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Dedicated to the Jain saint, Adinath, the temple is lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, including yakshis. The three Hindu temples of the group are the Brahma, containing a four faced lingam, the Vamana, which is adorned on its outer walls with carving of apsaras in a variety of sensuous attitudes; and the javari, with a richly-carved gateway and exterior sculptures.
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80 kms from Khajuraho, is at a height of 688 meters above sea level and was capital of the Chandelas during their decline.
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Banisagar lake is situated 11 kms away from Khajuraho. It is a picnic spot and a dam on Khudar river with a waterspread of 7.7 sq. km. Suitable for Boating & Angling.
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On the bank of Khajur Sagar or Ninora Tal near the village stands the Brahma Temple. It is simple in plan and design with its body in granite stone and shikhare and made in sandstone. In the sanctum is now enshrined a four faced image of Brahma, hence it is called the Brahma temple.
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Three kilometers south of Khajuraho, in the village of Jatkari lie the two temples now in ruins. One of them is a Shiva temple enshrining a marble ligham. The other one enshries a 3.3 m (11 ft.) high image of Chatturbhuja (Vishnu) in the sanctum with an expression of transcendental calm and bliss on its face.
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The only granite temple and the earliest surviving shrine of the group (900 A.D.), it is dedicated to Kali. Only 35 of the orginal 65 shrines remain. Another Kali temple (originally dedicated to Vishnu) is the Devi Jagdambe Temple.
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This temple is dedicated to Surya - the sun God. The image of sun 1.5 m (5 ft.) high wearing high boots and driving a chariot of seven horses, is enshrined in the sanctum. The temple resembles the Jagdambi one in plan, design, dimensions and decorations and consists of a sanctum without ambulatory, vestibule, mahamandapa, with lateral transepts and entrance porch.
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A three- headed image of Brahma is enshrined in this temple. The approach is equally impressive, with lions flanking the northern and elephants the southern steps that lead up to it. A Nandi bull faces the shrine of the temple.
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Two hundred yards to the north west of the Chitragupt Temple lies the Chopra Tank. It is a small square tank with a flight of steps on all the four sides leading into the tank. There is a small pavilion supported on pillars in the center of the tank. The date of the pavilion is not known. It is believed that there was a temple in the middle of the tank.
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57 km. Located on the bank of a lake, the museum houses a wide variety of Shakti Cult sculptures. There are different sections on garments, weapons and paintings
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This finest temple at Khajuraho also called Kunwar Math offers some of the choicest sculptures especially the Shalbhanjika. It is fully developed temple measuring 21 m by 12 m (69 ft. by 40 ft.) with the ardhamanadap, the mandapa, the maha mandapa, the antarala and the garbha griha with no circumambulatory passage. The ceiling of the maha mandap is a series of diminishing circles of overlapping stones. There is an image of Shiva on the lintel of the entrance to the garbh griha indicating that the temple was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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The visitor to Khajuraho cannot but be attracted to the vivid erotic sculptures on the temples walls. The sculptures are mithunas i.e. couple in various erotic poses. There have been many interpretations of their existence and some have criticized them severely. According to one authority, a man and woman in erotic embrace typify the ultimate union of the soul such erotic figures save the temple from beings struck by the lightening. The reason given for this is that Indra, Lord of rainand thunder bolt who himself is a great connoisseur of Kama, will not damage anything pertaining to that.
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Gangau dam is at a distance of 34 kms from Khajuraho, a natural dam at the confluence of the Ken and Simri rivers, ideal for nature-lovers, anglers and the adventure minded. The dam is surrounded by the Panna National Park & Gangau Sanctuary.
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This Jain temple has a frieze which depicts the 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a jain goddess on a winged Garuda.
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One comes across the Hanuman temple while proceeding from the Western group towards the Khajuraho village. There is a colossal statue of Hanuman. "The monkey God" about 8 ft high in the temple which is now in ruins. There is a very ancient inscription on the pedestal dating back to the time of Maharaja Harsh, 922 A.D. This is the oldest structure discovered here so far and is very interesting from the archaeological point of view.
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This temple, originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu as indicated by a Vishnu image over the sanctum doorway, now enshrines an image of Parvati, hence the name Jagadambi. This image of Parvati is painted black therefore it is famous as Jagdambi or Kali. It is one of the three temples which stand on the same platform terrace the other two being the Mahadeo and the Kandariya one.
This temple is similar to the Chitragupta temple in plan and evelation. It is like a simple cross with no mandapa nor a circumambulatory passage. The mahamandapa too, has only one pair of transepts. The vertical arrangement is the same is in other temples. The anga shikhars, the subsidiary turrets, cluster around the body of the main shikhar. In size the temple is 22 m by 12.5 m (73 ft. by 42 ft.).
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Kalinjar (Kalanjar), a historical fort situated in Banda district (Uttar Pradesh) , is one of the most precious gift of India to the World hertige. This is one of the eight famous forts built by Chandela-kings during the end od 1st and beginning of 2nd millennium. Situated at the interface of U.P. and M.P. states of India this has been serving as the great barrier for ambitious kings/invaders aiming towards south.
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The largest, most typical Khajuraho temple, it soars 31 m high. Dedicated to shiva, the sanctum sanctorum enshrines a lingam. The main shrine is exquisitely carved and features, in delicate detail, gods, goddesses, celestial maidens and lovers. Particularly noteworthy are the entrance arch, the ceilings and pillars of the interior compartments
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The Kandariya Mahadev temple, the most magnificent and the biggest temple of the Khajuraho school of architecture. It is a temple of perfect proportions and rich ornamentation. It is the culmination of the temple art of Central India and is one of the finest achievements of Indian temple architecture. The shrine is 31 m (102 ft. 3 in.) in length, 2.0.3 m ( 66 ft. 10 in.) in width and 30.9 m (101 ft. 9 in.) in height. Four subsidiary shrines at the corners have perished, but the main shrine is in excellent condition and impresses the beholder by its majestic size and the perfect symmetry of its feature.
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(24 kms), is at the confluence of the Ken and Khudar rivers further down Raneh Falls and Nature Trail. This is a natural of the long snouted variety of crocodiles.
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Ken Nature Trail ( 22 km ), within a walking distance from Raneh falls, is a jungle track exhibiting natural beauty and imparts a knowledge of the surroundings.
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The lintel over the entrance of this beautiful Vaishnavite temple shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Lakshmi, Vishnu's idol of Vishnu's incarnations, Narasimha and Varaha. This boar incarnation also appears in a nine-feet high statue at the Varaha Temple.
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One of the most magnificent temples of Khajuraho, the Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is also called as Ramchandra or Chaturbhuja temple. Measuring 29.9m (98 ft.) by 13.8 m (45 ft. 3 in.). It has four subordinate shrines at four corners of the platform terrace. The direction of all the five temples is arranged in such a manner that a devotee ascending the stairs of the terrace will face the doors of all the five temples. The plan of this temple is the 'perfected Khajuraho' design of he sandhar type with two pairs of transepts. The five components that complete the architectural scheme of Khajuraho's greater temples are present in this one.
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56 kms from Khajuraho, are the only diamond mines of Asia. Open from 9 am to 1 pm. Sunday Closed.
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Still a living place of worship, the temple is dedicated to shiva, has an eight feet high lingam, and is outside the precincts of the Western Group.
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It is at 34 kms from Khajuraho, a picturesque waterfall in a bowl shaped valley on the ken river. The Pandavas are said to have spent a part of their exile here.
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The only Diamond City in India is Panna. Panna is beautifully calm and serene : roll-on meadows dotted with evergreen trees, rocks, hills, forests Panna is famous for its temples which strikes a very fine blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Panna is the most sacrosanct pilgrimage for the followers of the Pranami sect world over. With a sanctuary for rare wild life and avifauna & a diamond mine, Panna has transformed a royal past into a vibrant and lively present.
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Situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho is the Panna National Park. The region, which is famous for its diamonds, is also home to some of the best wildlife species in India and is one of the better Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope. Due to its closeness to one of the best-known Indian tourist attraction in India, Khajuraho, the park has the potential of becoming a major tourist attraction.
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The group's largest Jain temple and exquisite in detail. The sculptures on the northern outer wall are particularly noteworthy . The themes depict, in charming detail, everyday activity. Within, a throne faces the bull emblem of the first tirhankara, Adinath. The Parsvanath image was installed in 1860.
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A hundred year old temple built by Maharaja of Chhatarpur stands near the Parvati Temple, facing the main road. Having three different architecture of different religion, Muslims, Jainism and Buddhism.
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On the south west of the Vishwanath temple lies the Parvati Temple. It is believed that originally it was dedicated to Lord Vishnu, but presently it enshrines an image of Gauri (Parvati), the consort of Shiva on her mount, hence the temple is called Parvati Temple.
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Raneh Falls ( 19 kms ) on the ken river are famous fror their rock formations. The main attraction is a 5 - km - long, 100 - foot - deep canyon made of pure crystalline granite in varying sahdes of colors ranging pink and red to grey. A series of seasonal waterfalls surrounded by jungles make it an ideal picnic spot.
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Ranguan lake is 25 kms from Khajuraho. It is an ideal picnic spot suitable for boating and angling.
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The Khajuraho Archaeological Museum is located opposite the Shiv sagar lake. It displays a large collection of status, panels, carvings, piece of walls of the temples, that could be reduced or excavated from the ruins. It has a nice collection which is worth a visit.
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It is dedicated to the boar incarnation of lord Vishnu and is situated in front of the Matangesvara temple. An ablong structure of about 6 m by 4.8 m (20 ft. by 16 ft.) it contains a really huge statue of the boar measuring nearly 2.7 m long and 1.8 m high.
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