Khajuraho Travel Guide

Facts

Name: Khajuraho
Area: 6 sq. km. (2.3 sq. mi.)
Population: 24,481
Language: Hindi, Bundelkhandi, English
State: Madhya Pradesh
Currency: Rupee
Time Zone: UTC+5:30 (IST)
Religions and Beliefs: Hinduism and Jainism

Located in Chhatarpur District, Khajuraho is about 232 km (144 mi) from the state’s capital, Bhopal and 620 km (385 mi) southeast of India’s capital, Delhi. As a UNESCO world heritage site, Khajuraho will amaze you with its enormous groups of temples. This town once housed 85 temples, out of which only 22 temples have survived after chaos and declined by the end of the 12th century. In addition to the distinctive structures and masterful carvings, Khajuraho temples are especially well-known for their numerous erotic sculptures. Besides, the sculpture themes include religious stories, myths, life scenes, wars and animals. Khajuraho temples are mainly divided into three complexes - East, South and West, among which the Western Group is the largest and best-known, containing Lakshmana Temple and Kandariya Mahadev Temple.

Best Places to Visit

1. Kandariya Mahadev Temple
2. Lakshmana Temple
3. Parshwanath Temple
4. Vishwanath Temple
5. Chitragupta Temple
6. Chausath Yogini Temple
7. Javari Temple
8. Nandi Temple
9. State Museum of Tribal and Folk Art
10. Panna National Park

Throughout all Indian temples, Khajuraho temple complex always has a unique status. Kandariya Mahadev Temple, the largest temple in Western Group, aka the “Great God of the Cave”, is famous for its exquisite carvings on the walls, pillars and the ceiling which portray the pursuits of life. The stone carvings of Lakshmana Temple depict interesting scenes like lines of marching soldiers, horse-mounted hunters pursuing their prey and elephants engaged in a playful battle. Parshwanath Temple is decorated with intricate carvings with detailed motifs; State Museum of Tribal and Folk Art and Panna National Park are also great spots on your Khajuraho travel list.

Best Time to Visit Khajuraho: October to March

October to March is the best time to visit Khajuraho when the temperature ranges between 5 and 27℃ (41-80.6℉). In February and March every year, the Khajuraho Festival of Dances are held. You can not only see the group of monuments, but also enjoy the local carnival dances. Monsoons from July till September and summers from April to June aren’t an ideal time to visit as the humidity and scorching heat might dampen your Khajuraho travel plans. In particular, the highest temperature in summer can reach 47℃ (116.6℉)!

Ranking List of Khajuraho Food

1. Dal Bafla
2. Chicken Korma
3. Lavang Latika

Wheat flour is most common in Khajuraho cuisines. Dal Bafla is the most typical food that every household eats. It is the unleavened bread made from whole-wheat flour and butter, and then baked in the oven. Chicken Korma is a traditional curry dish with a light almond flavor made up of tomato paste, plenty of spices, and cream. Lavang Latika is a deep-fried sweet delicacy made of crunchy crust stuffed with mawa and dry fruits, and then to be soaked in sugar syrup. Some local street food like Chikeriya Tarkari, Jalebis and Moong Dal Halwa should also be tasted.

Best Restaurants in Khajuraho

1. Guru Kripa: Jain Temple Road, Near Hotel Harmony, Khajuraho
Charging a very cheap price starting from ₹95, Guru Kripa offers a variety of vegetarian-friendly dishes including Indian, Asian and contemporary cuisines.

2. Raja’s Café: Main Road, Khajuraho, India
Opposite of Western Group of Khajuraho Temples, this rooftop café offers the inspiring view of the temples and the highest standard of Continental and Indian food. Sandwiches are a good choice for breakfast with coffee.

3. LA Bella Italia: Jain Temples Road, Khajuraho
This restaurant mainly serves Italian and Indian delicacies. Having homemade pasta with sauces, wood-fired pizza and cold coffee in the roof terrace must be a memorable experience.

Where to Stay in Khajuraho - 99% People Choose Jain Mandir Road

1. Jain Mandir Road: 99%
2. Bamitha North Road
3. Airport Road

Across the town center, Jain Mandir Road is close to Sagar Lake, Archaeological Museum and Western Group of Temples, which boasts the best-preserved and most breathtaking sculptures. The hotels on this road have a serene and green living environment and offer a spectacular temple architectural landscape, which makes it the best place to stay. With the bus stations, Bamitha North Road is flanked by many luxurious hotels like Radisson Jass Hotel and Pace Resort. Khajuraho Airport is located on the Airport Road, which is also a great area to stay. Clarks Khajuraho Hotel with a pool and spa is recommended here.

Transportation in Khajuraho

Khajuraho Airport (HJR), aka Civil Aerodrome Khajuraho is a domestic airport, around 4km (2.5 mi) south of Khajuraho town center. Regular domestic flights to Khajuraho are available from Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi, taking about 45 minutes, 1 hour 27 minutes and 1 hour. Khajuraho Railway Station (KURJ) is located about 8km (5 mi) from the town center and it costs about ₹75 by taxi. Tourists can also take trains from Delhi, Varanasi and Jhansi to Khajuraho Railway Station, taking 11.5 hours, 11 hours and 4-4.5 hours. The interstate buses are the options if you are travelling to Khajuraho by road. Regular buses run to Agra and Varanasi, which respectively take 10 hours and 12 hours.

Rented cars, taxis and cycle rickshaws are all the common modes of transportation for Khajuraho travel. Usually, taxis charge around ₹9 / km; cycle rickshaws cost ₹15 per km and ₹200 for an entire day sightseeing. The auto-rickshaws are faster than cycle rickshaws, and generally cost ₹50 to get to the airport from the town center.

Top Shopping Markets

1. Gole Market: Jain Mandir Road, Khajuraho
It’s the largest market in Khajuraho where there are various shops selling textiles, ethnic apparel, brass and silver artifacts and this market also houses electronics, medical stores and restaurants, etc.

2. Rajinagar: About 5 km (3.1 mi) away from the center of the city, Khajuraho
The Weekly Market on Tuesdays at Rajinagar is a popular destination for purchasing some brass and silver artifacts.

3. Shilpgram: Sevagram, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
It’s a one-stop destination for buying the best curated artifacts in the city directly from the artisans, ranging from handmade paintings, sandstone sculptures, and terracotta products to handmade textiles.