Khajuraho Temples

April 1 & 2, 2018

We left Agra by train today to travel to Khajuraho. The train ride took about 3 hours to reach Jhansi. There we boarded a bus and rode for 5 hours to reach our destination.

Porters taking our luggage to the train.

 

The train ride was comfortable and the time went fast.

Arriving in Jhansi we made our way to the bus. 

Porters would carry 2 bags at a time on top of their head.

 

We saw some more of the country side on our bus ride. It’s not as fertile here so farming wasn’t as prevalent. One of the first ox carts I had seen on the trip.

As we got closer to Khajuraho we began to see small temples scattered around the countryside. 

Our hotel had some beautiful sculptures in the garden area.

 

They depict different Hindu gods and goddesses.

 

 

 

Our hotel doorman wearing a traditional outfit. I learned that the British started the custom of having them dress as a Maharajah to kind of poke fun. Not a very nice thing to do.

 

There is a small temple area at the hotel and there were 2 holy men that came and performed a ritual that evening.

 

Chanting mantras they blessed us.

 

 

 

The next morning we had an early wake up to visit the Khajuraho Temple complex next to the hotel.

The Khajuraho Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the temples were built between 950 and 1050 by the Chandela dynasty. At one time there were 85 temples but only 25 exist today. There pre-date the Angkor Watt Temples and are very similar in design. 

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest surviving temple and stands 100 feet tall. It’s amazing to think this is built with stacked stones - no cement or any other binding material.

 

 

When Muslims began invading Delhi, the people of the area abandoned the site. Through the years of neglect, trees and vegetation over grew the site basically hiding it from view. In the 1830’s a British surveyor was led to the temples and he reported the finding. 

 

Intricate carvings  

 

 

 

 

The outside walls are covered with sculptures and carvings depicting gods and erotic scenes. I am trying to be discreet and not show any of the explicit scenes. 

 

Ganesh, son of Shiva(the destroyer) and Parvati (Goddess of fertility, love and devotion), is the god of wisdom and remover of all obstacles.

 

Elephant heads

 

 

The most erotic scenes were set back into these sections.

 

 

 

 

There are crocodile heads over the entry door.

 

The inside has the same type of carvings. 

 

 

 

 

Sitting on the throne 

 

Along the outside walls scenes of soldiers going to battle are depicted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice how the structures are set up on raised platforms. Originally they had built a levy to hold water and the buildings were like islands on a lake. 

 

The different colors show the restoration efforts of some of the structures. 

 

I was very impressed with this place. The intricate details of the carvings were superior to many I have seen at other ancient ruins. The complex of temples rates up there with many other sites.

Next to the complex is one temple that still serves the area as an active temple. 

We went inside to observe the procession of people coming to offer thanks and to receive blessings.

After our visit here we went to the local airport and flew to Varanasi for the part of our adventures.