Legacy of Existence-KHAJURAHO Temples

For me, travel is to breathe. It has made me know myself better. It gave me a better insight into my perspective. It made me connect to myself, and with the place, people, culture, and much more.

The Khajuraho and Chanderi Road trip gave us divine satisfaction and made us want to travel more.

Journey Begins

For the two of us, this destination was an offbeat choice, and our love for history, heritage, and art was a major pull for the destination, majorly frequented by the foreigners than the Indians.

We boarded the Satna Express with the excitement to explore something new. In the shak shuk rhythm of the train, we could hardly sleep.

A night spent in the whistling train with endless talks, we looked forward to the road journey from Satna to Khajuraho. As we alight at Satna, we are welcomed by a bearded heavily built car driver who is also a pundit by profession.

As soon as we saw the heavily built pundit with a red tikka we almost stopped before taking the ride. We gathered our strength and trusted our guts, mustered all the courage, and started our journey of about 125km.

The Canopied Road

Indian countryside has a natural pull you want to get down run into the wheat fields ready to be harvested and run your hands over the crops. Passing through the Panna National park was most serene. This beautiful drive with the cover of green all over gives you the sense of the animals being very near to you and you keep looking for them.

Tall trees touching the skies seem to have a heart-to-heart conversation with the sky. We became anxious as we passed in eerie silence as there was no human that we could find. We looked forward to meeting the big cats.

Located in the Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh this medieval town of Khajuraho near the Shivsagar Lake is set amongst the Vindhya ranges. Ruled by the Chandela Rajputs is recognized as Bundelkhand.

The Light and Sound Show

After a quick Check-in, Covered with multiple layers of woolens we rushed to the western temples to see the light and Sound show in beautifully illuminated and manicured gardens.

Settling down on the freezing chairs the structures illuminated with colored lights playing hide and seek I hear the deep sensual voice of Amitabh Bachchan taking me back to the 10th century with voice intonations of horses running, temple bells ringing and soulful background music by Late Jagjit Singh I am living the history and I am part of the legacy.

 Legacy by the Chandelas

The daytime visit to the temples with a tour guide and his stories about each temple makes you fall in love with the huge structures set in the backdrop of the sun and the greenery to revisit the era.

Face to face with these temples I freeze with cold and their Grandeur. They stand elegantly tall with the multiple Shikhara design all temples bearing more or less in number, the shikaras in absolute symmetry carved with the life basics and the needs.

The granite and sandstone illuminating the pink and golden glow for the umpteenth day today keeping its sheen, texture, and beauty centuries after centuries.

Built throughout 100years in the 10th century by the founder of the Chandela dynasty Chandravarman the then king started the construction of 85 temples. Only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometers. These groups of Hindu and Jain temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites, with every temple having a story to tell.

As we visit the Varaha temple this incarnation of Lord Vishnu stands with all his power and might a mark of respect for every Hindu representing 36million deities of worship inside him and 116 miniature sculptures carved on him. The precision to maintain the symmetry intricately is unmatched.

Visiting the largest and currently most famous surviving temples is Kandariya Mahadeva, Duladev, Laxman, Prashanth, and Devi Jagdambi of western and eastern groups.

Made in Nagara style architecture it follows the symbolic mandala design of squares and circles forming perfect symmetry. The multiple shikhara with the ethos of a life well curated into the walls of the temples are majorly based on Dharma Kama, Artha, and Moksha.

With many interesting tales from our guide cum photographer and our pundit cum driver we are lost in the stories and thoughts associated with it.

The thoughtful architecture and taboo subjects depicted on the walls make you wonder about the thought process of the dynasties’ ruling. Only 10% of temples have erotic Sculptures most erotic scene panels are neither prominent nor emphasized, rather they are in proportional balance with the non-sexual images. Unless directed by the guide you naturally are lost in the intricate carvings and sheer elegance of the work.

Legacy of existence

They made sure they leave the legacy of their existence in a way the world will be awed. As they understood the basics of life and existence, they documented it and what a wonderful way to do so. They coexisted the Hindus and the Jain and stamped it through the legacy they left.

This ethos was followed by one and all and life was spent in creating the legacy for future generations to come. Many of them almost talking to you narrating the story of yesteryears. The trade, distances, wars, the wait for the families to return, and the loneliness speak volumes.

Today the ethos remains the same but we have blown them out of proportion and creations like these remain a dream. We have made a simple life a complicated one.

Transport

Tourists throng from all around the world to see these beautiful landmark structures. The place is accessible by Air, Road, and Rail.

Climate and Food

Winters being at its peak Khajuraho was engulfed in the blanket of Mist and FOG. Freezing temperatures, gatte ke sabzi, and the local food send your taste buds in frenzy and make the trip all the more alluring.

New Day, New plans

The next day was an early morning safari through the Panna national park. Fresh air, green jungles & the excitement of a sighting kept us going. We spent that day exploring the handmade Bamboo dupatta, Dokhra Art & the super enthusiastic Local Bundelkhand cultural show. Bamboo dupattas very local to Khajuraho like the beautiful temples and the divine local Ganga aarti connected us to the people.

By this time our pundit had become our pillar of strength! He was our SARATHI and took us everywhere and patiently waited and watched for us each time. The Indian Japanese local hotel owner had a lot of stories about Khajuraho and his inspiring journey. We walked through the streets checking out the knick-knacks and enjoying the evening with a laid-back dinner made our trip super fun.

See you again…!

Supporting local businesses and help our tourism grow is what we normally encourage. As souvenirs we got loads of goodies to carry back home. Now in the lockdown having an itch to explore a new place I wait eagerly for the world to be free from the Pandemic as our Mother Nature heals it’s time to adapt to the new Normal in Every aspect!

Do read and give your inputs hope I could inspire you to visit Khajuraho. Stay tuned to Varsha Mahore Blogs. Enriching lives through Travel. www.justonewayticket.in