NURTURING 21st CENTURY CHILDRENLEISURE &
TR AVEL
antiquity dates back to the Mahabharata; Sonagiri (3 km),
a sacred Jain hill with 77 Jain temples; Pawaya (68 km),
a fascinating complex of ruins; Tiger Dam (23 km) and
the National Chambal Sanctuary. The Chambal
river flows a length of 435 km and is the mainstay of the
wildlife of the sanctuary, teeming with a variety of aquatic
life such as the Ganges dolphin, freshwater turtles and
river otters.
Accommodation. Top-end: Usha Kiran Palace
(Rs.6,000-7,000 per night). Mid-range: Hotel Tansen
(Rs.2,600-2,800); Hotel Gwalior Regency (Rs.2,600-5,200).
Budget: Hotel Mayur (Rs.1,200-1,600); Hotel Safari
(Rs.600-1,200); Hotel Residency (Rs.1,800-2,800).
KHAJURAHO
Once the capital of the Chandela kings, Khajuraho is
the stuff of dreams, with magnificent temples dedicated
to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Jain Tirthankaras.
The temples were built between 950 and 1050 AD
and symbolise the acme of medieval Indian art and
architecture. However, only 22 of the original 85 temples
are extant. Khajuraho (383 km from Bhopal) was declared
a world heritage site in 1986.
The creators of Khajuraho claimed descent from the
moon god. According to legend, Hemvati the beautiful
young daughter of a Brahmin priest was seduced by the
moon god while bathing in the Rati river. The child born
of this union was Chandravarman. Harassed by society,
the unwed mother sought refuge in the dense forests of
central India where she was both mother and guru to her
young son, who grew up to found the great Chandela
dynasty. When he was established as a ruler, he had a
dream-visitation from his mother, who urged him to build
temples that would reveal the erotic passions that govern
human beings and by so doing, generate realisation of
the emptiness of desire. Chandravarman began the
construction of the first of these temples and successive
rulers added to the fast-growing complex.
The temples of Khajuraho are divided into three
geographical groups: western, eastern and southern. The
Western Group of temples include the Kandariya
Mahadeo; the Chausat Yogini, Chitragupta, Vishvanath,
Lakshmana, and the Matangeshwara temples. A son-et-
lumiere (sound and light) show is presented in English and
Hindi at 6.30 pm every evening. The Eastern Group of
temples include the Jain Temples Parsvanath, Ghantai
and Adinath and some Hindu shrines such as the Brahma
Vamana and the Javeri temples. The Southern Group
of temples about 5 km from Khajuraho, comprise the
Duladeo and Chatarbhuj temples. The Archaeological
Museum, situated near the Western group contains a rare
collection of sculptures, inscriptions, architectural panels
and friezes dating back to the 10th and 12th centuries.
Excursions. Panna National Park (32 km), situated
in a dense wooded belt forming the northern fringe of a
natural teak forest is a protected habitat of tigers.
Panna (44 km) which was once the capital
of Chhatrasal, is also known for its temples. The
Majhagawan Diamond Mines (56 km), India’s only
working diamond mine and the largest in Asia, could also
interest the visitor.
Accommodation. Top-end: The Lalit Temple View
(Rs.5,500-6,300 per night); Hotel Jass Trident (Rs.2,000-
3,000); Hotel Holiday Inn (Rs.1,500-2,600). Mid-range:
Hotel Khajuraho Ashok (Rs.1,400-1,300) and Hotel Best
Western Greenwood (Rs.1,100-1,900). Budget: Hotel
Payal (Rs.340-690); Hotel Rahil (Rs.60-250); Tourist
Village (Rs.250).SANCHI
The history of Sanchi dates back to the 3rd century BC
when Emperor Ashoka, Buddhism’s most famous convert,
contrite after the slaughter of the Kalinga war, built the
first Buddhist stupas. Since then Sanchi has the singular
distinction of harbouring specimens of all Buddhist ar-
chitectural forms. These include stupas, chaityas, temples
and monasteries and are the finest examples of Buddhist
creative art and sculpture in the country. Architectural
marvels and sculptures of Sanchi include the Ashoka Pil-
lar and images of the Buddha and the Kushan kings.
Particularly worth checking out are the Great Stupa
No. 1, the oldest stone structure in India, 36.5 m in
diameter and 16.4 m high, with its massive hemispherical
dome; the Ashoka Pillar dating back to 300 BC; Bud-
dhist Vihara; Great Bowl; the Gupta Temple and
the Museum.
Accommodation. Residential accommodation is sparse
and utilitarian. Among the best are Travellers Lodge
(Rs.250-450 per night) and Tourist Cafeteria (Rs.200-290).Khajuraho Temple