Khajuraho

 

 

 

Set in a rich agricultural plain, with the Vindhyan Hills as a backdrop, Khajuraho was formally the capital of the old kingdom of Jijhauti. The temple complex is a designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples were built between 950 and 1050 AD, they were lost for centuries and then discovered by a British Army engineer in 1838. The intricate and erotic carvings that cover the temple walls are widely considered to be amongst the finest examples of temple art in India.

We were picked up by our guide from our hotel (The Radisson) and had chance in the morning to go bird spotting, but our first call was to see the fruit bats roosting in the bamboo trees near the hotel. The area is very picturesque, especially around the water chestnut “paddy fields”. Plenty of new bird species for us to see.

 

 

 

 Next we arrived at the temple complex, the first thing that shocks you on arriving here is the number of temples. Each temple is ornately carved with images of gods and goddesses, ‘apsaras’ (celestial maidens), animals, soldiers, dancers and musicians. Probably the best preserved is the Lakshmana Temple, which took over 20 years to build. 

 

The largest one is the impressive Shiva temple of Kandariya Mahadev.

 The Matangesvara Temple is the only temple where worship continues today and the ruined Chausath Yogini Temple is believed to be the oldest temple in the complex.

 

 We are now completely templed out, and our driver sets off with us in the back for the long road trip to Bandhavgarh National Park (275km). We are staying at the Tiger Den complex.