Crystallizing chaos Khajuraho Temples

Adinath Temple Khajuraho

A historic city widely acclaimed for its lovely temples, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is located in the woody plains of Bundelkhand region. The city has been rightly called as the symbol of medieval heritage. The appealing temples of Khajuraho present a wonderful blend of architectural and sculptural sheerness, representing one of the preeminent examples of Indian Art.  I also had always wanted to witness the grandeur and delicacy of the temples and planned for a Khajuraho tourism.

The temples at Khajuraho are a brilliant example of medieval architecture built under the later Chandela Kings between AD 950 and AD 1050.  The temples are divided into various categories namely Western group of temples, Eastern group and Southern group of temples. My temple tour started with visit to Adinath temple; richly ornamented with frail and pretty sculptures, this temple is dedicated to the 1^st Jain tirthankars, Adinath. The temple is constructed in the form of lime plastered masonry, showing arched doorways. Constructed in the form of ‘sapta rath’ with the passage of time only the sanctum and the corridor roofs of the temple have survived. The walls are decorated with beautifully carved images and postures of court musicians.

The next temple was Parsvanath temple. It is the largest Jain temple in the Eastern group; the temple features intricate stone carvings and sculptures enshrining a throne facing a bull emblem that represents the 1^st tirthankar. Next on the itinerary was Chitragupta temple; dedicated to the Sun god, it is one of the venues for the Khajuraho dance festival. The temple features a massive 5 feet tall deity in the inner sanctum driving a horse drawn chariot. The Chaturbhuj temple located in the southern side of the complex is the only important temple that faces west.

Parsvanath Temple Khajuraho

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the temple is so named because of idol of the presiding deity Vishnu has 4 arms. The temple has a huge cross shaped congregation hall that caters to devotees of Krishna Bhakti cult. Lotus emblem and other symbols provide the delicate exterior ornamentation. Indeed the Khajuraho tour of sacred temples is one of the most illustrious symbols of native Indian structure signifying religiosity, patronage and creative professional and visual feelings.

Day 1: The Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho

The incredible India is truly an extravaganza of amazing attractions which make it a favored destination of both national and international tourists. No wonder India is a treasure-trove of fascinating attractions. There is so much to experience and explore in this destination. A few days back two of my friends Saito and Misikawa from Japan came to India for some business purpose. They came to India for the first time and were really excited. They had less time in hand but they wanted to explore some attractions of the country. So I suggested them to take the Golden Triangle Tour which is the most popular tours of the country, especially when it comes to foreigners. I along with my Japanese friends planned the Golden Triangle Tour. This tour encompasses three enchanting destinations of India: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Qutub Minar: Delhi Tour

As my friends were already in Delhi for their business deal so we, after their official work got over, started exploring Delhi. It is the capital city of India which is a perfect example of the fine combination of traditional and modern. In the past it serves as a seat of power for several dynasties. The city is divided into two sections, Old Delhi and New Delhi, each part having its own distinct charm.

Our guide Dinesh took us to the arresting attractions. First we visited Qutub Minar, a magnificent structure built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek in 1206. It is famed as the tallest brick minaret in the world. It reflects a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is also a World Heritage Site. Then we visited Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Laxmi Narayan temple. My friends were delighted to see these historic monuments of Delhi. We did some shopping in Chandani Chowk market in old Delhi and feasted on a variety of stuffed paranthas( the specialty of Chandani Chowk) and Jalebi.

After an overnight stay at Marriot in Delhi, we headed towards Jaipur the next morning. To taste the royalty of the bygone era we stayed at a heritage hotel in Jaipur. Post breakfast we went to see the City Palace which was stunning. There we saw various belongings of the raja-maharajas. Saito said a visit to the palace was like a visit to the bygone era of raja-maharaja. Next we visited the Amber Fort, a majestic fort with several royal apartments. We covered the steep path to the fort on an elephant's back which was very royal and pleasurable. Then we visited the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical house with several stone devices which were once used to measure time and several astronomical events. Our last halt was Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a wonderful structure which was especially built for the royal ladies to see the processions taking place in the streets without themselves being seen. There are more than 900 small windows in this palace which is quite amazing.

This marked the end of our first half journey. Now we were slated to cover two more fascinating destinations: Agra and Khajuraho.