Mahoba is 140 km from Jhansi and associated with the Chandela kings who ruled over Bundelkhand between the 9th and the 11th centuries.
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.
Religious Spots
Kakramath Temple
Kakramath temple is a well-preserved granite temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located at the Madan Sagar. The temple’s basic plan is similar to the temples of Khajuraho. The Madan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu stands nearby.
Vijay Sagar Pakshi Vihar
Vijay Sagar Pakshi Vihar is a bird sanctuary which is a distance of 5 km from town. The bird sanctuary has been developed on the shores of Vijay-Sagar, built by Vijay Pal Chandela (1035-1060 AD).
Sun Temple Mahoba
Sun Temple at Rahila Sagar
The Sun Temple lies to the west of Rahila Sagar, in the 9th century with granite rock.
The temple is, built by Chandela ruler Rahila who ruled between 890 and 910 Ad.
Manaiya Devi Temple
Manaiya Devi Temple 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 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 and Hills
Kirat Sagar
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
Gokhar hill 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
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.
How to Reach
By Air : Nearest airport is Khajuraho - 65 km.
By 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. By 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.