This cave-like temple gets its name from the word Kandara (meaning “cave”), and is one of the greatest monuments in India. Believed to have been built around 1030 A.D. and dedicated to Shiva, it is also the tallest and largest of all the Khajuraho monuments.
With subsidiary temples, entrance-porch, mandapa, three transepts and an internal ambulatory passage, the Lakshmana Temple is the earliest fully-developed example of a typical Khajuraho temple.
Directly in front of the Lakshmana Temple facing east, the Varaha Temple will be the first monument you come to in the Western Group at Khajuraho, assuming you tour the complex in a clockwise fashion. The Varaha Temple is in fact one of the oldest temples in the compound, believed to have been constructed around 900 – 925 A.D.
This is one of those monuments that is missed by almost all visitors to Khajuraho. Although it is just 180m north of the Chitragupta Temple, it lies outside the western group of temples complex.
Located directly opposite the western group of temples behind a row of shops and restaurants is quite an impressive chhatri. You can just catch a glimpse of its upper levels from the road, but one could be forgiven for missing it if you have spent a day looking around the magnificent temples of the World Heritage Site just a few meters away.
Orchha Fort is a huge complex containing a large number of monuments including palaces, gateways and temples, accessed from the town by an arched causeway. The entrance ticket for the fort is valid for all other monuments in Orchha, so it pays to get here early in the morning so you have time to visit some of the other sites later in the day.
In total there are 15 chhatris of Bundela kings and their families, located on the banks of the river Betwa just 800m south of the Chaturbhuj Temple in the center of the village. My first visit to the chhatris was at sunrise to catch the golden light cast on these monuments from Kanchana Ghat, on the banks of the river Betwa.
Located not far from the center of Pune and rising to over 2,000 feet, Parvati Hill offers excellent panoramic views across the city, has a few temples worthy of exploring, and is the perfect peaceful respite from all the urban activity occurring at the foot of the hill and beyond.
Kevin Standage 
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