KHAJURAHO
Area in Sq Km : 8
Population : 6500
By
Air
Khajuraho
has its own airport. Indian Airlines operates daily flights
on Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi and return by the same
route to Delhi. From Delhi, CD7407 takes 1 hour 45 minutes
to reach Khajuraho with a stop at Agra (arrival at 11.05
am and departure at 11.35 am). From Varanasi, CD7408 serves
Khajuraho by a 40-minute flight.
By
Train
The nearest railhead is
Jhansi (172 km away) if you are coming from Delhi. The best
train for Jhansi is the speedy Shatabdi Express, which departs
New Delhi at 6.15am and arrives Jhansi at 10.39am. Other
trains to Jhansi include the daily Swarnajayanti Express
(dep. from Delhi at Nizamuddin station-5.50 am and Arr-12.30
noon). From Mumbai, you can take the daily Dadar Amritsar
Express departing Dadar (Mumbai) at 10.40 in the night and
arriving Jhansi at 8.10 in the morning. The other nearest
railhead is Satna (117 km), if you intend to come from Calcutta.
The best train from Calcutta is Howrah Mumbai Mail (departure
from Howrah at 8 pm and arrival Satna at 2.10 pm, the next
day). This train also connects Satna with Mumbai on its
return journey. From Allahabad, the same train departs at
11.10 am and reaches Satna at 2.10 pm.
By
Road
Khajuraho is connected by
buses from Jhansi and Satna (117 km). Madhya Pradesh Tourism
Development Corporation (MPSTDC) runs a daily deluxe coach
from the Jhansi railway station 15-20 minutes after the
arrival of Shatabdi Express, which takes around 5 hours
to reach Khajuraho (fare is Rs 85). In addition to it, you
can hire a private taxi costing you around Rs 1400 for the
transfer. The friendly MPSTDC's information centre opposite
the exit gate of the railway station can be contacted in
arranging the taxi.
October to March. In contrast to the summer months of April-June
(very hot, dry and dusty) and the rainy season of July-August,
October to March is relatively cool and a good time to visit
Khajuraho.
From
the Airport
The airport is 5 km away from most hotels. The transfer
from the airport by taxi costs Rs 60 (approx) and Rs 40
(approx) by auto-rickshaw.
From
the Railway Station
The nearest railway station is Jhansi (172 km away). Regular
buses (every hour from morning to noon) from nearby places
connects it by road. Taxis from the railway station charge
Rs 1400 (approx).
From
the Bus Station
The bus stand is located in the main market. Auto and cycle
rickshaws are readily available to transport you to hotels
at a cost of Rs 45 (approx) and Rs 25 (approx) respectively.
The most convenient way to 'sights-see' is to hire a bike
from the Gole market. The cost: Rs 25 for the full day.
To see the temples, an option is the rickshaw. The very
name, Khajuraho, arouses strange dreams even in daytime.
Of full bodied feminine forms frozen in stone, so real that
you wonder whether they might come alive at a touch. Khajuraho
or the home of khajura (khajura), lies in the richly watered
plain of northern Madhya Pradesh in central India. It draws
tourists all around the globe for its magnificent temples
of erotica. Built between 950 and 1050 AD, the Khajuraho
temples are the greatest architectural achievement of the
Chandella dynasty. It was accidentally discovered by a British
army engineer (pre-Independence India) in 1839 who had gone
with his team to excavate a nearby area. The temples here
are categorized into three groups: the western, eastern
and southern. Khajuraho today is a small village where tourists
outnumber the locals during most time of the year. The temples
are scattered in an area of 8 sq km. Shops selling local
handicrafts (The hotels Chandela, Jass Oberoi, Holiday Inn,
Clarks Bundela and Ashok also have shopping arcades.) neighbour
the temples. However, what most people take back home are
their memories.
The summer temperature ranges between 47°C (Max) and 21°C
(Min). Winter temperature stays between 32°C (Max) and 4°C
(Min). The annual rainfall is 1,120 m. |
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