Orchha and Khajuraho

Hi everyone, find here some photos of my time in Orchha and Khajuraho a few weeks ago. I was lucky to be sent down to DA’s field station to help trial the new Grameen Architect tool which I’ve had a little bit to with and took a few days off to visit the temples of Khajuraho.

Grameen (rural) Architect is a series of basic house designs for rural communities which will be built with technical support from DA and using local builders. Within these communities basic construction knowledge and skills are in real decline so DA spends a lot of time training masons and builders to bringing them up to speed. We spent two days talking to masons about the designs and how they should be refined and developed.

Another day was spent in a small village near Orchha talking and looking through the homes of eight families who had contacted DA for help with repairs and extensions for their homes. It was an amazing experience going to these small communities and to see rural Indian life, how they live and the houses they build– a sobering experience to see the life these people lead in such an extreme environment.

Typical street entry

Akshay talking to home owner

From DA’s office in Orchha I took the local 6.30am local bus to Khajuraho; completely rammed with people, children and baggage including standing/sitting/lying in the centre aisle. I spent 3 of 5 hour bus journey standing wedged between two farmers and buckets of tools. The bus driver said I could sit on the roof!

Jehangir Mahal palace in Orchha

Jehangir Mahal courtyard

Rooftop of Jehangir Mahal

Jehangir Mahal from Raj Praveen Mahal palace

Light through stone jali screens - Raj Praveen Mahal palace


Palace entrance

Orchha market

The temples of Khajuraho were built around 1000AD, are insanely intricate and famous for their rather risqué poses. The town of Khajuraho is tiny and the driest place I’ve seen; scorched earth, dust and 40+ temperatures made for a hot day cycling between temples. My favourites were....

Lakshmana temple, one of the earliest built and dedicated to Vishnu – also has a little shrine to it’s architect!!

From carved frieze around base of Lakshmana temple

Varaha shrine dedicated to Vishnu’s boar incarnation

Shiva temple of Kandariya-Mahadev with 31m high sikhara

Figures to Vishnu’s/Kali’s Devi Jagadamba

Carving from within Vishvanath temple

Jain temples, east Khajuraho.

Parsvanath temple

Top detail of Parsvanath temple

Donkies, Jain temple compound


Vishnu’s Vamana temple

Duladeo Jain temple

So that briefly was my time in Orchha and Khajuraho a few weeks back. Cycling through the countryside it was also great to see the wheat harvest being brought in – some respite from temple overload! I hope everyone is well and good and expect photos from south India soon. Love James.