About The City

     Mahoba is 140 km from Jhansi and associated with the Chandela kings who ruled over Bundelkhand between the 9^th and the 11^th centuries. The Chandelas, who are best remembered for the now world-famous temples they built at Khajuraho, were also great warriors. At Mahoba, the impregnable hilltop fort and the lakes they created are considered engineering feats and their water management systems can still be seen. Mahoba was also a great cultural centre. Ballads praise its days of glory and narrate the inspiring saga of Alha and Udal, two brothers who sacrificed their lives for the honour of their land.

      Today, the town is known for its fine betel leaf cultivation and granite rocks. There are many places of historical and archaeological interest as well as scenic lakes dotted with rocky islets. The temples of Mahoba are built in the same style as the Khajuraho temples. There are also a number of Buddhist and Jain shrines at Mahoba

Area : 8.1 sq. km.

Population : 56000 (1991 census)

Season : October-February

Clothing : Summer - Cottons; Winters - Woolens

Language : Hindi, Bundeli

Festivals : Sawan Kajali Mela

Local Transport : Cars/Jeeps/Auto-rickshaws/Cycle-rickshaws/Tempo

STD Code : 05281

Accessibility

Air

      Nearest airport is Khajuraho - 65 km.

Rail

      Mahoba is connected by broad gauge railway lines. 1107/1108 Bundelkhand Exp (Gwalior- Varanasi); 1449/1450 Mahakaushal Exp (Delhi-Jabalpur); 1069/1070 Chambal Exp.

Road

      Mahoba is connected by road to all major cities. State Highway No. 44 also passes through Mahoba. Some major road distances are : Chitrakoot - 125 km. Kanpur - 155 km, Jhansi 165 km, Allahabad - 245 km, Lucknow - 240 km, Khajuraho - 65 km, Banda - 52 km and Kalinjar - 130 km.

Place Of Interest

Kakramath Temple

      This well-preserved granite temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located at the Madan Sagar, Its basic plan is similar to the temples of Khajuraho. the Madan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu stands nearby.

Vijay Sagar Pakshi Vihar

      5 km from town, this picturesque bird sanctuary has been developed on the shores of Vijay-Sagar, built by Vijay Pal Chandela (1035-1060 AD)

Sun Temple at Rahila Sagar

      This 9^th century granite Sun Temple lies to the west of Rahila Sagar, built by Chandela ruler Rahila who ruled between 890 and 910 Ad. Though in a ruined state today, it still stands as the finest example of early Pratihara architecture in the area.

Manaiya Devi Temple

      This is the temple of the tutelary deity of the Chandelas and stands on the shores of Madan Sagar, near the fort. In front of it is a monolithic granite, pillar, 18 ft. high and 1.75 ft wide at the base. The shrine of Pir Mubarak Shah, a Muslim saint who came from Arabia in 1252 AD, is nearby

Lakes

      Kirat Sagar, built by Kirtivarman between 1060 AD and 1100 AD, has fine embankments with granite steps. Madan Sagar, built by Madan Verma between 1128 AD and 1165 AD, is very picturesque.

      Other lakes include Kalyan Sagar, Vijay Sagar and Rahila Sagar.

Gokhar Hill

      This is the hill where Guru Gorakhnath resided with his disciples. It has dramatic granite rock formations, with caves and waterfalls. The spot is ideal for climbing and picnics.

      Other places of interest include the Jain and Buddhist shrines, the Alha Udal Chowk, Barichandrika Devi Temple, Ram Kurd, Suraj Kurd and Shiva Temple at Katheswar. The Betel Research Centre at Chhattarpur Road, a branch of NBRI Lucknow, is interesting as Betel farming can be viewed in various stages of development here.

Tourist Bungalow, Khajuraho Road, Mahoba. Ph : (05281)244108

Sub Post Office, Main Bazaar. Ph : (05281)244123

Khajuraho

     61 km. Site of the now world-famous temples built between 950 AD and 1050 AD by the Chandelas. Only 25 temples survive, but they are masterpieces of architecture. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, these temples celebrate the human form and man’s spiritual and physical aspects.

Kalinjar

     109 km. Famous for its mighty fort, which was of great importance between the19th and 15^th centuries. Among the remains within the fort is Raja Aman Singh Palace which is being converted into a museum to house the fine and rare sculptures found at the site. Other places of interest within the fort include the Neelkantha Temple, Sita Sej, Patal Ganga, Pandu Kurd, Koti Tirth and Bhairon Ki Jhariad.

Chitrakoot

     127 km. Celebrated in ballads and the scriptures for its natural beauty and closely associated with the epic Ramayana, Chitrakoot is a hallowed centre of pilgrimage. Lord Rama and Sita are believed to have spent their 14-years exile here. The town is situated on the banks of the river Mandakini, the ghats of which are lined with numerous temples.