Kingfisher Holidays - Destination Guides - Khajuraho Destination Guides

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		<title>Khajuraho</title>
		
		<link>http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:50 EDT</pubDate>
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			<description>Hotels in India Find Cheap and Budget Hotels online on India largest Hotel Network.Instant Hotel Reservation at Best price</description>
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	<title>Introduction</title>
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 <td class="body-text-tg" align="justify"> <img src="images/khajuraho-editor.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" alt="Khajuraho" align="right" />Known for its rather intricately carved erotic temples, Khajuraho is said to have been built by the son of Moon God. A fine example of love and life in stone, it was built by craftsmen who were clearly uninhibited by sex or their depictions whatsoever. Of course, Khajuraho was always meant to be a temple town â€“ the lack of any other attraction clarifies it. The temples were earlier hidden in the jungles and later discovered. However, today only 22 out of the original 85 remain. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, if you skip the eroticism of the carvings, the temples are a fine example of modern architecture and carvings and are a must of every travelerâ€™s itinerary.

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	<title>Fast Facts</title>
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 <td width="23%" valign="top">Climate</td>
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 <td width="12%" valign="top"><img src="images/icons_03.gif" alt="Summer" width="48" height="44" /></td>
 <td width="74%" valign="top">Summer 
 March - mid-June, Hot and scorching 
Temperatures â€“ 21Â°C-45Â°C</td>
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 <td align="left" valign="top"><img src="images/icons_10.gif" alt="Monsoon" width="48" height="44" /></td>
 <td valign="top">Monsoons 
 July â€“ September, Moderate rainfall Annual Rainfall â€“ 120 cms</td>
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 <td valign="top">Winter 
		
 Late October â€“ mid-March, Cool and pleasant, fog-free 
Temperatures - 4Â°C-32Â°C</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Local Languages:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Hindi</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Best Time to Visit:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Winter months of October - March</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Cotton for summers and medium woolens for winters</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Moving Around: </td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Khajuraho is best explored on bicycles that can be rented from many of the shops opposite the Western Group Temples. For sightseeing, cycle rickshaws are a convenient mode of transport or hire a private vehicle. From the airport you have the option of a private vehicle or a pre-paid taxi. </td>
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MP Tourism, Chandela Cultural Centre 
Khajuraho 
Tel: 07686-274051</td>
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	<title>Sightseeing</title>
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		The most important group of temples is the Western Group Temples that are mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The most prominent temples in this complex include:
		
		<li>The Kandariya Mahadev Temple: This is the largest and most splendid of all temples of Khajuraho reaching to a height of 31 mt! The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the shrine measures 102 feet long, 67 feet wide, and has a 118 ft high tower. The temple is intricately built and has several structures inside, including ardha-mandapa, mandapa, a maha-mandapa, the garba-griha and the pradakshina. The sanctum has a lingam, and the walls have carvings of gods, goddesses, apsaras and erotic figures of men and women. Especially watch out for the carved ceilings and pillars. The panels in the outer walls depict Hindu gods as well goddesses as groups of lovers. The platform has over 800 sculpted figures of women playing with a ball, writing a letter and applying make-up, processions of horses and elephants Giant reliefs of Shiva as destroyer and protector also adorn the walls.</li>

<li>Lakshmana Temple: Dedicated to the Lord Vishnu as Vaikuntha, this exquisite temple is one of the better preserved temples in Khajuraho. The temple has an idol of Vishnu that is said to have been brought from Tibet. Along with carvings of Hindu Gods & Goddesses, a lintel work depicting Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Lakshmi is beautiful. Step within the sanctum, and youâ€™d see a three-headed image of Vishnu as Narasimha and Varaha. The main shrine is surrounded by several smaller shrines, which have a garbha-griha and ardh-mandapa. The base of the temple also has carvings depicting battle scenes, hunting and royal processions. The ceiling is also beautiful with its lotus carvings and images of apsaras. A smaller section has carvings of erotic structures. In the main temple, watch out for the larger-than-life boar figure made of a single block of yellow sandstone and carved with 627 miniature figures in 12 carved rows.</li>

<li>Vishwanatha Temple: Similar to the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, this Shiva Temple has magnificent stone lions and an elephant procession guarding the temple. A massive Shivling and a three-headed image of Brahma are found inside. Also watch the 6 ft high image of the Nandi Bull and the smaller shrine dedicated to Parvati.</li>

<li>Chaunsath Yogini: Dedicated to Goddess Kali, this rather old temple is built in granite and houses almost 35 shrines. The temple lacks any carvings or adornments.</li>

<li>Chitragupta Temple: The only temple in Khajuraho dedicated to the Sun God, it houses a 5 ft high image of the Sun God driving his seven-horsed chariot. Other features here include depictions of the royal procession, dancers and scenes from the Chandela court-life. This temple comes to life during the cultural performances of the Khajuraho Dance Festival.</li>

<li>Matangeshwara Temple: This is another Shaivite temple that houses an 8 ft lingam and an 11-headed figure of Vishnu. The temple is also the site of the Archeological Museum that houses statues and remnants collected from temples that cease to exist. This temple is also the scene of great activity during the Mahashivratri festival.</li>

<li>Devi Jagadambe Temple: Built for Lord Vishnu, today it is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Highlight of this temple is the richly decorated ceiling and walls that are carved with figures of gods, goddesses, celestial beings and erotic lovers. It is similar in design to the Chitragupta Temple, though relatively smaller in size. The balconies of the maha-mandapa are larger that any of the other temples in the complex.</li>		
		
		
 The Eastern Group Temples are made of relatively isolated Hindu and Jain temples dedicated to Brahma, Vamana, Javari, Ghantai, Adinath and Parsvanatha. 
		
		<li>The Parshvanatha Temple: This large Jain Temple houses the image of the Jain Tirthankara Parsvanatha. The main sanctum is richly carved with figures of men and women â€“ however they are devoid of sexual motifs. Watch the sura-sundaris sculptures (celestial beauties) â€“ applying make-up, removing a thorn from her feet and tying ankle-bells. The outer wall has carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses and daily life activities. Watch carvings of a woman writing a letter, and sculptures of elephants, lions and sea nymphs.</li>

<li>The Adinath Temple: Another temple dedicated to the Jain saint Adinath, it is the smallest of the other temples. The sanctum has a 10 ft statue of Adinath seated on a lotus. The architecture is simple, except for the lotus carving in the roof. The temple is entirely in yellow with black trimmings. Notable among outer wall carvings are those of a woman reading a sad letter, female dancers, apsaras looking into the mirror, applying eye make-up and a mother kissing her child. 
Note â€“ Shoes must be removed before entering the sanctum</li>

<li>The Brahma Temple: An important Hindu Temple, it is dedicated to Brahma, although youâ€™d also find an image of Lord Vishnu on the doorway. The sanctum houses a four-faced idol of Brahma. The temple is very simple and created in granite and sandstone. </li>

<li>The Vamana Temple: This Vishnu Temple is dedicated to Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of Vishnu. Figure-carvings and carved arches adorn the walls and the temple has a single shikhar. Highlight of this temple is the framed area in the wall, which has diamonds instead of sculptures! Several sculptures of celestial maidens adorn the walls.</li>

<li>The Ghantai Temple: Another Jain Temple, it gets its name from the chain and bell motifs that cover the pillars. Though mostly in ruins, you can still see the porch, the maha-mandapa, a frieze depicting the 16 dreams of Mahaviraâ€™s mother and a several-armed Jain goddess riding the Garuda.</li>

<li>Hanuman Temple: This temple has a massive 8-ft statue of Hanuman and showcases extremely simple architecture.</li>

<li>Javari Temple: This temple is known for its extremely ornate gateway and carvings of erotic sculptures.</li>

The Southern Group Temples are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. However, these temples are not as splendid as the other groups and are not as well-preserved.
		
		<li>Dulhadeo Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is also known as the Bridegroom Temple. The sanctum has a Shivalingam inside and carvings of Shiva and Parvati adorn the walls. The temple is divided into five sections that include the ardha-manadapa, mandapa, maha-mandapa, antarala and the garbha-griha. The ceiling has circular cravings and the entrance is more finely carved. Notable carvings include figures depicted flying, carrying weapons and playing musical instruments. Crocodile figurines and sensual images of apsaras are other interesting features.</li>

<li>Chaturbhuj Temple: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it has a 9-ft carved image of Lord Vishnu as the four-armed or Chaturbhuja. The platform is created in white sandstone and the architecture is similar to the Javari Temple. The shikara is simple and no erotic structures adorn its walls. Youâ€™d find carvings of nymphs, lions and gods. The entrance has carvings of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.</li> 
 All Temples Open from: 8.00 am-6.00 pm 
Entry fee â€“ Rs 10

Khajuraho Archeological Museum:One of the best places to see Khajurahoâ€™s culture, the museum has an impressive range of statues and sculptures found from the ruins of the temples. Other displays include Nritta Gansha, Uma-Maheshwara, Andhakasuravadhamurti and Vaikuntha. 
 
 Open from: 10.00 am-7.00 pm (Saturday-Thursday) 
			
 Adivart Tribal and Folk Art Museum: This museum has a selection of folk art, including wood work figures, paintings and silverwork. 
Open from: 10.00 am-5.00 pm (Tuesday-Sunday)

		 
 Panna National Park: A popular getaway with wildlife lovers, Panna National Park is made of deep gorges, tranquil valleys, and dense teak forests. It houses a number of wildlife species, including tigers, panthers, and even herds of chinkara. The Panna Diamond Mines are also situated closeby - although entry to the mines is restricted. 
		 
 Raneh Falls: This waterfall is known for its lovely rock formations and multicolored crystalline canyon. In addition, the seasonal waterfalls make it a popular picnic area.
		 
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 <td class="body-text-tg" align="justify"><img src="images/khajuraho-food.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" alt="Khajuraho" align="right" />Khajuraho offers you some typically MP cuisine and several restaurants and cafÃ©s provide these. The region is especially known for its desserts and salty snacks. Try the cashew barfi, jalebi, lavang latika, moong dal ka halwa, sabudana ki khichadi and shikanji. Head out to the Blue Sky Restaurant that offers delicious Indian cuisine on a rooftop. The Siddhartha Hotel Restaurant and Punjab Restaurant are other good options. For inexpensive but delicious meals, head out to Paradise Restaurant â€“ their mango pancakes are surprisingly nice. For Italian dishes, La Dolce Vita and La Terraza are known. The Mediterranean Restaurant offers some Indianised Greek menu. Try out the Gujarati Thalis at Shivam Restaurant. For upmarket dining options, five-star hotels like Clarks and Holiday Inn have their in-house restaurants. An interesting experience would be at the Rajas CafÃ©, which is actually run by a Swiss woman and offers good continental fares.</td>
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 		<td class="body-text-tg"><img src="images/khajuraho-shopping.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" alt="Khajuraho" align="right" />Brass and stone sculptures from Kama Sutra are the specialty of the region and you can pick these at the Government Emporia. The Jain Temple Road has a Crafts Emporium, which has handicrafts from the MP region. In December, the State Museum of Tribal and Folk Art holds artisan workshops. The Tuesday Weekly Bazaar held close to the village, lets you rummage through local arts and crafts in silver and brass. Since textile weaving is a major craft here, choose from a variety of saris and other Indian wear. </td>
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 The week-long Khajuraho Dance Festival is held in February against the backdrop of the lit temples. Organised and promoted by the MP Tourism Department, witness the rich heritage of Khajuraho at this time by its several dance forms like Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali. The dances are performed in the open-air auditorium, mostly before the Chitragupta Temple and the Vishwanatha Temple. Also held at this time are the handicraft sale by the local artisans and craftsmen. 
	 Celebrating Lord Shivaâ€™s marriage to Goddess Parvati, the Mahashivratri takes place with great fervour. The lingam inside the Kandariya Mahadev temple is decorated to resemble a bridegroom, complete with a conical silver paper crown. The wedding ceremony is spread over the course of the night by the son of the chief priest. Prayers are chanted till the priest sprinkle Bel leaves and flowers on the lingam to signify the completion of the wedding.

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 <td width="36%" align="left" class="ms_black_guides">  Hotel Name </td>
 <td width="15%" align="center" class="ms_black_guides">Star Rating </td>
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 <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" class="hotel_text">  Hotel Usha Bundela</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6" class="hotel_text"><img src="images/star_03.gif" height="11" /></td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#f6f6f6" class="hotel_text">3.7</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=Hotel Usha Bundela"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text">  Hotel Clarks</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"><img src="images/star_05.gif" height="11" /></td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text">4</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=Hotel Clarks"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td bgcolor="#F6F6F6" class="hotel_text">  Hotel Chandela</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6"><img src="images/star_05.gif" height="11" /></td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" class="hotel_text">4.5</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=Hotel Chandela"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text">  Radisson Jass Hotel</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"><img src="images/star_05.gif" height="11" /></td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text"> </td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=Radisson Jass Hotel"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td bgcolor="#F6F6F6" class="hotel_text">  Holiday Inn</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6"><img src="images/star_05.gif" height="11" /></td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" class="hotel_text"> </td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#F6F6F6" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=Holiday Inn"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text">  The Grand Temple View</td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"> </td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" class="hotel_text"> </td>
 <td align="center" bgcolor="#E9E9E9" ><a href="http://www.kingfisherholidays.com/core/Engines/searchHandler.html?hotelCity=khajuraho&hotelName=The Grand Temple View"><img src="images/booknow.gif" title="Book" width="47" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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	<title>Getting There</title>
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 <td width="90%" valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Khajuraho airport is located 8 kilometers from the city centre. However Kingfisher Airlines offers daily connectivity from Nagpur, Indore and Hyderabad to Jabalpur Airport which is 167 kilometers from Khajuraho. <a href="http://www.flykingfisher.com/"><img src="images/find-flights.gif" alt="Find Flights" width="90" height="20" border="0" /></a></td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">Jhansi, 175 kms, is the closest station, connected very well to Delhi and Bhopal. Take a bus or hire a cab to reach Khajuraho. </td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text-tg">It is connected by road to Delhi via Agra (NH2), Gwalior, Mumbai (NH3) and Jhansi (NH75). Direct buses are also available from Gwalior and Agra.</td>
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 <td class="body-text-tg" align="justify"><img src="images/khajuraho-trivia.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" alt="Khajuraho" align="right" />Celebrating love in stone, Khajuraho is said to have been born of a passionate affair between the Moon God and Hemavati. Legends say that when the Moon God beheld the young Hemavati bathing in a river, her beauty struck him so much that he descended to Earth to engage in a passionate affair. Before returning to the celestial land, he promised her that she would bear a son who would one day build a great temple to celebrate the beauty of their love. Thus the founder of the mighty Chandela dynasty was born. And he built not 1 but 85 temples, almost all of them showcasing exquisite sculptures from Kama Sutra of men and women joyfully engaging in the most erotic act.</td>
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