Tuesday, March 25th tour of Khajuraho, flight to Varanasi and evening on the Ganges River
Our walk from the bus to the first monuments offered up several photo ops:
Sharing a meal
Washing clothes in the lake
Playing music for us as we walked by
The Western Temples included the Bharatji Temple, Kandariya Mahadeo Temple to Lord Shiva and the Chaunsath Yogini Temple. Considered one of the seven wonders of India, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There were originally 85 temples here, but only 25 have survived. Made primarily from sandstone, they were covered over with dense vegetation for years which helped preserve them until they were rediscovered in the late 19th century.
Known for their erotic sculptures, this is perhaps an early version of the Kama Sutra. It was a little too graphic for some members in our group.
Lakshman Temple
Walking back to the bus I was again snapping pictures left and right:
Sewing business
Golden decay
Bathing in the lake
We also stopped at the Eastern Temples, which included the Ghantai Temple, Javari Temple and the Vamana Temple.
Look at the coloring. This is a cross between a dog and a jackal and is only found here in Khajuraho.
An afternoon flight took us from Khajuraho to Varanasi
This evening was an optional excursion for a sacred prayer ceremony on the Ganges River. Cremations are ongoing, day and night. Taking smaller vehicles to the area and then walking rapidly through very crowed streets for about a dozen blocks to the banks of the Ganges before boarding our private boat.
Walking past vegetable sellers
Boats on the Ganges River
Easily over 100 boats crowded together to watch the evening prayer ceremony
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful for UNESCO for identifying and preserving places of outstanding beauty, historical merit, and cultural significance for future generations to enjoy.
A Note From Abroad 