If you want to spend your holidays in a peaceful place then Khajuraho is the best choice. It is a holy place there is a number of temples in Khajuraho where you can take the blessings of God and spend a beautiful time with your family. First of all, visit the Western Group with the first rays of the morning sun. You should visit the Eastern Group and see the museum in the afternoon time. You should go to the Chaturbhuj Temple during the time of sunset. Khajuraho has an annual dance festival set in part against the backdrop of the temples. If you are in India at the beginning of March then don’t miss this grand event. Around the edges of Khajuraho village, the Eastern Group of temples includes four Hindu and four Jain temples respectively. The proximity of temples attests to the religious tolerance of the times in general and the Chandela rulers in particular.
This temple is the late-11th-century Vamana Temple and is dedicated to God Vishnu’s dwarf incarnation. The image looks like a tall, sly child. Furthermore, the walls of sanctum show great theological openness and also feature most of the major gods and goddesses. God Vishnu appears in a number of his forms which includes the Buddha and it is considered as his ninth incarnation. The two tiers of sculpture are concerned mainly with the nymphs of paradise. It strikes provocative poses under their private awnings.
The next temple is the Javari Temple. This temple is small and well-proportioned. The temple is located just south of the Vamana Temple. Also, it is roughly contemporary in origin and it has a simplified three-shrine design. The two designs lead to exterior bands bear hosts of heavenly maidens. You would be surprised to know that the main idol of the temple is headless and broken too. This temple is a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple is one of the most beautiful shrines in Khajuraho. It is a prime tourist attraction in Khajuraho.
The next temple is the Brahma Temple. The Brahma Temple is one of the earliest temples here. It is probably misnamed. God Brahma, who is considered as a titular member of the triad of Hinduism’s great gods, along with Shiva and Vishnu, rarely had a temple to himself. And this temple has a linga, phallus-shaped icon of Shiva. It is different from others in designs, specifically because of the combination of materials and the shapes of shikhara. Furthermore, this temple is located near to sacred Lake Pushkar. You can also visit that lake if you are visiting Brahma Temple. There are several small restaurants and café to sit around with your family and friends.
Towards the south of these three temples, there is a little gem called the Ghantai Temple. At the left of this temple are pillars and festooned with carvings of pearls and bells. Furthermore, at the entrance is an eight-armed Jain goddess riding the mythical bird Garuda. It illustrates the 16 dreams of Mahavira’s mother, the most significant religious figure in the religion Jainism and also a counterpart to the Buddha. This temple is also known as Ghanti Temple. If we see from a historical point of view then this temple was built by Chandel King of Khajuraho. The temple is dedicated to God Khajuraho.
Temple the Adinath is an 11th-century old temple. There is a minor shrine, is set in a small walled compound southeast of Ghantai. Its porch and the statue of Tirthankara Adinatha are modern additions. The temple is built at the beginning of the Chandelas’ decline. Also, this temple is very small. An interesting fact is that the shikhara and base of this temple are richly carved. This temple is also considered as a UNESCO world heritage site. You won’t stop yourself from appreciating Hindu architecture after seeing the charm of the temple. The temple was built is 1622 and dedicated to lord Rishabnath.
The Parsvanath Temple is located to the south and it is built in the mid-10th century. Along with this fact it is the largest and most beautiful Jain complex. This complex holds the best sculpture in Khajuraho. This includes images of God Vishnu. Furthermore, the plan of this temple is a simple rectangle, it also includes a separate spire in the rear. Statues of flying angels and sloe-eyed beauties are also there and these are occupied with children, cosmetics, and flowers adorn the outer walls. The stones of the temple convey even the texture of the women’s thin garments.
This temple is built in the usual five-shrine style. Duladeo Temple is about 900 yards south of the Eastern Group’s Ghantai. Also, the temple looks flatter and more massive than most Khajuraho shrines. This is the last temple built in Khajuraho. Also, the temple is dated to the 12th century. This Duladeo Ternple lacks the usual ambulatory passage and crowning lotus-shape finials. Besides that, the temple has some vibrant sculptures. Some of these are clichéd and over decorated. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
This small, 12th-century Chaturbhui Temple is located nearly 3 km south of Duladeo temple. The temple has an attractive colonnaded entrance. There is a moving four-handed image of Lord Vishnu in this temple. This sculpture may be the single most striking piece of sculpture in Khajuraho. Furthermore, the temple’s exterior statue falls short of the local mark and it is a sign of the declining fortunes of the empire. Apart from this fact, this temple is the best place in Khajuraho to watch during the sunset.
The Chausath Yogini Temple is situated on the west side of the Shivsagar Tank. It is a small artificial lake and this temple is the oldest temple at Khajuraho. The temple is possibly built as early as AD 820. Furthermore the temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The meaning of its name refers to name refers to the 64 female ascetics (yoginis) who serve this fierce goddess. This temple is made of granite and is the only one in Khajuraho which is oriented northeast-southwest rather than towards north-south. This temple was originally surrounded by 64 roofed cells.
This is another beautiful temple in Khajuraho. The Shiva temple Lalguan Mahadeva has situated a few hundred yards north-east of the Chausath Yogini. Also, the structure is in ruins and the original portico is missing. Also, this temple has a historical significance because it was built of both granite and sandstone, marking the transition from Chausath Yogini to the later temples.
This temple is situated just outside the boundary of the Western Group is the Matangesvara Temple. Worship in this temple takes place in the morning and afternoon generally. Besides that the lack of ornamentation, square construction, and simpler floor plan date this temple to the early 10th century. The building of this temple has oriel windows, a projecting portico, and a ceiling of overlapping concentric circles. There is an enormous linga which is nearly 81/2 ft tall, is enshrined in the sanctum. These are some beautiful and amazing places that you can visit in Khajuraho with your family and friends.
