Khajuraho
Hotels
 Khajuraho,
once the great Chandela capital, is today a village of
about a few thousand people in the interiors of
central India, in Chhatarpur district of Madhya
Pradesh. Tradition records the existence of eighty
five temples, of which only twenty five, strewn amidst
lakes and fields, have survived. The temples at
Khajuraho, brilliant examples of medieval Indian
architecture, were built under later Chandela kings
between AD 950 and AD 1050. Each ancient structure in
India has a fascinating story to tell. But few match
the temples of Khajuraho.
The name Khajuraho derives from the khajur or date
palm trees that once surrounded the huge Khajurvahaka
Tal. Legend has it that one sultry summer night,
Hemvati, the widowed daughter of a minister of the
King of Benaras, was bathing in the lake when the Moon
God Chandrama saw here and was entranced by her
beauty. The son born out of their union was
Chandravarman who grew up to found the Chandela
dynasty. In order to atone for his mother's lapse, he
raised temples that celebrated the union of Purush and
Prakriti, man and nature, as the source of all life
and creation.
Chandela Rajputs rose to power during the early 10th
century AD in the land known as Jajhauti, now
Bundelkhand. From being local feudatories of the
Partiharas of Kannauj, they rose to become a major
power in northern India. They were great patrons of
the arts and equally great builders. From 12th century
onward, the other rival power of central India and
Muslim invaders like Mahmud Ghazni whom the Chandelas
had kept at bay, began reasserting themselves. Al-Biruni,
the chronicler of Mahmud Ghazni, mentions Jajhauti
with 'Kajuraha' as its capital.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Air: Indian Airlines and Jet Airways link
Khajuraho with Agra, Delhi and Varanasi.
Road: Khajuraho is linked to Jhansi, 175 kms
away.
Rail: Jhansi, 175 kms from Khajuraho, is the
nearest mainline station for Khajuraho and is well
connected by super fast trains from Delhi and Agra.
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