Khajuraho, the city of temples

  These 85 granite and sandstone temples of Khajuraho are renowned for their fine blend of sculpture and architecture. They consist of bands of horizontal sculptures which balance and blend with the vertical line of the temples superstructure. Besides the Chausath-yogini, the Brahma and the Mahadeva temples which are of granite, all the other temples are made of fine grained sandstone and are buff pink or pale yellow in colour.

   Temples have been constructed on a high and soliocable charm andd platform, which provides an open ambulatory. The temple of Vishnu built by Yasovarman (AD954), now famous as the Lakshman temple proclaims the prestige of the Chandellas. The Visvanatha, Parsvanatha and Vaidyanatha temples belong to the time of king Dhanga, the successor of Yasovarman.

     The Jagadambi, and the Chitragupta Temples, are noteworthy among the western group of royal temples of Khajuraho. The immortal Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest and the grandest temple of Khajuraho, attributed to King Ganda (AD 1017-29). These temples are known for their lofty terraces (jagati) and functionally effective plans. The sculptural embellishments include parivara, parsva, avarana devatas, dikpalas, the apsaras and sura-sundaris in their delicate, youthful female forms of ravishing beauty exuding an irreverent grace.

Weather:

Summer days are extremely warm in Khajuraho with day temperatures reaching highs of 44° C. winter days are warm and sunny but nights are extremely chilly. The rocky terrain soaks up the heat of the unrelenting summer sun all day, only to release it at night, making summer months unbearably hot without air conditioners and desert coolers. The rains arrive here by the middle of July when the heat eases up a bit but the humidity increases.