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| Kathryn, Mary & me |
We are in Khajuraho, the home of the temples. These temples date from between the 9th and 10th centuries, and were saved from destruction by the Muslins by being in a remote part of the country. For many centuries the 80 odd temples lay forgotten in the jungle and were completed overgrown, until in 1830's when they were rediscovered and restoration began. The parts of the temples were carved from blocks of sandstone and put in place on site, put together like a giant puzzle, with a 'locking block ' up the very top, as no mortar or any binding material was used. All the temples exteriors are cleaned on a rota basis, once done they start again from the start, as the monsoon rains cause discolouration of the sandstone. First time this cleaning was undertaken they took all the temple apart (marking each block). It took 3 months to take apart, but 7 years to put back together, so since that failure it is now cleaned with scaffolding around it.
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| At the temples |
Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained the different carvings, including the erotic ones, which the temples are well known for. The details in all the carvings is exquisite and often quite humorous and the gardens around the temples is immaculate which green lawns.
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| Artist at work |
Unfortunately the town itself is full of touts, who are very persistent so it's unpleasant to have a stroll; you get bombarded constantly.
After lunch I had my palm read, which was interesting and later we attended a painting class. The artist was so skilled, paints with such details, and later in the evening we had dinner with him and his family in his home.
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| And dinner at his house |
He was a real character, very hospitable and his wife a great cook. I did shout myself another little souvenir; a tiny painting to take home.
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