Khajuraho Tour Packages

Yes, if temple architecture or Indian sculpture interests you. UNESCO describes the group as the culmination of northern Indian temple art under the Chandella dynasty, and the carving covers almost every outer surface, from deities and celestial dancers to scenes of teaching, music and household life. The town is out of the way, with few flights and trains, so it rewards a night or two rather than a hurried stop between other places.

In February. MP Tourism describes it as a celebration of Indian classical dance by leading performers from across the country, staged with the temples as the backdrop, and it has run for more than five decades. The exact dates change from year to year, so ask the specialist to check them before you fix a February trip and to plan your temple day around the evening performances.

It is hard going. IMD's figures for Satna, the nearest city it profiles, put the average May maximum at nearly 42°C, and the tour is a day on foot between three groups, with some platforms climbed barefoot. If you must come between April and June, start early, rest through the afternoon and return for the evening show. Between October and March it is far more comfortable.

Generally yes, outside, and the carved outer walls are what most visitors want to photograph. Ask your guide before photographing inside any shrine that is still in active worship, and follow any signs at the gates. The soft light of early morning and late afternoon shows the depth of the carving best, and it also keeps you out of the midday heat.

Because there is so much carving to read. MP Tourism counts about 870 sculptures on the Western Group alone, set in bands from plinth to spire, and without help most visitors see only the few well-known erotic panels. A guide picks out the gods and their stories, the celestial dancers, the scenes of daily life and the differences between the Hindu and Jain temples, which is why the tour is built around one.

Raneh Falls, 21 km away, where the Ken river has cut a canyon about 5 km long and 30 metres deep, and Pandav Falls, on the road to Panna, which drops 30 metres into a pool with caves tied to the Mahabharata. Panna National Park begins about 27 km out. In town, the Adivart museum shows tribal and folk art in traditional houses, and the Jain museum near the bus stand has sculptures of the 24 Tirthankaras.