Raj GuptaWonder how to spend 2 days in Khajuraho? Check out my two-day Khajuraho itinerary, covered with the best things to see and do in the town. So that you get the most out of your visit. In these two days, you will explore ancient temples, mesmerizing Rahne Falls, and an adventurous Tiger Reserve.
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. It is also considered one of the Seven Wonders of India. The town is famous for its magnificent temple, erotic sculpture, and remarkable architecture.
Khajuraho is home to 20 ancient temples built between 950 and 1050 AD during the Chandela Dynasty. There were originally 85 temples, but the rest no longer exist.
Also, Khajuraho is a Unesco World Heritage Site that was rediscovered in 1838 by a British Army captain. Before, these magnificent monuments were hidden in the forest.
I’ve been to Khajuraho several times, and consistently it’s been spectacular and impressive. I’m still in wonder about the temple’s architecture and the lovely sculpture on the temple’s exterior wall.
In a nutshell, here is how you can spend 2 days in Khajuraho.
Table of Contents
How Many Days are Enough for Khajuraho?
Want to discover how many days you’ll need in Khajuraho? Ideally, 2 days are sufficient to explore key attractions such as the eastern and western groups of temples.
On your second day in Khajuraho, you can also visit Panna National Park, Rahne Fall, the Ken Gadhiyal Century, and Khajuraho Old Town.
Things to do in Khajuraho
Day 1 of Khajuraho Itinerary.
Ken Gharial Sanctuary
The Ken Gharial Sanctuary is located in the Panna National Park forest area, 23 kilometres and 30 minutes from Khajuraho. The Sanctuary is popular for its 6-meter-long Gharial, a rare crocodile found only in India and Nepal. You will see these gharials resting in their natural habitat.
To enter the sanctuary, you must have a qualified forest guide, which you can get at the entrance. Since you will be in the Panna National Park’s forest area. You could also observe some other animals.
If you are a nature watcher, trekker, or wildlife enthusiast, so this is one of the best places to visit in this 2-day Khajuraho itinerary.
Note:-The park is closed from May to September due to severe rain. From October to April, it is open to tourists.
Timing: 06:00 AM to 5 PM (Daily)
Visiting Duration: 30 Minutes.
Next Attraction: 2 km, 5 minutes away.
Raneh Falls
Rahne Falls is another well-known sight inside the Ken Ghadyal Century. Raneh Falls is a stunning set of waterfalls. The Ken River flows over the canyon that forms these waterfalls.
The waterfalls are also called the Grand Canyon of India because of the formation of colourful granite. The pink, red, and grey colour granite around the waterfall is simply stunning.
Raneh Falls is a natural wonder and a hidden gem in India. It surprised me a lot that Rahnefall is truly unique and the only one of its type in India, yet very few people are aware of it. If you’re at Khajuraho, don’t miss out on Ranehfalls. Because It is one of the best things to do in Khajuraho.
Timing:- 06:00 AM to 5 PM (Daily)
Visiting Duration:- 1 Hour
Next Attraction: 22 km, 30 minutes away.
The Old Town of Khajuraho
Khajuraho has two sections. The first of which contains the temples and marketplace. But there is one more area in Khajuraho that most tourists overlook: the old town of Khajuraho.
The old town is a ruler part of Khajuraho. If you are an Indian or a foreigner who has never visited a village in India, this is the spot to visit. In town, you will discover magnificent little mud cottages and huts, as well as children, women, and men dressed in traditional attire.
If you visit Khajuraho’s old town (village) with a guide, you will have the opportunity to drink tea at one of the houses in the village and learn about their lives. And how life appears in Indian villages.
After that, return to your hotel for some rest before heading to the western group of temples for a light and sound show.
Visiting Duration: 1 Hour.
Light and Sound Show
If you are interested in history, you can attend a light and sound show. The event takes place in a western group of temples. The show is presented in both English and Hindi. With the assistance of a beautiful sound and light show.
You will get a glimpse of the history of the fantastic Khajuraho temples. And the emperor of the Chandella dynasty who built these temples, and the myth behind the structures.
Timing:- 18:30 to 19:25 (English)
19:40 to 20:35 (Hindi)
Show Duration: 55 Minutes.
Day 2 of Khajuraho Itinerary.
Panna National Park.
Start your day with a safari in Panna National Park in the early morning. At 5 a.m., a safari vehicle will pick you up and transport you to the forest entrance. You will complete the entry procedures and then enter the national park.
Panna National Park is one of the best national parks and tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. Situated 25 km from Khajuraho, and takes about 30 minutes to get there. The park is spread over 542 square kilometres and provides a natural habitat for numerous wild creatures, including birds and 50 tigers.
However, the most common animals spotted are the cheetal, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, langoor, wild boar, and jackal. Plus, the tiger is seen nearly every day. The park is a fantastic spot to be surrounded by nature and wildlife.
Madla is the ideal zone to enter the national park because of the higher possibility of spotting tigers and other wild animals. I’ve been to numerous national parks, but this was the only one where I saw a tiger and a bear.
You may book your safari through the MP Government Website. And hire a safari vehicle from your hotel and meet your guide at the forest’s entrance. Or you can arrive at the entry gate and take a vehicle and guide there too.
I strongly recommend you add Panna National Park to your 2-day Khajuraho itinerary. After visiting Panna National Park, return to your hotel, eat breakfast, and then continue to your next location.
Note:- The schedule of the safari is not the same as stated; the morning safari begins at sunrise and the evening safari ends at sunset. The time varies depending on the sunrise and sunset.
Timing Morning: 6:30 Am to 10:30 Am
Evening Timing:- 4:00 Pm to 6:00 Pm.
Visiting Duration: 4 Hours
Western Group of Temples
The Western group of temples is Khajuraho’s most visited temple area. If you only have time to see one destination in this town, make it the western group of temples. It is a complex area with a beautiful garden and temples.
The Chandela dynasty constructed the majority of the temples between the 9th and 10th centuries. These temples are both exceptional and controversial. Because of their wonderfully carved erotic figures and human emotion.
On the outer walls of temples, beautifully curved figures and the architecture of the temples are mesmerizing. Also, the western group of temples is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Now let’s discover temples within the Western group complex.
Lakshmana Temple
The Lakshmana Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of Khajuraho’s oldest and most elaborately decorated temples. The temple’s outside wall is decorated with sculptures of Indian gods and goddesses, as well as some erotic figures.
Matangeshwar Temple
The Matangeshwar temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples which is still in use for worship. The Shrine is devoted to Shiva. Inside the temple, you’ll discover one of India’s biggest Shiva lingams, which stands 8 feet tall.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple
The Kandhariya Mahadev temple is the largest and tallest temple in Khajuraho. The structure is the most gorgeous and best-maintained example of a medieval temple in India.
Devi Jagadambi Temple
The Devi Jagadamba temple is located on the same platform as Kandharia Mahadev. The temple is small in comparison to Kandaria Mahadev, yet it houses the most lovely sculpture on the external wall.
The temple’s outer wall is separated into three rows, with the top row displaying the most sensual sculptures in Khajuraho. Inside the temple, you will find a huge image of Devi Jagdamba.
Chitragupta Temple
The Chitragupta temple was established in the 11th century and is dedicated to Lord Surya (the sun god). The temple wall is full of seductive women’s expressions, various gods, and sensual statues. Inside the temple is a tall and beautiful sculpture of a sun god driving a chariot drawn by seven horses.
Vishwanatha Temple
Vishwanath Temple is another big and must-see temple in the western group of temples. The lovely images on the temple walls symbolize various aspects of life. The Shiva linga within the temple was created by 101 tiny lingams.
Note:- Food is not permitted within the complex, although you may bring water with you.
Timing: 6 AM TO 6 PM (Daily)
Visiting Duration: 2 hours.
Next Attraction: 1.5 km, 5 minutes via taxi, 20 minutes on foot.
Eastern Group of Temples
Jain Group Of Temples
The Unesco World Heritage Site is home to three major temples: Prashvnath, Adinath, and Santinath Temples. Prashant and Adinath were completed in the Middle Ages. But Shantinath Temple is the most recent and was built from the remains of the other temples.
Prashvnath Temple, Khajuraho’s biggest and possibly oldest temple, is said to have been constructed between 950 and 979 CE. Shantinath Temple is famous for its 14-foot-high idol of Lord Shantinath, the 16th Jain God (Tirthankar).
The temples’ outside walls are beautifully carved and feature outstanding architecture. On the walls, you will see sculptures of Hindu and Jain gods and some erotic sculptures.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM (Daily)
Visiting Duration: 45min to 1hr
Next Attraction: 1.7 km, 6 minutes via taxi, 25 minutes on foot.
Vamana Temple
The temple is devoted to Lord Vaman, another reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Vaman temple stands alone among the fields.
Inside the temple, you will see Lord Vaman’s sculpture and the outside wall is decorated with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, animals, and musical instruments. And there are no erotic sculptures at this temple.
On your way to the Vamana temple, you will pass through the Brahma and Javari temples. You can also visit these two temples.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM
Visiting Duration: 20 Minutes
Try Street Food at Khajuraho
Street food in India is something that Indians love. Every state has something unique or a unique taste in street food. Khajuraho is also a city where you can easily find mouth-watering street food stalls near every street.
Best Time to Visit Khajuraho.
The best time to visit Khajuraho is from October to March. Because there are high temperatures (35°C to 45°C) and rain from April to September. It’s also uncomfortable to visit monuments in this heat. From October through March, the weather is cool and great for walking and sightseeing.
How to Reach Khajuraho
Most tourists who travel to Khajuraho, first reach Jhansi (180 kilometres). They board an early morning train from Delhi to Jhansi or another city in India. They take a taxi from Jhansi to Khajuraho and visit Orchha on the way.
By Flight: Khajuraho has a small airport 6 kilometres from the town. You can easily reach Khajuraho by flying from Delhi and Varanasi airports. These two airports provide daily direct flights to Khajuraho. Currently, no other airport has direct flights to Khajuraho.
By Bus: Khajuraho is easily accessible by bus. Bus service of MP tourism is available from various cities in Madhya Pradesh, such as Jhansi (230 km), Gwalior (280 km), Bhopal (375 km), and Indore (565 km).
By Train: Khajuraho also has its own railway station, yet it is not directly connected to many Indian cities. There are regular trains to Khajuraho from major tourist destinations, including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Varanasi.
The nearest major railway station is Mahoba (75 kilometres), which is well connected to several major Indian cities. If you wish to get to Khajuraho by rail from any other city in India. So you can get to Mahoba, and from there, you can take a taxi to Khajuraho. You can utilize the Indian Railway Website to reserve your seat on a train.
| From | Train Name | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
| New Delhi to Khajuraho | Gita Jayanti Express(11842) | 18:20 | 08:00 | 13h 40m |
| Agar to Khajuraho | Udaipur city- Khajuraho Exp (19666) | 10:30 | 18:50 | 8h 20m |
| Varanasi To Khajuraho | Barauni – Ahmedabad Express (PT) (19484) | 5:00 | 12:40 | 7h 40m |
Note:-
- The train from Varanasi to Khajuraho departs at Dindyal Upadhyay Junction (Mughal Sarai), which is 18 kilometres from Varanasi.
- Gita Jayanti Express is also available from Agra.
- The Udaypur City-Khajuraho Express also stops in Jaipur, so you may catch it from there.
Where to Stay in Khajuraho
Khajuraho has a lot of fantastic homestays and beautiful hotels. The majority of hotels and homestays are within two kilometres from the centre. As a result, you can easily discover excellent accommodations within walking distance from the centre.
I’ve included some of the top places to stay in Khajuraho based on ratings and user feedback and my experience.
Khajuraho Homestay is located near the western group of temples. In terms of service and quality, this is the best homestay in Khajuraho. Farman, the homestay host, is an extremely helpful and kind guy.
There is free parking and wifi available. In addition, they provide a fantastic breakfast every morning.
The Highvill Homestay is just 1 kilometre from the western group of temples. You can easily go to the temples and the main market on walking. The entire homestay is exceptionally clean and peaceful.
The rooms are pleasant, and the staff is friendly. Also, you can use the rooftop to enjoy dinner or sunbathe in the winter.
Moustache Khajuraho (Hostel) Moustache Khajuraho (Hostel) lies 1.5 kilometres from the western group of temples, with rooftop access for a wonderful view of the surroundings. The hostel offers clean and comfortable accommodations as well as excellent service from a pleasant and helpful crew. You can hire a bike from the hostel to explore Khajuraho.
Hotel Ramayana Khajuraho (3 stars)Â is so well located between the western and eastern groups of temples. The hotel’s surroundings are lush and green and peaceful.
Hotel Clarks (5-star) is where I stayed several times. This used to be my favourite hotel on the entire trip. The hotel includes a lovely swimming pool and a relaxing seating area. There’s also a large garden space for playing games and walking. The rooms are spacious and well-equipped.
Hotel Ramada (5 stars) is another hotel where I stayed once. The hotel is spread across a large piece of land filled with greenery and a large swimming pool. They also provide ayurvedic massage.
How to Get Around in Khajuraho
Khajuraho is a small town where you can simply walk to all the attractions. Only Panna National Park and Raneh Fall require transportation.
If you don’t want to walk or have limited time, you may rent a bicycle; most hotels, hostels, and homestays provide bicycle rentals. Also, you can take a cab or an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk) to get around Khajuraho.
Where to Eat in Khajuraho.
Khajuraho has plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve delicious local and international food. From traditional North Indian and light and delicious South Indian food, plus local Madhya Pradesh food.
I have listed all the best restaurants that Khajuraho has to offer. There is something on this list for everyone.
Raja’s Cafe: Raja Cafe is one of the greatest and most popular cafés in Khajuraho because of its delicious food, beautiful ambience, quick and friendly service, and the best view of the temples. The café is located opposite the western group of temples.
They serve Indian, European, and international cuisines at an affordable price.
Guru Kripa: Guru Kripa is a purely vegetarian restaurant. They provide amazing Indian and Asian dishes. The restaurant’s signature dish is Eggplant Nizami (Bengan Nizami). It is located in the heart of the market. You can also taste the delicious thali.
Lassi Corner: Lassi Corner serves yummy parathas with lassi. They have a wide variety of Partha’s to pick from. The seating is standard plastic furniture. However, the parathas are tasty and inexpensive. On TripAdvisor, the lassi corner has a 4.5 rating.
Saffron: Saffron restaurants provide home-cooked, excellent food at a reasonable price. Located with rooftop dining in front of the western group of the temple. They have truly delicious food, quick service, and helpful staff.
Rock N’ Roll: This is another restaurant that offers Indian and international dishes. The restaurant ambience is quite pleasant; this is a spot where you would like to spend some additional time. The food is delicious and freshly made.
What to Shop in Khajuraho.
Khajuraho Market is filled with lovely handicrafts, beautiful jewellery, colourful clothes, and gorgeous textiles. Moreover, Khajuraho is famous for its silver jewellery and brassware.
You can buy handicrafts made of brass and gorgeous jewellery at a reasonable price when compared to other parts of India. In the shop, you’ll find a variety of brass handicrafts, as well as erotic figures and sets of Kamasutra poses.
Although the market is small, you can still easily find excellent souvenirs. The best spot to shop for brass and silver items in Khajuraho is Raj Nagar Market. Plus, you can visit the weakly market, which takes place each Tuesday, to shop with the locals.
Shilpgram, a government-created market, also exists in Khajuraho. The market was established to showcase traditional artwork and cultural products created by local craftsmen.
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That’s all I have for you: everything that you need to arrange an unforgettable two days in Khajuraho. You got a feel for Khajuraho, including the National Park, waterfalls, and things to do and see.
Now, what are your thoughts? What else would you recommend seeing in Khajuraho during your 2 days? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
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