Cultural Travel Guides to Varanasi and Khajuraho, India
We have hand-selected Approach Guides relevant to travel to Varanasi and Khajuraho.
Indian Art & Architecture: Buddhist
Three great sites are reachable from these locations: Sarnath, the site of the Buddha’s first sermon, is located just outside of Varanasi; further, not too far outside of Khajuraho is the Sanchi, the site of the original stupa. Finally, while it is quite a ride from Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, the site of the Buddha’s first sermon, is also theoretically reachable (we did it, but it was a long ride!).
Ancient Buddhist art and architecture — e.g. Buddhist rock cut caves and Hellenistic-inspired painted and sculptural forms — serves as the foundation for the Indian aesthetic. In fact, Buddhist forms exerted tremendous influence on the abundant Hindu art and architecture you will encounter in South India. In this Approach Guide, we provide a condensed, yet comprehensive overview of Buddhist architecture and sculpture, designed specifically for the traveler in India. We also provide site reviews of the most important Buddhist architectural and artistic sites in India, including Ajanta, Ellora, and Sanchi. Learn more about Buddhist art and architecture in India…
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Indian Art & Architecture: Hindu
Khajuraho offers the best examples of ancient Hindu architecture in North India. Hindu architecture, while structurally simple (no arches are ever used in its construction), exhibits some of the most ornate decoration and symbolic design elements in the world. This document offers travelers an approach to understanding Hindu architecture and sculpture and be able to easily answer questions like, “What’s the main difference between Hindu architecture in the North and South” and “What Mediterranean culture influenced Indian sculpture?” (Hint: think Alexander the Great). Learn more about Hindu art and architecture in India…
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A Walk through Khajuraho
Khajuraho is one of the most sensual temple sites in all of India, but it is also one of the most intellectually interesting given its position in the development of Hindu architecture in North India. This document offers visitors a guide to use as they walk through the site by highlighting important elements of the Hindu temples in Khajuraho, the erotic sculptures for which the complex has come to be known throughout the world. Read more about touring the temples of Khajuraho…
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The Stupa Form’s Transformation Over Time
The stupa in Sanchi (located in Central India) is the original stupa, serving as the prototype for all others that followed, both in India and throughout Asia. Using this document, travelers will be able to identify stylistic changes in stupa/pagoda architecture as Buddhism migrated out of India, to China and Japan (via the Silk Road) and to Southeast Asia (via sea trade routes). Learn more about the stupas and pagodas you will encounter on your trip…
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Religion: Buddhism
Buddhism began as a rebellious offspring of Hinduism in India, “Hindu Protestantism”, if you will, and migrated out of India to the rest of Asia via the Silk Road and other trade routes. This guide seeks to provide a framework for understanding the faith and help readers gain an understanding of this religion’s rich, global cultural legacy. Learn more about Buddhism…
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Religion: Hinduism
This guide is a must for visitors to most holy Hindu city of Varanasi, where all Hindus hope to be cremated (it promises instantaneous release from the cycle of rebirth).
This document is designed to provide a comprehensive background on the history of the Hindu religion, a discussion of the primary Hindu gods (and how to recognize them), the central tenets of the faith, the history of and thoughts espoused in the primary Hindu religious texts, the relevant religious symbolism, and the primary related religious movements. Particularly when accompanied with our Hindu Architecture primer, this document should prove helpful toward understanding this religion’s rich cultural legacy. Learn more about Hinduism…
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Historical East-West Trade Connections
Throughout its history, India has served as a critical link in the global trade network. Although fundamentally economic in orientation, this worldwide trade network spawned vast cultural, artistic and religious exchanges. We encourage our readers to use this Approach Guide to discover the nature of these exchanges, which served as the underlying (and often overlooked) inspiration for many of the world’s greatest cultural landmarks. Learn more about how early global trade impacts your trip today…
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Note that free previews reveal only a small, yet representative, portion of the content available in the complete Approach Guides document. All images and photos in these Approach Guides and on www.approachguides.com were taken on location by David and Jennifer Raezer.
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