> Jama Masjid - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar in 1571 in honor of Sufi saint Salim Chisti, who predicted the birth of a son, this grand ghost city is carved entirely from red sandstone. It was only inhabited for 14 years, after which -- some say because of water shortages -- it was totally abandoned. It's an experience to wander through these magnificent sandstone arches, courtyards, and buildings. The buildings combine a fine sense of proportion -- indicative of Akbar's Persian ancestry -- with strong Hindu and Jain design elements, indicative of his attitude to embrace the conquered and their faiths.
The Jama Masjid mosque is more spectacular than the larger one Akbar's grandson built in Delhi. Inside the mosque is the white marble dargah (tomb) of Salim Chisti, which has beautiful carved screens. It attracts pilgrims from all over India, particularly the childless, who make wishes while tying cotton threads onto the screens that surround the tomb.
> Agra to Khajuraho
Early morning we board trains <Train to Jhansi> for an approximately a three-hour train to Jhansi, the center of Chandela civilization. Then a 4 hour bus ride <Jhansi to Alipura> over bumpy roads to our lunch destination at the <Alipura Palace>. Alipura is a local village of medieval palaces and temples built by Bundela Rulers. After lunch it is back on the bumpy road to our destination at Khajuraho. <Alipura to Khajuraho> In the 10th century Khajuraho was the center of the thriving civilization of the Chandela Dynasty.
> Temples of Khajuraho
The Temples of Khajuraho are famed for their fine artistic stonework decorations. The Khajuraho temples have been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Khajuraho was once the religious center of the Chandela Rajput kings, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this area of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries. Under the artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings Chandelas built 85 temples over a period of 100 years from 950AD to 1050AD. The temples belong to two different religions: Hinduism and Jainism. It is also possible that the Chandelas were believers in the powers of Tantrism; the cult which believes that the gratification of earthly desires is a step closer to the attainment of the infinite. Another theory is that the erotica of Khajuraho, had a specific purpose. In those days when boys lived in hermitages, following the Hindu law of being "brahmacharis" until they attained manhood, the only way they could prepare themselves for the worldly role of 'householder' was through the study of these sculptures and the earthly passions they depicted. What is certain, is these temples represent the expression of a highly matured civilization. After the decline of the Chandelas in the 13th century, the temples were forgotten and for many centuries were covered by dense jungle. The temples were rediscovered during the 20th century. Today only 25 temples survive and are spread over an area of 8 square miles.
<Temples Carvings slide show 1> <Temples Carvings slide show 2>
<Temples Carvings slide show 3> <Temples Carvings slide show 4>
After visiting the Erotic Temples of the Chandelas we took a short 40 minute <flight> to Varanasi.
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