Khajuraho Jain Temples

The Jain temples looked like twins of the Hindi ones, but Abhi pointed out some differences. Jainism was formed when people who did not believe in the caste system broke away from Hinduism. The temple area was tiny compared to the beautiful park setting of the Hindu temples. Also, many of the temples were ruined, so the broken parts were replaced with concrete painted yellow. One major difference is that there are monks who still live and practice their religion in the Jain temple complex.  They’re all women, and they wear white robes and carry beautiful peacock feather brooms that they sweep the ground with as they walk because they don’t want to harm any ants or other living things. We had to take shoes and socks off in the entire place, not just inside the temples.

We actually stumbled upon a monk teaching a teenaged girl in one of the temples. Abhi asked the woman if we could sit down and talk to her, and she kindly said we could. She was very talkative (through translation), and the main thing she wanted us to take back with us is the promise to eat less meat than we usually do. She just kept saying it! She said if we ate meat four times a week, we should reduce it to one, etc. Abhi told her I was a pescatarian, so my “job” is to eat fish and eggs only twice a week. She was very passionate about a non-meat diet.

A Jain monk with her peacock broom

Ancient and reconstructed temples

The Jain monk we talked to, with her student

Not long after we visited the Jain temples, we went to an outdoor sound and light show that told the history of the temples. Then we walked over to a restaurant and had dinner outside. I really enjoy talking to the people in my group. So many interesting stories!

Tomorrow morning Charlie, Diane, Paul, and I are going on a safari to a tiger park called Panna. It’s an option to do that we have to pay for, but since 4 of us are going, it will only be 1875 rupees each, which is just over $25. (I am a pro now at rupee to dollar conversion!) Since we have to meet in the lobby at 5:30am, Abhi has already arranged for us to have boxed breakfasts to eat on the road. The four of us are bound and determined to see a tiger, and this is our last chance! Apparently a group that went today saw a mother with her cub. Crossing my fingers! Bob and Teddy are going to a waterfall, and everyone else is just hanging out at the hotel. The six going on excursions will be back around 10:30, and then we’re all eating lunch at 11:15 before we catch a flight to Varanasi from the airport in town.

We’re one of the last OAT groups that is fortunate to visit Khajuraho. The long, crazy highway drive to get here doesn’t get good reviews, and I think the airport is probably going to close soon. It’s really sad because this small city depends so much on tourism. There are several high-end hotels and the temples really put this place on the map.

Hey, how did my formatting work so well this time?!