Khajuraho, in the Bundelkhand region of the state of Madhya Pradesh, is essentially just a small Indian town and one which might not have achieved any particular fame had it not been for the Chandela Rajput dynasty leaving their indelible mark upon it between the 10^th and 16^th centuries. The town takes its name from the Hindi word ‘khajur’ meaning ‘date palm’ because of the abundance of trees of that variety in the area.

Khajuraho’s greatest attractions are its magnificent ruined temples that were the work of the Chandela kings during the 10^th and 11^th centuries. The erotic carvings that adorn the walls of these decaying structures have fascinated historians for many a decade and continue to fascinate all who are fortunate enough to lay eyes on them.

The temples are split into the western, eastern and southern groups and the collection in its entirety can be easily appreciated in just a few days. Consequently few tourists spend more than a couple days in the town, and for most it is a destination to visit as part of a touring holiday as opposed to a place to spend an entire vacation.

There are some interesting destinations suitable for daytrips with options for reaching them by rail or road. Panna National Park is perhaps the highlight of the list and is the ideal place to enjoy some of Madhya Pradesh’s rich flora and fauna in a pretty much unrestricted state and as nature designed it.

For its size, the town has a good selection of accommodation options with everything from budget to top of the range establishments. During the warmer part of the winter season, this little town can get quite busy and it’s easy to see why tourism is such an essential aspect of the local income base.

Khajuraho is relatively easy to reach, having its own domestic airport as well as maintaining rail connections with many of the country’s major cities. The roads are in something of a state of disrepair or underdevelopment, so while buses are an option, they are by no means the most comfortable one.

The area in which Khajuraho now sits is known to have been significant from a historical perspective in the period around 200 BC, first rising to prominence for its architecture and art during the Sunga period and later again in the Gupta period.

Khajuraho’s history, however, is shrouded in mystery and not a great deal is really known about it between its earliest days and modern times. The city began life as a part of the empire commanded by the Hindu dynasty known as the Chandela Rajputs. In those days, it was referred to as Kajuraha and was the capital of the region known as Jajhauti, which is now called Bundelkhand.

Temples were constructed during the Chandela Rajput dynasty and these constructions perhaps mark the city’s most notable historic period. Construction took a good hundred years beginning in 950 and finishing in 1050 after which time the Chandelas moved their capital to Mahoba; however, this was by no means to the detriment of Kajuraha, which continued to prosper. Some of the temples built during this period are still in existence although time has certainly taken its toll on their appearances.

After the Chandela Rajput dynasty, Khajuraho may well have disappeared into obscurity as little is written about it in the history books. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that any real interest was taken in the area again. After the temples were rediscovered beneath the jungle overgrowth, Maharaja Pratap Singh undertook a large scale renovation programme which saw many of the structures given serious facelifts between 1843 and 1847.

Khajuraho’s climate is one of extremes, seeing scorching hot summers and cold winters with an exceedingly wet monsoon season in between. The summer season is perhaps too hot for most visitors, with temperatures hitting the mid 40s (°C) and occasionally in excess. Humidity is high also in this season although the chances of rain are not especially high.

The monsoon season follows the summer and it’s during this period that the greater part of the city’s annual 114cm of precipitation falls. Humidity is exceedingly high during the wet season and temperatures are also steamy, hovering in the 30s (°C) for the most part.

Winter follows the monsoon season and at its peak can see temperatures as low as 4°C. Rain is uncommon at this time of the year and relative humidity is considerably lower. This season is the best time to visit Khajuraho with the earlier months between September and December offering the most favourable temperatures.

Visiting Khajuraho during the winter necessitates warm clothes, especially if arriving in late December or January as these are the coldest months. It’s possible to visit in the monsoon season provided you pack a waterproof jacket and are prepared for the possibility of disruptions in your activities from the unpredictable rain spells. The summer is out probably for all except those visitors who are well acclimatised to high temperatures. It’s wise to bring light long-sleeved tops and long pants at this time as opposed to the shortened variations of each, as the sun is simply too hot to risk exposure.