Mar 26, 2013 - Khajuraho to Orchha

This morning we take a 4 hour bus ride from Khajuraho to Orccha ... for every moment of the drive there is something to see ... something to make you smile, make you laugh out loud, make you think or make you cry. That sums India up so far I think. A woman dressed in full sari in a wheat field raises her sickle to wave at us as we pass ... a boy with no pants ... small buses packed with people both inside and on top of the bus ... people look either exhausted or genuinely happy. There is no in between. Humans, dogs and goats seeking shade...

Mar 25, 2013 - Khajuraho

It's a very warm morning in Khajuraho with temperatures likely in the high 30s. I'm guessing that it will hit 40 by the afternoon. Our local guide is a lively man who speaks quickly and with passion. He's also pretty good at herding the group and directing us to view what is important. The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty between 950 and 1050. Of the 85 original temples, only 20 temples remain. The temples strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The most intact is the Temple of Kandariya...

Feb 25, 2013 - India - Khajuraho

Wednesday 27th February 2013 Khajuraho Left hotel at 10am for tour of temples. Originally 85 temples, now 25 surviving, in various stages of preservation, they were built in 10th to 12th century by the Chandela rulers. They are made of yellow fine grain sandstone and have very detailed carving over all the surfaces giving them a honey combed appearance from a distance. They are grouped in west, east and south clusters with the mountains in the north quarter. We visited the western group, it has one working temple for the local people with...

Mar 20, 2012 - Khajuraho- ancient temples

Khajuraho, or more precisely the famous cluster of temples there, is another one of those places that is much better left to photos than to description. Despite the abundance of temples and ancient sites we had seen in India, we were told repeatedly by endless sources that this was unmissable, and so we squeezed in a visit courtesy of round trip overnight trains. There is an interesting history behind the creation of the different temples that we learned while we were there, but to be honest it’s not the kind of information that sticks...

Jan 29, 2012 - L'arte del kamasutra

Khajuraho è un posto da non perdere. I suoi templi sono magnifici e, nonostante siano tra i più antichi visti fino ad ora (sono stati costruiti a cavallo dell’anno 1000) mostrano una modernità nel modo di raffigurare impressionante. E non dico questo perché le immagini sono quelle di donne, uomini e animali impegnati in pose sessuali, che richiedevano certamente un ottimo allenamento fisico e che il mondo occidentale, a quei tempi, non si sarebbe mai sognato di raffigurare, ma perché li rappresentano con una fluidità di movimenti, uno...

Feb 9, 2011 - Khajuraho 2

Leaving Khajuraho tomorrow. Going to Jhansi and from there to Orchha. It will be about a 5-6 hour journey. Yeah. I both love and hate Khajuraho. Itis a really small town that is totally dedicated to the tourist trade. The minute I walk out the front door of my hotel people start clamoring around me: rickshaw drivers, store owners, touts, people who just want to "practice" their English. It is definitely not hassle free. I did go to the festival the first night here. On the way a guy followed me talking to me the whole time. They don't seem...

Feb 5, 2011 - Khajuraho

Arrived safely in Khajuraho. I am staying at the Jain Hotel. There is a big dance festival going on here showcasing various traditional dance styles. I may go tonight just to see the different traditional dance styles. The power is out here so we are running minimally on batteries. I will keep in touch. Love ya'll.

Nov 28, 2009 - Sensual ordeal

I took a 38 hr long train ride from Chennai to Varanasi that left maybe 10min after scheduled time but arrived half an hour earlier than I thought it would. This despite stopping at many stations along the way, crossing a large part of the country. Yesterday I flew from Varanasi to Khajuraho which should only take about 2hrs from door to door. It took me 5hrs from city to city. Conclusion, you’re better off taking trains and buses in India! But I have to admit that it was grand comfort in the plane. Three seats per person, too bad the...

Aug 20, 2009 - Khajuraho

Overnight was not a problem for me (with The Bug) and the trip from Gwalior to Khajuraho was uneventful. It was a seven-hour drive at Mach 10 though - very tiring - and it was good to get to our hotel, the Usha Bandela. (Brenda's friend, Wendy, by the way, has been a joy to travel with - she was an easy-going and considerate roomie.) The heat and humidity in Khajuraho is oppresive but it's a fascinating place. It's known for its three groups of Indo-Aryan temples, built between ad950 and ad1050, by the Chandela dynasty. The temples are...

Jul 20, 2009 - Swiatynie w Khajruaho

20 lipca – dzień 17, godzina 8.30 – hotel w Khajaraho, ogród, lepiący się od potu – pomimo prysznica wziętego 20 minut temu... Nie chce się wierzyć jak ten czas szybko mija – jeszcze trzy dni i good bye India... wczoraj dotarłem do Khajaraho i znowu zacząłem schodzić – temperatura znowu 40+... Zanim dotarłem na miejsce to miałem dość śmieszna podróż pociągiem – gdyż był generalnie o 22.20... Jak się okazało w przedziale to właściwie mogłem pojechać jedna stacje dalej i zaoszczędziłbym 2h jazdy samochodem... bo tak mnie czekało 3,5 godziny w...

Apr 15, 2009 - Khajuraho & the Erotic Temples

Sharon I really enjoyed the temples. They were in great shape for being so old, about 1000 years old. The site was very big with about ten different temples surrounded by lovely grass and shrubs. It was quite beautiful. We got an audio guide to listen to while walking around. It was nice and we learned a lot but it was so long. Supposedly it was two hours but after about one we called it quits and just walked faster without it. There were so many carvings. Mostly of people and a few animals, elephants, camels, horses… The people were doing...

Mar 24, 2009 - The Kama Sutra Rocks

Yesterday we drove from Agra to Khajuraho. Sheikh drives like a mad man. At times I am convinced he thinks he is the only one who should be on the road, constantly blaring his horn and lecturing people to get out of the road. On the other hand Adults, children, dogs, cows, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, motorcycles, vespas, you name it leap out of every direction into the street. It's like a roller coaster. Near Gwalior we come to a halt. There is an hour wait as every vehicle in a twenty kilometer radius attempts to get through a tiny gate...