Khajuraho is one of the most well known tourist destinations in India.
Khajuraho had at least eighty-five temples, out of which twenty-two exist
today. Between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, the Chandela kingdom
ruled the Northern Deccan peninsula but the temples were forgotten to
everyone but the locals for hundreds of years after. They were "rediscovered"
by a British tourist in 1840 and became an international attraction.
History
The city was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, a tribal
dynasty who ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries.
The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from
950-1050 AD. The whole area was enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each
flanked by two golden palm trees. There were originally over 80 temples, of
which only 22 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered
over an area of about eight square miles.
Mythology
Khajuraho temples were built in around 1000 AD by Chandravarman, the
founder of Chandela dynasty. Legend has it that the emperor was sired by
none other than the Moon God. Hemwati, daughter of a brahmin priest, was
seduced by the moon god when she was bathing in a lake by the forest. Unable
to face the scorn of the society, she took refuge in the dense forests of
Central India. There she gave birth to her love child. She was her son's
guru, his guide. Once, it is said, Chandravarman had a dream where his
mother instructed him to reveal human passions to the world and thus prove
their emptiness. Inspired thus, the king decided to build the temples that
would depict different faces of desire.
Khajuraho Temples
The Khajuraho Temples are a perfect example of the excellence of Indo-Aryan
architecture and reflect the joyous celebration of all aspects of life. The
temple complex is divided into three groups, The Western group of Temples,
Eastern group of temples and the Southern group of temples. These groups
include all the prominent monuments built by the Chandela rulers.
Khajuraho festival
This is a 7 day festival celebrated with fervor and joy, during the
pleasant Hindu spring month of Phalguna, corresponding with the months of
February/March. The celebration involves Indian classical dance and music
and is included in one of India's premier dance events. The Khajuraho
Festival of Dance is a showcase for all forms of classical dance.
