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Khajuraho, which has lent its
name to a complex of exquisite Hindu and Jain temples, is
a small town located amidst the forested plains of Bundelkhand
in north-central Madhya Pradesh. The beautiful temples that
dot Khajuraho are believed to have been built by the mighty
Chandela rulers in the 9th and 10th century AD. The engravings
on these temples are highly sensual and erotic that depict
in graceful forms intimate scenes of the whole range of human
emotions and relationships. These sculptures congeal in stone
a lyrical paean to love and passion and reflect the Chandela
dynasty/'s immense appreciation for art. Architecturally,
the temples are built in the north Indian Nagara style. The
sculptor/'s fine skill and a sense of imagination have given
form to human emotion in the form of spiritual and physical
love. Every façade-wall, window, pillar, and ceiling-is
carved with figures of mythical and historical origins, and
while many of these depict full-breasted, girdle-waisted women
in forms of innocent play, they also depict carnal love. In
all 85 temples were built in Khajuraho, but only 22 are left
to speak of the grandeur of conception of the rulers and architects
of the day. The basic ground plan of the temples of Khajuraho
is almost a textbook example of Hindu temple architecture
consisting of four compartments: an entrance porch (ardhamandap),
the vestibule (antarala) and the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha).
In some of the large temples an extra mandap with lateral
transepts is added for size and splendour, converting it into
a large assembly hall. The temples rest on a risen open platform,
a distinctive feature of the Khajuraho temples, with subsidiary
shrines at the four corners of the platform in the bigger
temples.
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Sightseeing
Khajuraho combines history, architecture, culture and environment
with delectable charm. It is a town that takes you away
from the noise and pollution of the city, with its fresh
air and scenic countryside. For convenience, the temples
of Khajuraho are divided into the Western, Eastern, and
Southern groups. The Western Group, situated opposite the
Government of India Tourist Office, has 14 temples. The
Chaunsath Yogini, Lalguan Mahadev, Parvati, Varaha, Matangesvara,
Lakshmana, Vishvanath and Nandi, Chitragupta, Devi Jagdamba
and Kandariya Mahadeo temples belong to this group. The
Eastern Group, 2.4 km from the Tourist Office, consists
of seven temples (four Jain and three Hindu). The Parsvanath,
Adinath, Shantinath, and Ghantai temples belong to the Jains
while the Vamana, Javari and Brahma are Hindu temples. The
Southern Group, about 5 km from Khajuraho, contains the
Chaturbhuj and Duladeo temples.
Excursions
Even though Khajuraho's temples are its biggest attraction,
there are other interesting sights in its vicinity which
can be visited on a daylong trip. There is the Ken Gharial
Sanctuary, 120 km away, which is rough and wild, with its
gorges, rocks and the lovely Ken River. The Panna National
Park, 40 km from Khajuraho, is home to a variety of wildlife.
The Dhubela Museum (64 km), on the Jhansi-Khajuraho road,
houses the weapons, paintings, and sculptures of the Bundela
kings as well as a wide variety of sculptures of the Shakti
cult. The Pandav Falls, Raigarh Palace, Bandhavgarh, and
Ajaygarh Fort are other important places worth visiting
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