The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts both seekers of spirituality and lovers of archaeology the year round. It owes its popularity to its amazing temples which showcase some of the finest art in the world.
Dating back to 950 AD and 1050 AD (during the reign of Chandela Dynasty), these ancient monuments and temples came into the light because of their erotic inscriptions, along with the mysterious aura that envelopes the place. It is believed that there were about 85 temples earlier, but only 20 of them have survived today. These magnificent temples depict various forms like meditation, kinship, spiritual teachings, wrestling and royalty. However, the main focus is on erotic art.
The monuments celebrate the existence of dance, music and sexuality through its aesthetic representation of architecture and art. Most of these are built from sandstone of different colors which signify various sects. Based on their geographical location, the temples are differentiated into three zones: eastern, western and southern. The temples generally have a sanctum, vestibule and hall. Artistic windows are installed inside for ventilation and light. Some of the temples are for the followers of Hinduism and some for Jainism. These temples seek to bring about harmony between these two religions.
The western zone has the most eminent monuments; these are temples of Kandariya, Lakshmana, Matangeshwara, Mahadeva Chitragupta. All of these lie in close proximity to the Archaeological Museum. The eastern zone is also home to some important temples including Parasvanath Temple, Ghantai Temple, Adinath Temple, Hanuman Temple, Brahma Temple, Vamana Temple and Javari Temple. The southern group of temples include the Dulhadev Temple, Beejamandal Temple and Chaturbhuj or Jatkari Temple.
Khajuraho Group of Temples are accessible through all the major modes of transportation, and can be reached by air, train and road. The best time to visit this place is between the months of September and March. There is ease of accommodation and shopping too. The Khajuraho Dance Festival (held in February) is the perfect time to visit Khajuraho and experience the beauty prettified thousand times more than usual. They showcase the best dance traditions of the country and throw light on India’s cultural greatness.
Mahashivratri is the festival of Lord Shiva, and on this day devotees cross miles to visit Khajuraho and offer prayers. If you are looking for best deals and discounts on hotels in Khajuraho, this is the time of the year when you should visit Khajuraho temples.
