|
How to Get
There
By air: A
daily Boeing 737 service links Khajuraho with Delhi, Agra,
Varanasi, and Kathmandu.
By rail: The
nearest railheads are Jhansi (172 km), Satna (117 km) which
are linked to Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. From Jhansi
and Satna one can take buses or taxis to Khajuraho.
By road: Khajuraho
is connected by regular buses with Satna, Harpalpur, Jhansi
and Mahoba.
Khajuraho,
once the great Chandela capital, is today a village of about a
few thousand people in the interiors of central India, in
Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Tradition records the
existence of eighty five temples, of which only twenty five,
strewn amidst lakes and fields, have survived. The temples at
Khajuraho, brilliant examples of medieval Indian architecture,
were built under later Chandela kings between AD 950 and AD
1050. Each ancient structure in India has a fascinating story
to tell. But few match the temples of Khajuraho.
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.
If the
temples of Khajuraho can be said to have a theme, it is woman.
A celebration of woman and her myriad moods and facets-
Writing letters, applying kohl to her eyes, brushing her hair,
dancing with joyous abandon playing with her child. Woman -
innocent, coquettish, smiling - infinitely seductive,
infinitely beautiful. Depicted in a wealth of detail, sharply
etched, sculpted with consummate artistry. The philosophy of
the age dictated the enjoyment of the delights of arth
(material wealth) and kama (sensual pleasures) while
performing one's dharma (duty) as the accepted way of life for
the grihastha (householder). Hence, the powerful combination
of the visual and sensual pleasures combined with the duty
attributed to the worship of the Dieties brings about a
powerful transformation of the body and the soul. To include
all of these aspects of life in one's early years makes it
easier to renounce them without regret or attachment as one
moves on to one's next stages of life toward moksha
(liberation).
City
Wise Hotels In India
Hotels
in Kolkata
||
Hotels
in Kerala ||
Hotels
in Ladakh ||
Hotels
in Rajasthan
Hotels
in Agra
||
Hotels
in Bangalore ||
Hotels
in Goa ||
Hotels
in Jaipur
Hotels in Delhi
||
Hotels in Kathmandu |
