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| Khajuraho
: According to one theory, the erotic
carvings on the Khajuraho temple complex in central
India were created to prevent the rain god Indra
from accidentally striking the holy place with
lightning. Indra was a keen voyeur and would have
baulked at damaging such a source of pleasure.
These days the rain god isn't the only one to
enjoy a peek at what goes on behind closed doors;
hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Khajuraho
each year to see the exquisite adults-only carvings
adorning the village's temples. |
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| Stone
figures of apsaras (celestial maidens) appear on each
of the 22 temples, pouting and posing like modern supermodels
on a photo-shoot. In between are mithuna, erotic figures,
running through a whole Kamasutra of positions and possibilities:
the depictions of sexual gymnastics range from tame
missionary-style couplings to magnificent orgies involving
10 or more merry participants. One temple, Lakshmana,
even depicts a gentleman proving that a horse can be
man's best friend, too. |
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| History
of Khajuraho Temples |
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| Khajuraho
temples were constructed between 950 and 1050 A.D. during
the reign of Chandel Empire. Khajuraho derives its name
from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree) which can
be found in abundance in the area. These temples are
considered the "high point" of Indian architectural
genius in the Medieval period.
Originally there were 85 temples, of which only 22 still
exist. 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. With the wane of
the Chandela empire, these magnificent temples lay neglected,
and vulnerable to the ravages of Nature. It was only
in this century, that they were rediscovered, restored
and granted the recognition that they justly deserve.
The murals depict the life and times of the Chandelas,
and celebrate the erotic state of being. They not only
testify to the mastery of the craftsman, but also to
the extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela
Rajputs under whose reign, these temples were constructed.
Their style of architecture was also rather peculiar
to their times. Each structure stands on a high masonry
platform with a distinct upward direction to their build,
further enhanced by several vertical projections to
simulate the effect of an overall lightness. The three
main compartments are the entrance (ardhamandapa), assembly
hall (mandapa), and the actual sanctum (garbha griha).
The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions
: western, eastern and southern.
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| Climate
of Khajuraho |
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| The climate of this region
is tropical. The climate of Khajuraho is of an extreme
type. The summers are hot with the mercury climbing
up to 47АC. On the other hand, winters can be
very cold with temperature dipping down to 4АC.
The monsoon starts from the month of July and lasts
until September. The annual average rainfall is 114
cm. The best time to travel to Khajuraho is October
to March.
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| Place
to Visit in Khajuraho |
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| Conforming to the central
Indian style of temple architecture, the temples of
Khajuraho are adorned with explicit erotic sculptures
with utmost architectural harmony and beauty. Built
within a 200-year span, the temples plan, from the simplest
to the most inspiring, follow the same pattern and all
of them are ornately carved. The temples of Khajuraho
are divided into three groups - the Western group, the
Eastern group, and the Southern group. The largest and
most easily accessible is the Western group.
- The Eastern Group, which encompasses five detached
sub-groups in and around the present village of Khajuraho.
It includes three Brahmanical temples known as Brahma,
Vamana and Javari and three Jain temples, the Ghantai,
Adinath and Parsvanath.
- The Southern Group, which is the most distant and
has two main monuments near and across the Khudarnala,
namely, the Duladeo and the Chaturbhuja temples.
- The Western Group, which is the largest, compact
and centrally located group in Khajuraho, includes
some of the most prominent monuments, built by the
Chandela rulers. The Lakshmana Temple, the Matangesvara
Temple and the Varaha Temple form one complex and
the Visvanatha and Nandi temples are not far from
this complex. The Chitragupta, Jagadambi and the Kandariya
Mahadeva temples are about a furlong to their west.
The western group of monuments is best maintained
by the Archaeological Survey of India and is set amidst
green lawns, colorful shrubs and flowerbeds.
- Panna National Park - A 30-minute drive away from
Khajuraho, it has it all - deep gorges, tranquil valley
and dense teak forests. It houses Leopards, Wolfs
and Gharials along with Wild Boars, Sloth Bears, Cheetals,
Chowsinghas, Indian Foxes, Porcupines and many others.
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| More
In India |
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. Khajuraho
. Varanasi
. Bodh
Gaya & Lumbani |
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