Khajuraho temples - The Love of Design

If someone want resistant that the Kama Sutra originated in India, Khajuraho temples are the place to see. Erotica abounds here with over twenty temples devoted to sexuality & sex. These sandstone temples, which date back to the 10th & 11th century, are the only ones residual out of 85 temples constructed during this time. 

There are three groups of temples -- Western, Eas tern & Southern. The main temples are in the Western group that features the magnificent Kandariya Mahadeo Temple. The Eastern Group contains a amount of exquisitely sculptured Jain temples. There are just two temples in the Southern group.  Khajuraho is in northern Madhya Pradesh, about 620 kilometers (385 miles) south east of Delhi. 

Khajuraho is most simply reached by flight, or long distance train from Delhi to Agra (tri-weekly 2448 U P Sampark Kranti). There is also a daily Khajuraho temple -Jhansi Link train service, which is covers the distance between Khajuraho and Jhansi in around 5 hours.
Train 229A leaves Jhansi daily at 7.25 a.m. & arrives in Khajuraho at 12.10 p.m. It is a local passenger train and can not be reserved in advance. The road from Jhansi to Khajuraho temple has improved. The drive now takes around four hours & costs 2,500 rupees for a taxi. The bus can be particularly arduous, so hiring a taxi is a better option. The Khajuraho temples are open from sunrise until just before sunset. There is an admission cost of $US 5 for the western group of temples. But the children younger than 15 years are also free.  

A week long classical dance festival is held in Khajuraho temples at the Chitragupta Temple complex every year, in late February early March. The festival attracts performers & dance groups from all over India. Which is offers a charming way of seeing the various classical styles of Indian dance, including Bharat Natyam,  Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali. A large arts & crafts fair are also held during the festival.  

Although a Khajuraho temple is a little out of the way, do not decide to give it a miss on this basis. No anywhere else will you find such unique temples with particularly detailed carvings? The temples are most excellent known for their erotic sculptures. However, more than that, they show a festivity of love, life and worship. They also provide an outgoing peek into ancient Hindu faith & Tantric practices.