India. Khajuraho is 595 km (370 miles) south-east of
Delhi and can be visited by air, rail or road. An overnight train journey
from Delhi takes the visitor to Jhansi, from where another morning train
takes him to Harpalpur 85 km (53 miles) to the east.
According to the account of the medieval court poet, Chandbardai, in the
Mahoba-khand of his Prithviraj Raso, Hemvati was the beautiful daughter
of Hemraj, the royal priest of Kashi (Varanasi).
One summer night, while she was bathing in the sparkling waters of a lotus-filled
pond, the Moon god was so awestruck by her beauty that he descended to earth
in human form and ravished her.
The distressed Hemvati, who was unfortunately a child widow, threatened
to curse the god for ruining her life and reputation. To make amends for
his folly the Moon god promised that she would become the mother of a valiant
son.
'Take him to Khajjurpura', he is believed to have said. 'He will be a great
king and build numerous temples surrounded by lakes and gardens. He will
also perform a yagya (religious ceremony) through which your sin will be
washed away.' Following his instructions, Hemvati left her home to give
birth to her son in a tiny village.
The child, Chandravarman, was as lustrous as his father, brave and strong.
By the time he was 16 years old he could kill tigers or lions with his bare
hands. Delighted by his feats, Hemvati invoked the Moon god, who presented
their son with a touchstone which could turn iron into gold, and installed
him as king at Khajuraho.
Tourist Places in Khajuraho
Eastern Group of Temples
Adinath Temple: Dedicated to the Jain saint, Adinath, the temple is lavishly
embellished with sculpted figures, including yakshis. The three Hindu temples
of the group are the Brahma, containing a four faced lingam, the Vamana,
which is adorned on its outer walls with carving of apsaras in a variety
of sensuous attitudes; and the javari, with a richly-carved gateway and
exterior sculptures.
Western Group of Temples
The Western group is certainly the best known, because it is to this group
that the largest and most typical Khajuraho temple belongs: The Kandariya
Mahadev.
Southern Group of Temples
Dulah Deo Temple: This finest temple at Khajuraho also called Kunwar Math
offers some of the choicest sculptures especially the Shalbhanjika. It is
a fully developed temple measuring 21 m by 12 m (69 ft. by 40 ft.) with
the ardhamanadap, the mandapa, the maha mandapa, the antarala and the garbha
griha with no circumambulatory passage.
Excursions of Khajuraho
Panna National Park 
Complementing the man made perfection of the Khajuraho temples, is the dramatic
scenic splendour of Panna National Park, 32 km away.
Raneh Falls
Raneh Falls ( 19 kms ) on the ken river are famous fror their rock formations.
The main attraction is a 5 - km - long, 100 - foot - deep canyon made of
pure crystalline granite in varying sahdes of colors ranging pink and red
to grey. A series of seasonal waterfalls surrounded by jungles make it an
ideal picnic spot.
Ken Nature Trail
Ken Nature Trail ( 22 km ), within a walking distance from Raneh falls,
is a jungle track exhibiting natural beauty and imparts a knowledge of the
surroundings.
How to Reach Khajuraho
By Air 
Khajuraho Air service is driect link with Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
By Rail
The nearest railheads are Mahoba and Harpalpur. Jhansi is a convenient railhead
for those travelling from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai and Varanasi the railhead
is Satna, on the Mumbai-Allahabad section of the Central Railway is ideal.
Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Agra by train to the railheads.
By Road
Khajuraho is connected by regular and direct bus services with Chhatarpur,
Mahoba, Harpalpur, Satna, panna, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Sagar, Jabalpur,
indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Allahabad.
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