Khajuraho was given its name Khajura-Vahika because of the presence of the date trees. “Khajura” means “Date” in the Hindi language, and “Vahika” means “Bearing.”Each gate of Khajuraho is believed to have been flanked by two date/palm trees during the 11th century.

Khajuraho has a group of major temples of Hindu and Jainism, which is famous as the Khajuraho group of monuments.  Khajuraho temples, famous worldwide for their artwork, are built about 35 miles from Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. The beauty and attractiveness of the temple of Khajuraho remained intact till the 12th century, but in the 13th century when the Chandela kingdom was annexed by Sultan Qutub-ud-din of the Delhi Sultanate, the monuments of the Khajuraho temple were greatly destroyed, and its beauty had decreased significantly.

At the same time, from the 13th to 18th centuries, the historical and wonderful temples of Khajuraho of Madhya Pradesh were under the control of the Muslim rulers. Famous for their amazing artwork and royal designs, these temples were also destroyed during this period. In 1495 AD, the ruler of the Lodi dynasty, Sikandar Lodi, forcefully demolished many famous Khajuraho temples.

At the same time, according to some historians, the number of temples of Hindu and Jainism was 85, which was earlier spread over an area of ​​20 kilometers, and now only 20-25 of these temples are left, which are spread over a radius of 6 kilometers. At the same time, due to lack of proper care in these temples of Khajuraho, there was a lot of damage, as well as idols from many temples that started disappearing.

Most of the sculptures in the temples of this historic Khajuraho have been made using red sandstone, while granite stones have also been used in the construction of some of the sculptures. The temples are divided into three compounds— the West, the East, and the South. Temples include Dulhadev temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshman Temple, Parsvanath Temple, Vishwanath temple.

How to reach Khajuraho:

Khajuraho is well connected to air, road and rail transport. Khajuraho Airport is only 5kms away from the main temple. Khajuraho Railway Station is also 5 km away from the main temple, and connected to major cities like Bhopal and Delhi, and towns directly.

Best Time to visit Khajuraho:

The best and ideal time to visit Khajuraho is the winter season that is the time between October to February. Travelers can enjoy Khajuraho dance festival during this period of time. The weather during these months is quite comfortable to roam around. Summers are extremely hot and monsoons have humidity which is not suitable to watch the intricate beauty of the temples.

Kumbhalgarh Fort is located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, which was built in the 15th century and is the fort that separates Mewar from Marwar. The wall of this fort is 36 kilometers long and 15 feet wide, which reminds of the wall of China. That’s why it is considered to be the second-largest wall after the Chinese wall worldwide. This led the fort to got the status of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the most famous forts of Rajasthan, the Kumbhalgarh Fort, is located on the peak of the Aravalli hills, about 82 km from Udaipur.

One of the specialties of this fort is that it was built on the remnants of the fort built in the second century BC by Samprati, the second son of Emperor Ashoka. It took 15 years to complete this fort. The existing fort was built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha, the famous ruler of Mewar.

The fort is built by joining several valleys and hills, having a natural protective base. It served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of war.  The Kumbhalgarh fort has seven large doors. The largest of these is known as Ram Pol. Tourists can see a temple on Hanuman Pol, the main road leading to the fort. Halla Pol, Ram Pol, Paghara Pol, Nimbu Pol, Bhairav ​​Pol, and Top-Khana Pol are the other doors of the fort. There are more than 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest are the Hindu temples.

Tourists can view the Kumbhalgarh Fort, popularly known as the Pride of Rajputana, greenery of the Aravalli mountain range spread over hundreds of kilometers on one side, and on the other side the sand dunes of the Thar Desert.

In commemoration of Maharana Kumbha’s passion for art and architecture, the Rajasthan Tourism Department organizes a three-day annual festival in the fort. In the fort, sound and light shows are organized.

The Kaziranga Park was declared as Reserve Forest in 1908. It was renamed the Kaziranga Game Reserve in 1916. Later in the year 1950, the park was made Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kaziranga National Park has one-horned rhinoceros, wild-water buffalo (wild water buffalo) and eastern swamp deer being the most populous in the world. A total of 35 mammal species are found in this national park but 15 of them are now in danger. Apart from this, other animals found in Kaziranga include elephant, gaur, sambar, wild boar, Bengal fox, golden jackal, bear, Indian gray nebula, small Indian nebula. A horned rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, Asiatic elephant, and the royal Bengal tiger are most commonly found in Kaziranga National Park.

The rich variety of vegetation found in Kaziranga attracts tourists here every year, making it a distinct peace of mind for them. Tourists coming to Kaziranga National Park can enjoy two types of safari, elephant safari, and jeep safari. With the help of both these safaris, you can see the fascinating view of the fauna and forests of Kaziranga National Park. To enjoy the jeep safari, the Kaziranga national park has fixed timings. Tourists must ensure the timings before planning the trip.

If you are planning to visit Kaziranga National Park, the best time to visit here is from November to April. Assam receives heavy rainfall when the monsoon arrives and before the monsoon due to which Brahmaputra river gets flooded. The Kaziranga National Park and the lowlands get submerged. During the rainy season, the animals of Kaziranga National Park migrate from one region to another. Therefore, traveling to Kaziranga from November to April will be very enjoyable for a tourist.

This ancient magnificent city now survives only in ruins. From the view of the ruins here, it seems natural that once upon a time there was a flourishing civilization in Hampi. There are more than five hundred monuments between the valleys and dunes. There are many buildings which include temples, palaces, cellars, water-ruins, old markets, royal pavilions, platforms, treasuries, etc.

 According to historians, Hampi was once called Kishkindha, in fact, from the 13th to 16th century the city prospered as the capital of the Vijayanagara kings. Hampi is an open museum for both tourists and pilgrims. Every turn of Hampi is amazing. Every monument holds a secret than it reveals.

Hampi is called a city of temples. Let’s know about some temples and sites that are worth visiting while Hampi and also included in the UNESCO world heritage site.

Virupaksha Temple

This temple of Hampi is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, who is another form of Lord Shiva. Virupaksha Temple is a sacred place situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River at Hampi in the state of Karnataka. Built during the seventh century, this temple was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its history and beautiful architecture. The temple has beautiful sculptures of many deities which reflect mythological stories related to them.

VITTHAL TEMPLE or VITHALA TEMPLE

The Vitthal temple is one of the most influential temples in Hampi. The Vitthal temple was built during the 16th century. In fact, this temple presents its rich architecture beautifully. Hampi has a famous stone chariot which is considered an iconic symbol of Hampi’s architecture. This temple has a large courtyard which is located in the center. It signifies the majesty of Vijayanagar and the glory of Kalavabhava.

HAMPI CHARIOT

The main attraction of the Vithala temple is its pillared walls and stone chariots. These pillars have a unique feature that can’t be found anywhere else. They are known as musical pillars because the music comes out of them when patted with love. The stone chariot is a wonderful piece of architecture. The temple has been carved in stone, which is in the shape of a chariot.

LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE

Hampi Lakshmi Narasimha Temple or Ugra Narasimha Temple is made of large rock which is the tallest statue of Hampi. It is about 6.7 meters high.

SHIV LINGA: Bada Shivlinga

As the name indicates, Bada, the shiv linga stands at a height of 3m. This Shivlinga has been carved out from a single stone and one of the most attractive sites to visit during the Hampi tour.

The other places that are popular and worth demanding a visit are lotus palace, monkey temple, Hippie Island, Elephant stable, and many more archaeological sites are there.

To explore the world heritage site and ancient ruins of Hampi, winters from (October to February) is the best time to visit Hampi. Visiting during this time can lead a traveller to see the events of Hampi that including Vijaya Utsav, the largest celebration happening in Hampi.

A trip to Agra can be a good experience for those interested in history and architecture. In addition to the huge monuments in Agra, there are other things to eat and drink, such as Agra Chaat, Lassi and especially the Petha of Agra is famous all over India.

In Agra, The Taj Mahal, the symbol of love is widely regarded as the most beautiful building in the world. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his third wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of the Taj Mahal took about 17 years to complete and was finally completed by 1653. The mausoleum is constructed in a rectangular shape. The entrance has water channels and fountains which make the monument even more spectacular.

Another spectacular place to visit near Agra is Fatehpur Sikri. At a distance of 36 km away from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous tourist attraction mainly made of red sandstone. Fatehpur Sikri was founded in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is a classic example of Akbar’s architecture. Fatehpur Sikri is home to Jodha Bai’s palace, Jama Masjid, Buland Darwaza and Salim Chishti’s mausoleum.

Agra Fort, the other UNESCO world heritage site in Agra is a huge fort located on the right bank of the Yamuna River, just 2.5 kilometers from the world-famous Taj Mahal. This grand structure was built in the year 1573 by the Mughal emperor Akbar himself. Agra Fort is one of the most special monuments built by the Mughals and has quite a grand structure. It is a perfect example of Mughal-style art and architecture and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Agra. The Pearl Mosque, Diwan-i -Khas, Diwan-i- aam, Moti Masjid, and Jahangiri Mahal are the best Mughal architecture within the fort complex.

Jama Masjid in Agra is one of the largest mosques built by the Mughals in India, is also known as the “Friday Mosque”.

The other tourist attraction places in Agra Include Itimad-Ud-Daulah tomb, Akbar Tomb, Mehtab Bagh, Chini Ka Rauza, Anguri Bagh, Taj Museum

An annual festival, Taj Mahotsav is the famous festival in Agra organized in the month of February for 10 days. To promote the art and craft of the region, the festival is organized. Apart from this, one gets to taste various dishes at this festival.

Agra is situated on the Golden Triangle of the Tourist Circuit. It is well connected to Delhi by road, rail and air transport. To visit Agra, the month of October to March is best to explore the place.

The most spectacular building by Le Corbusier is the Capitol complex. It is the seat of the government of the States of Punjab and Haryana. It comprises three structures:  the Secretariat, the High Court, and the Legislative Assembly. And in the centre stands the giant metallic sculpture of The Open Hand, the official emblem of Chandigarh, signifying ‘Open to give’ Open to receive. Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex was in July 2016 declared by UNESCO a World Heritage site.

For the nature lovers, Rose Garden is a blooming paradise exhibiting a thousand varieties of flowers, trees, and medicinal herbs. It is the largest garden of its kind in Asia spreading over an area of 30acres. The flowers are in their full bloom during the month of February and March. Rose garden is the most attractive tourist place in Chandigarh. The gardens that adorn the Chandigarh are Pinjore Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Bougainvillea garden, leisure valley, botanical garden, terraced garden and many more.

A must-visit place in Chandigarh is Rock Garden, a garden of mosaic art pieces and sculptures. It is a true example of ‘Best from waste’ created by Nek Chand, a former road inspector of Chandigarh. The waste material used by him includes terracotta pots, light fixtures, broken toilet pots and bangles and many more.

Sukhna Lake, a man-made lake located in the foothills of Shivaliks. The cool breeze from the lake serves as a perfect place for people to spend long hours here. Boating, rowing, trampoline jumping, and walking are activities that travellers can enjoy. Migratory birds and Siberian cranes can also be seen here.

The other tourist attractions that a traveller can enjoy visiting are Shanti Kunj, Fun city, Art and Museum Gallery, Sec-17 market, Elante Mall, Dolls Museum, Chat Bir Zoo, and much more to visit and rejoice. Traveler can also see nearby hill stations Kasauli, Shimla, solan that are easily accessible from there.

Chandigarh can be seen during any time of the year but the best time is between August to November as this time temperature is neither too hot nor too cold.