Rain Maker
Hotel Ramada is a of mid range standard, but quite good in that category. It is two storied building with all rooms either of poolside view or garden view. The garden is quite sprawling. Actually the entire hotel compound is vast and well maintained. The rooms are spacious, with Bath Tubs and Shower Cubicle in bathrooms. It also has an Authentic Ayurvedic Massage Parlour. The hotel offers an "Off-season Summer Bonanza Package" from June to August. We went for a 3 Days-2 Nights Package with Buffet Breakfast and Lunch or Dinner for a twin sharing room, with two children below 12 years sharing the same room without extra bed, all for Rs.5999. We further got 999 bucks discount through a friend of mine, who runs a travel business and has tie-up with this hotel. Cool deal! The package also offers 15-20% discount on Food, Beverages, Laundry and Ayurveda treatment.
The hotel is just 1 km from Airport and also the same distance away from the Khajuraho temple site. Khajuraho itself is still a small village with about 3000 inhabitants, half of which are local ethnics, as farmers or into local administrative jobs and the rest are migrants, either working here as hotel and restaurant staffs, or are into tourism related businesses. In any case the Khajuraho Temples has a towering influence in their life and livelihood.
Khajuraho has many folklores, among which the most famous legend goes as follows: In the tenth century A.D., Hemraj, the chief priest of Benaras, was highly esteemed and was regarded emimently, across whole Central India. He had no son, but a daughter, Hemvati, who was a child widow and was exceptionally beautiful. Hemraj used to take along Hemvati with him whenever he goes for pilgrimage or to perform religious rites on invitation from Kings from various parts. Returning from one such visit to the King of Mahoba, he had to spend a night in a jungle of date trees (Khajur), near river Ken. It was full moon night. Hemvati took a bath at banks the river. Enthralled by the extraordinary beauty of Hemvati, Moon God came down on Earth, and started alluring her. They both finally made love that night and from that union, a son was born who was named, Chandravarman. Moon God blessed Chandravarman with enormous strength and great fighting skills. However, being afraid of social stigma as an unwed mother, Hemvati brought up Chandravarman, in the same jungle, which later on came to known as Khajuraho. Chandravarman grew up to become so strong that he used to kill lions with bare hands. He went on to create an empire, became a king and founded a Dynasty named, Chand-ela.
After the death of Hemvati, Chandravarman had a dream where Hemvati asked him to contruct temples of various gods and goddesses with motifs of human passion, to immortalise the love of Hemvati and Moon God.
The construction of the first Khajuraho temple was started by Chandravarman in 950 A.D. and 85 temples were erected at a span of 200 years. After the decline of Chandela dynasty in thirteenth century, the temples remain hidden, covered by dense Khajur trees and were unknown to the world till in the mid of nineteenth century, a British Army Engineer rediscoverd them. It is also said that Mughals destroyed some of the temples going against the edifice, but most of the temples destroyed naturally. At present only 22 of them survives. The Khajuraho temples has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and at the backdrop of Vindhya range of mountains, it is unique destination to visit.
From the time we reached hotel, it started to drizzle. Since our package had an option of either lunch or dinner at hotel, we thought of taking lunch outside, thus saving time. We had freshen up, taken our shower, converged at the lobby and were raring to experience Khajuraho. By the time we reached the site, Rain God played spoilsport. The mild drizzle now whittled into a heavy shower. We are lull, sitting inside the car, staring at the miazma of rain sheet on the backdrop of the Temples of Passion, wishing mercy from Rain God.
The hotel is just 1 km from Airport and also the same distance away from the Khajuraho temple site. Khajuraho itself is still a small village with about 3000 inhabitants, half of which are local ethnics, as farmers or into local administrative jobs and the rest are migrants, either working here as hotel and restaurant staffs, or are into tourism related businesses. In any case the Khajuraho Temples has a towering influence in their life and livelihood.
Khajuraho has many folklores, among which the most famous legend goes as follows: In the tenth century A.D., Hemraj, the chief priest of Benaras, was highly esteemed and was regarded emimently, across whole Central India. He had no son, but a daughter, Hemvati, who was a child widow and was exceptionally beautiful. Hemraj used to take along Hemvati with him whenever he goes for pilgrimage or to perform religious rites on invitation from Kings from various parts. Returning from one such visit to the King of Mahoba, he had to spend a night in a jungle of date trees (Khajur), near river Ken. It was full moon night. Hemvati took a bath at banks the river. Enthralled by the extraordinary beauty of Hemvati, Moon God came down on Earth, and started alluring her. They both finally made love that night and from that union, a son was born who was named, Chandravarman. Moon God blessed Chandravarman with enormous strength and great fighting skills. However, being afraid of social stigma as an unwed mother, Hemvati brought up Chandravarman, in the same jungle, which later on came to known as Khajuraho. Chandravarman grew up to become so strong that he used to kill lions with bare hands. He went on to create an empire, became a king and founded a Dynasty named, Chand-ela.
After the death of Hemvati, Chandravarman had a dream where Hemvati asked him to contruct temples of various gods and goddesses with motifs of human passion, to immortalise the love of Hemvati and Moon God.
The construction of the first Khajuraho temple was started by Chandravarman in 950 A.D. and 85 temples were erected at a span of 200 years. After the decline of Chandela dynasty in thirteenth century, the temples remain hidden, covered by dense Khajur trees and were unknown to the world till in the mid of nineteenth century, a British Army Engineer rediscoverd them. It is also said that Mughals destroyed some of the temples going against the edifice, but most of the temples destroyed naturally. At present only 22 of them survives. The Khajuraho temples has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and at the backdrop of Vindhya range of mountains, it is unique destination to visit.
From the time we reached hotel, it started to drizzle. Since our package had an option of either lunch or dinner at hotel, we thought of taking lunch outside, thus saving time. We had freshen up, taken our shower, converged at the lobby and were raring to experience Khajuraho. By the time we reached the site, Rain God played spoilsport. The mild drizzle now whittled into a heavy shower. We are lull, sitting inside the car, staring at the miazma of rain sheet on the backdrop of the Temples of Passion, wishing mercy from Rain God.
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