Visiting the past in Khajuraho

Sound and Light show underway at the Western Temples

When people talk about India the first images that have been fed to the people are a hazy reflection of the ancient architecture of the country. Images of temples, forts and castles swim deliriously in promotional ad films and documentaries on television; however, nothing beats the experience of actually visiting these places.

The Khajuraho Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India are located about 175 kilometers southeast of Jhansi. They are one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites situated in India that attract a lot of tourists all year round. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures. Tourists and researchers alike can be found taking in the essence of that ancient time of royalty as the town itself has not flourished more than a tourist spot.

Intricate sculptures adorning the walls of the temples.

Khajuraho can be reached by road, rail and air and has quite a few well known luxury hotels in its vicinity. For those keeping a close watch on their pockets, the hotels owned by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department are comfy and afford plenty of services that would make your stay enjoyable. The main hub of activity is where the western temples are located and one can find multi cuisine restaurants in the area. Hire a cycle from the hotel that you are staying in or hire a cab or an auto rickshaw and take a tour of the various temples and sit at the edge of the lake situated right in the middle of the town. The lake is filled with lotuses and in the right weather this is a splendid backdrop for photographs.

Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 BC by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 20 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometers. Of the various surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.

The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions—namely Hinduism and Jainism—suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains.

Those interested in the complex history of the temples and the makers, can watch an excellent light show on the grounds of the Western temples that is held at dusk. A performance of lights and an audio accompaniment adds to the experience of the visit to the place. A ticket at a nominal cost can be procured in order to watch the show. A cultural show displaying the regions dances is performed in the evenings.

The temples are built on platforms well above the level of the ground.

Source: www.dailypostindia.com

Photos by Raghav Shikarpuria