Khajuraho is one of the best places to visit in India. Those who are feeling a gravitational pull towards the architectural heritage and spirituality shall plan their trip to Khajuraho, an exquisite holiday destination in Madhya Pradesh. This beautiful city is pretty popular for its gorgeous temples that were constructed over centuries ago and are still standing gracefully and are believed to be the most magnificent medieval monuments in the country.
This place doesn't need an introduction! There are over 20 temples abounding in sculptures. To be precise, it depicts celebration of love, worship and life. The temples of love are inside a very well maintained green property which is why it is very enjoyable to visit them, take pictures and play to find certain characters within the infinite temple carvings.
The Khajuraho sculptures represent scenes of the most varied from musicians, craftsmen, nymphs, mothers, children, lovers, etc. It is not about the sculptures of the Kamasutra as they are known. On the contrary, they only seek to reflect the daily life of that time. Tagged aptly as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This place is known for famous historical sites with a great mystery behind all of them.
Khajuraho has an Airport and descent rail and road connectivity. The best time to travel here is winters as you can easily spend time in these temples with stones being heat-feet-friendly! It is the only place in the world which has amalgamation of monuments of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist origin. It is known for one of finest sculptures in the world.
The temples here are majorly popular for their erotic sculptures where 90 percent of the carvings represent the day to day life of a common man of that period and the rest 10 percent are only considered to be erotic. The city is believed to have been under the control of the Chandela dynasty in the 13th century. The famous temples of Khajuraho are divided into eastern, western and southern groups. There has been tremendous efforts from UNESCO to ensure the well being and upkeep of these temples.
After the decline of the Chandela dynasty, these gorgeous monuments were forgotten for a very long time as they were enveloped under a thick dense forest cover. T.S. Burt, a British surveyor when visited this place discovered these wonders in Khajuraho again. There is a huge list of things to do in Khajuraho that leaves the travelers amazed and mesmerized and makes them fall in love with this city.
This famous UNESCO world heritage site is extremely famous all over the world for its erotic carvings on the temple walls. This goes on to show the kind of open-mindedness that had prevailed even during 950-1050 AD. The temples are of religious value for the Hindus as well as the Jains and showcase a high level of acceptance during that era in the society.
Currently out of 85 only 25 temples have survived the test of time and spreads out over an area of 20 sq. km. making a day spent here extremely memorable. Why is the Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh so popular? Why khajuraho temple was built? Why does the famous Lonely Planet guide recommend it? Why is it on all the tourist itineraries of those who visit India? Is it worth seeing the Kamasutra temples? What do we know about the Khajuraho mandir?
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Excited to know about such mood refreshing and soul soothing activities! Keep scrolling down the pages and gather detailed information.
1. The Western Group of Temples
Exploring the ancient yet magnificent The Western group of temples is one of the most important activities to get indulged in. Enlisted among UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the temple visit is surely going to make you fall in love with this city. The sculptures carved on the temple walls reflect the day to day chores followed by the natives of that time.
Both the interior and exterior of the temples look so astonishing that a traveler finds this place a worthy visit. In simple words exploring these temples will complete almost 80% of your Khajuraho holiday trip.
Best time to visit: Although you can visit the site throughout the day yet visiting here during sunset offers a unique aura and also provides a perfect setting to click some amazing pictures for your instagram.
Visiting Time: 7 am to 6pm
Entry Fee: INR 40 for Indian tourists and INR 600 for foreign tourists.
The daily night show in Khajuraho temples narrates the beautiful history of these sites which is definitely a no-no to miss. The best part of these narration is why these temples could not be invaded much as compared to other monumental sites. It was because Khajuraho is based in a location not so easy to reach due to huge forests around it and a difficult route with fairly less resources enroute.
Organized in the compound of the western group of temples, the light and sound show is something that one must not miss here. Especially if you are a history buff and keen to know about the history, culture, and tradition of the city in the past then you must take part in this show.
Tip: You are advised to carry mosquito repellent and also if you are here during winter months then carry heavy woolens to stay fit and fine.
Show time: continues between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Entry Fee: INR 250 for Indian tourists and INR 700 for foreigners.
2. Jain Group of Temples
Belonging to the Jain community, the eastern group of temples is also one of the most preferred travel destinations in Khajuraho where travelers from all around the world flock. It is believed that the Jain community of the Chandela dynasty resided on the eastern side of the city, hence Jain temples are found here.
Not so far from the western group of temples (only at a walking distance of 10 minutes), the temples can be explored on the same day if you are left with more energy. However, this group of temples are not as marvelous as the other group but it's still a worth visit.
Best time to visit: During sunset
Visiting hours: 7 am to 6 pm
Entry Fee: INR 250 for Indian tourists and INR 700 for foreign tourists.
There are a few other places in the city that are not as popular as the temples are but visiting here once will surely attract you with their impeccable beauty.
3. Kandariya Mahadev Temple
Literally translating into the great god of the cave, Kandariya Mahadev temple is considered to be one of the most ornate Hindu temples in the world. Dated to the medieval era, this well-preserved piece of art and history can be seen in its glory, during the monsoon season in Khajuraho. Experts have deemed this temple to be in remarkable form claiming it to be one of the best examples of temples from medieval India.
Panning out to an area of 6 sq. km. this place still has a peaceful aura and is an epitome of expert engineering and unparalleled craftsmanship.
4. Ajaigarh Fort
Hardly a traveler would know about this place, hence Ajaigarh Fort is not found flooded with the tourists but one who visits here never gets disappointed. One of the best places to discover by history and art lovers as the glory and the historical significance of this fort can’t be expressed in words.
One needs to climb 600 steps to reach the site but the eye catching views of the Vindhya Hills and the gorgeous Ken River makes this climb worth it. As the place is not very known to the travelers, the site is very deserted and you won't find any food stall or map here.
Tip: carry snacks and water bottles and hire a guide to explore this site.
Visiting hours: 6 am to 6 pm.
Entry Fee: Nil
5. Raneh Falls
Raneh Falls is located around 20 Kms from Khajuraho in the midst of dense forests (Ken Wildlife Sanctuary) and road less travelled. Travelling to this place is only suggested during the day as you would hardly find any habitats on the way and the jungle is known for its wild-wildest animals.
You can take a safari and easily spot wild animals like Wild boars, Deer, Gaur, Sambar Deer, Jackel, Fox, Chital, Nilgai, Wild Pigs. The best time for safari is early morning or just before sunset. There is a guest house for stay.
Popularly called as the Mini Grand Canyon of India, Raneh Falls is situated almost 20 km away from Khajuraho. This scenic fall is believed to have been established on the crater of a dead volcano hence, on your visit to this place you will find that this carter consists of five varied rock types. Raneh Falls happens to be a paradise for photo fanatics and instagram lovers.
It is a natural waterfall in Ken river. Kind of River Canyon! You can spot 7-8 diverse colors igneous rock like granite, dolomite, black basalt, Jasper, Quartz from shades of pink, red, grey, brown, black and spot the ageing of rock too. It is a beautiful breathtaking sight. ❤️
You also find a museum established here that showcases that information of each and every animal found in the region.
Travel tip: It is highly recommended to hire a guide for your travel plan and if possible hire a jeep that will not cost you more than 1500.
Visiting time: 8 am to 5 pm
Charges you need to pay: INR 75 for guide, INR 50 as an entry fee.
Commuting in the city
There is a very limited way to roam in and around the city as Khajuraho is not a very big city.
Taxi: You can easily find a prepaid taxi booth set up outside the railway station. The charges of these taxis are already fixed as per the destinations; hence you don't need to haggle for fare. Be informed that Ola and Uber taxis are still not introduced in the city, so book your taxi from these booths.
Auto Rickshaw: There is no meter reading facility in the autos of Khajuraho; hence you are advised to settle your auto fare before your ride starts. It is best to reach out other autos despite hiring the very first auto you see.
Khajuraho is popular worldwide for its temples and the sculptures carved out on their walls yet there are some other places to explore in the city and we have tried to compile a few of them. If you are excited to know about more such places then do write it down in the comment box below and follow us to stay updated with our blogs.
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