Another long journey took us to Khajuraho - Anil told us "No worries! Short journey today - 80 kms.", but after 2 hours of driving we saw a sign telling us that we had 110 kms. to go! However, the 4 hour journey was worth it & WE LIKED KHUJARAHO!!!!
The Hotel Surya was lovely. We had a cool room with windows overlooking a peaceful garden. We even had top sheets on the bed & were given towels, soap & toilet paper on arrival - all unheard-of-treats up until that moment! The food served in the garden cafe was a freshly cooked & delicious. The Internet worked & the streets outside were almost clean..................... we're more easily pleased nowadays by simple things & this was bliss.
Another kind of bliss was very much in evidence at the Hindu temples , from the 10th to 12th centuries, which were our reason for coming to Khajuraho. The temples have gained fame for their elaborate & erotic carvings. The British Victorians who "rediscovered" the temples were not amused - but flocks of people since have been, including us, of course. There are 6 main temples remaining, from an originally much bigger grouping, which have fantastic layered conical rooves & 1000s of intricate sandstone carvings, including the eye-catchingly explicit sex scenes. A couple of small temples have huge statues of Nandi (a bull) & Varaha (Vishnu's incarnation as a boar). Although the weather was incredibly hot we managed to linger for 3 hours.
We also visited a group of Jain temples where the main attraction was a 4.5 metre statue of Shantinath, the 16th Tirthankara (a "crossing maker" - one is said to appear on earth every 300,000,000 years! Pilgrimage sites like this are known as tirthas - (river) crossings - places that bridge from this world to the next).
All in all, a worthwhile & enjoyable place to visit.
The Hotel Surya was lovely. We had a cool room with windows overlooking a peaceful garden. We even had top sheets on the bed & were given towels, soap & toilet paper on arrival - all unheard-of-treats up until that moment! The food served in the garden cafe was a freshly cooked & delicious. The Internet worked & the streets outside were almost clean..................... we're more easily pleased nowadays by simple things & this was bliss.
Another kind of bliss was very much in evidence at the Hindu temples , from the 10th to 12th centuries, which were our reason for coming to Khajuraho. The temples have gained fame for their elaborate & erotic carvings. The British Victorians who "rediscovered" the temples were not amused - but flocks of people since have been, including us, of course. There are 6 main temples remaining, from an originally much bigger grouping, which have fantastic layered conical rooves & 1000s of intricate sandstone carvings, including the eye-catchingly explicit sex scenes. A couple of small temples have huge statues of Nandi (a bull) & Varaha (Vishnu's incarnation as a boar). Although the weather was incredibly hot we managed to linger for 3 hours.
We also visited a group of Jain temples where the main attraction was a 4.5 metre statue of Shantinath, the 16th Tirthankara (a "crossing maker" - one is said to appear on earth every 300,000,000 years! Pilgrimage sites like this are known as tirthas - (river) crossings - places that bridge from this world to the next).
All in all, a worthwhile & enjoyable place to visit.
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