crossed by water courses and walkways. The mausoleum itself covers about
23 square metres (250 sq ft), and is built on a base about fifty meters square
and about one meter high. On each corner are hexagonal towers, about
thirteen meters tall. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it
is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white
marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of
the Tj Mahal. The walls are white marble from Rajasthan encrusted with
semi-precious stone decorations - cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and
topaz in images of cypress trees and wine bottles, or more elaborate
decorations like cut fruit or vases containing bouquets. Light penetrates to the
interior through delicate jl screens of intricately carved white marbleOvernight
at hotel.
Day 4:
-
Morning after breakfast transfer to the railway station for
Jhansi. Arrive Jhansi and drive to Khajuraho. In the
afternoon tour the world famous Kajuraho temples.One of the
most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has
the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic
sculpture. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the "seven wonders" of
India.The Western group is certainly the best known, because it is to this
group that the largest and most typical Khajuraho temple belongs : the
Kandariya Mahadev. Perfectly symmetrical, it soars 31 km high. Kandariya
Mahadeo: This is the largest, and most typical Khajuraho temple. There are
abput 900 statues. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it soars 31 m high. The sanctum
enshrines a lingam, while the main shrine is ornately carved and depicts
various gods, goddesses, apsaras (heavenly maidens) in elaborate detail.
The entrance arch, the massive pillars and ceilings are adorned with exquisite
carvings, that leave the visitor spellbound. Beyond the archway of the
Kandariya Mahadev, lie the six interior compartments; the portico, main hall,
transept, vestibule, sanctum and ambulatory. The ceilings are particularly
noteworthy and the pillars supporting them have intricately carved capitals.
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