Khajuraho

After spending a nearly a week in Varanasi, it was time for me to continue my discovery of India...

I had planned on moving next to Agra (and the Taj Mahal) when I arrived in Varanasi, but as I had plenty of time to relax in the warmth of the holy city, I discovered an interesting town along the way-- Khajuraho.

Khajuraho is probably off the beaten path of most backpackers, as it is a 10-hr bus journey from Varanasi, which is a easy train ride to Agra or Delhi away, and like nearly everywhere in the region, is avoided by tourists during the summer months for obvious reasons.

However, Khajuraho, it is said, is home to something near and dear to every man's heart-- The Kama Sutra.

So, since it was kinda sorta on the way to Agra, well, I thought that I would take my necessary pilgrimage while I was in the area.

(Please note that some of the photographs below are very graphic in nature--at least as graphic as a sculpture can possibly be. It is the intent of this blog to show my travels as they occurred; therefore, I have included the photographs on this page.)

The Eastern complex, known for its Jain temples.

A cow gets a close look at us.

The entrance sign to the Western, and more famous, complex of temples.

The entrance to the Western complex.

The Varaha temple, a shine dedicated to the Vishnu's boar reincarnation.

A close-up of the boar carving inside the temple, which dates to 900 AD.

Some of the meticulous carvings inside the Lakshmana Temple (including the next two photos), one of the many temples dedicated to the god Vishnu in the Western complex. Lakshmana, however, is one of the oldest, dated between 930 - 950 AD, and best preserved temples of the group.

The Lakshmana Temple, which was built between 930-950 AD, is one of the oldest and best preserved temples in the Western complex.

The rear of the temple.

The rear of the Lakshmana Temple.

The Kandariya-Mahadev Temple, built between 1025 - 1050, offers some of the most erotic scenes of the temples in Khajuraho.

The Mahadeva Temple is one of the smaller (and less preserved) temples in the complex, however, it houses one of Khajuraho's best sculptures-- a sardula figure caressing a lion (pictured here).

A view of the Chitragupta Temple, which is dedicated to the sun god, Surya.

The entrance to the Chitragupta Temple.

A view from the rear of the Vishvanath Temple.

Some of the sculptures on the Vishvanath Temple.

A view inside the Vishvanath Temple.

The Nandi Temple, opposite the Vishvanath Temple. The bull, Nandi, is the vehicle of the Shiva.

New friends of mine in front of the Vishvanath Temple.