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Khajuraho Travel 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.
Places
of Interest in Khajuraho
Khajuraho Temples
The
architectural style of the Khajuraho temples is very different from the temple
prototype of that period. Each stands, instead of within the customary enclosure,
on a high masonry platform. Combined with the upward direction of the structure,
which is further accentuated by vertical projections, the total effect is one
of grace and lightness, reminiscent of the Himalayan peaks. Each of the chief
compartments has its own roof, grouped in such a way that the highest is in the
centre, the lowest over the portico, a triumph of skill and imagination in recreating
the rising peaks of a range.
 State
Museum of Tribal & Folk Arts
A fine collection of masterpieces of
tribal and folk art and artifacts from all over Madhya Pradesh is on display at
the Chandela Cultural Complex. The tradition of tribal and folk arts and crafts
has evolved over centuries. It represents the best of Indian culture and tradition
and its synthesis with foreign cultures that came through trade and invasions.
The State Museum has more than 500 representative items of terracotta, metal
craft, woodcraft, tribal and folk paintings, tattoos, jewellery and masks.
Timings:
The Museum is open on all days except Mondays and Government
Holidays. From 12 Noon to 8 P.M.
How
to Reach Khajuraho
Air
Khajuraho Air service
is driect link with Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu.
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.
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.
Delhi Travel Guide || Agra
Travel Guide || Jaipur
Travel Guide || Jodhpur
Travel Guide || Khajuraho Travel
Guide || Udaipur
Travel Guide || Varanasi Travel Guide
|| Pushkar Travel
Guide || Ranthambhore
Travel Guide || Bharatpur
Travel Guide || Chennai Travel Guide
|| Mumbai Travel Guide || Goa
Travel Guide || Cochin(Ernakulam)
Travel Guide || Kolkata Travel Guide
|| Kovalam Travel
Guide || Madurai Travel Guide
|| Ooty Travel Guide || Darjeeling
Travel Guide || Bangalore Travel
Guide || Mysore Travel Guide
Khajuraho Travel Guide , India
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