subject: The Enchanting History Of Khajuraho: About Khajuraho [print this page] The Enchanting History Of Khajuraho: About Khajuraho
Famous for its magnificent temples, Khajuraho is an art lover's paradise. This temple town , located in the Bundelkhand region, which is now the Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, was the capital of the Chandela dynasty under whose patronage the city thrived between 950AD and 1150AD . Khajuraho was the capital of the vast region called Jajakabhukti and it was ruled by Chandela Rajputs. This area spanned over 21sq.kms and had 85 temples which were built by different rulers and ministers. This article unravels several interesting things about Khajuraho which are sure to intrigue you.
The name Khajuraho is obtained from the term khajur, which in Hindi means date palms. In the 13th century after the Chandela dynasty declined the temples remained sheltered under the thick covering of date palm trees for many years. This gives the city its name- Khajuraho' .Captain T.S.Burt later rediscovered those temples in 1938. Another aspect about Khajuraho is that it is not only a famous tourist spot but also a well-known archaeological site. The temples and monuments are now under the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) which has identified about 18 excavation sites.
In 1986 Khajuraho was designated a World Heritage Site. Today only about 22 out of 85 temples remain. These temples that were dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain Tirthankaras are supreme examples of architectural excellence and they depict the art and sculpture of medieval India. As you might have noticed the temples are associated with different religious sects (Hinduism and Jainism) .Nevertheless they have a cognate style of architecture. The interiors and exteriors of the temples have lavish carvings. The human body which is shown in its sensuous charm in many postures apparently have erotic connotations but underneath lies a hidden philosophic meaning. It is this fact about Khajuraho that has drawn several tourists here.
The temples belong to 3 different geographical locations-West, East and South- and 2 religions-Hinduism and Jainism. Once you savored the artistic beauty of the temples and monuments you can check out the other tourist spots in Khajuraho which include the Bandhavgarh National Park, Panna National ParkRajgarh Palce, Raneh falls, Pandev Falls, Ajaygarh fort, Kalinjar fort, Benisagar Dam, Gangau Dam and sanctuary and the Majhgavan Diamond mines. It is these locations coupled with the temples which speak volumes about Khajuraho as ideal vacation spot.The Vindhya Mountains which form the backdrop of the city make it look even more fascinating. Khajuraho experiences extremes of climate. Temperatures soar to 45degrees Celsius in the summers but winters are pleasant at 27 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is minimal-114cms annually. Thus the ideal time to visit Khajuraho is between September and March. The Airport is 5kms from the city and is connected by air to Delhi, Varanasi and Mumbai.
