THE WORLD Heritage Site Khajuraho is to have a special road and boats and battery-operated vehicles will also convey visitors to the shrines.
The Chausath Yogini granite temple, constructed in 900 AD for tantric rituals, and the Shivsagar Lake have been included in the main complex. In two months, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Central Public Works Department will begin work on further developing the Western Group of shrines.
The gateway near the Pratapeshwar mausoleum on the Bamitha-Rajnagar road will be substituted by a new one in the vicinity of the Gajah Varaha temple. The entrance will have a ticket counter and public conveniences beside it. A campaign is underway to declare the road a silence zone.
“The battery-operated vehicles will run from the entrance to the shrines. The cement-concrete two-lane road will be decorated with rose-coloured stones. A walkway will be laid with local stones and also sandalwood-coloured stones,” the ASI’s Superintending Archaeologist (Bhopal Circle) K K Mohammad told UNI.
The temples are unmatched in the sculptural depiction of human emotions and tendencies. The scheme will be implemented as per the guidelines of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The Chausath Yogini shrine, to the southwest of the Shivsagar Lake, escapes the notice of visitors but is unique for its square design. The lake will be cleaned, its surroundings repaired and arrangements made for perennial supply of water.
“The Rs 4-crore project will be over by the next fiscal,” Mohammad said. In 1992, the Union Tourism Ministry sanctioned Rs 2.89 crore to the ASI for the land. Seepage has been halted in five major and seven minor temples of the Western Group through water-tightening. ‘Khajur’ (date palms) will be planted in keeping with the name Khajuraho.
{{/usCountry}}“The Rs 4-crore project will be over by the next fiscal,” Mohammad said. In 1992, the Union Tourism Ministry sanctioned Rs 2.89 crore to the ASI for the land. Seepage has been halted in five major and seven minor temples of the Western Group through water-tightening. ‘Khajur’ (date palms) will be planted in keeping with the name Khajuraho.
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