Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India

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After an epic journey from Calcutta to Satna (overnight by train) and then another couple of hours on a bus from Satna to Ghura, we finally found ourselves on an autorickshaw to our destination, Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh. It had taken almost twenty-four hours to get there, and by the time we arrived it was about 9pm at night.
On arrival, we checked ourselves into a nice little budget hotel called Hotel Surya, which provided us with a private room with bathroom (including an air water cooler) for about 500 rupees. We had a quick dinner in the garden restaurant before heading straight to bed.

Western Temples

Khajuraho is famous for its many Jain and Hindu temples, which are scattered across the town. Our first stop was the group of temples on the western side of town. These temples are enclosed within a perfectly manicured garden with green lawns and require an admission fee. The temples in Khajaraho were built over a period of 2000 years from 950 to 1150 and are renown for their extremely explicit, erotic carvings. After spotting the most jaw-droppingly shocking of the carvings, we began to appreciate the intricacy of the carvings, and the level of minute detail to which the artists captured daily life in India. We also enjoyed playing around with the monkeys (and watching them fight with the local dogs) who seem to have staked their claim on a couple of the temples.

Varaha Temple enshrines a colossal monolithic image of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord VishnuSonya on the steps of the Lakshmana TempleLakshmana Temple, a Hindu temple, Dedicated to Vishnu
One of the many erotic carvings at the Lakshmana TempleTwo rows of sculptures including divine figures, couples and erotic scenes at Lakshmana TempleSculpture of the sculptors carving an elephant at the Lakshmana Temple
A humorous sculpture with an elephant peaking at an intimate coupleRow of Makaras along the perimeter of the Lakshmana TempleTwo intricate dancers carved on Lakshmana Temple
Row of sculptures on Lakshmana TempleSculpture of god Vishnu on Lakshmana TempleMain Idol is the tri-headed and four-armed sculpture of Vishnu
Travis outside the Kandariya Mahadev TempleShikhara of the Kandariya Mahadev TempleOne of the most famous erotic carvings found on the Kandariya Mahadev Temple
Shikhara of the Kandariya Mahadev TempleSonya admiring the architecture of the Kandariya Mahadev TempleSonya admiring the intricacy of the carvings of the Kandariya Mahadev Temple
Three rows of sculptures including divine figures, couples and erotic scenesTravis sitting on the Shiva Linga (aka a phallus) at Kandariya Mahadev TempleHead of lion with the Devi Jagadambi Temple in the background
Lady and the LionIn the sanctum an enormous image of the multi-armed goddess DeviKandariya Mahadev Temple
Inside the Hindu Chitragupta TempleThe roof of the Hindu Chitragupta TempleLakshmana Temple seen across the western temple grounds
Elephant sculpture outside Vishwanath TempleA monkey text to some erotic sculptures at the Vishwanath TempleVishwanath Temple, a monkey can be sitting on the balcony window
A bird perched on a Vishnu statue at the Vishwanath TempleThree rows of sculptures including divine figures, couples and erotic scenesMonkeys sitting on the balcony of the Vishwanath Temple
Monkeys sitting on the balcony of the Vishwanath TempleThe entrance to the the Vishwanath TempleSonya admiring the Parvati temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvati

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/khajuraho-madhya-pradesh-india-western-temples.xml,s)

Eastern Temples

We then headed to the eastern and southern temples, arranging a rickshaw for transport to the further ones. Although less maintained, there were just as equally impressive and looked beautiful as the sun set.
In the evening as we headed back to the main town we had dinner at a South Indian restaurant and finished our day with some lassis.

The Jain Museum with the spires of the eastern temples visible in the backgroundThe spire of Adinath templeTemple corncob spires
Temple corncob spireA women bending her leg carving at Parsvanath TempleA woman applying makeup carving at Parsvanath Temple
A woman removing a thorn from her foot carving at Parsvanath TempleA number of stone carved statuesAdinath Temple
The spire of Adinath templeThe spire of Adinath templeSmaller minor temples
Chaturbhuj TempleChaturbhuj TempleThe ruins of a damaged old temple

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/khajuraho-madhya-pradesh-india-eastern-temples.xml,s)

Animals of Khajuraho

A monkey sitting at the entrance to the Vishwanath TempleA monkey sitting at the entrance to the Vishwanath TempleA monkey sitting at the entrance to the Vishwanath Temple
A monkey and baby crossing the path with local women in the backgroundTwo dogs chasing a monkeyOrange lizard
Orange lizardMonkey sitting on temple base with temples visible in the backgroundSquirrel eating a nut

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