Khajuraho is set for a proposed Rs 500 crore tourism and infrastructure push aimed at linking the UNESCO World Heritage Site with Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and creating a wider north and central India tourism circuit, according to Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
The state has proposed Khajuraho under the Centre’s ‘One Destination, One State’ scheme. Around Rs 300 crore is expected to be allocated to infrastructure development, while the remaining amount would support allied tourism activities, destination promotion and the creation of new visitor experiences.
Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, is known for its Hindu and Jain temples built by the Chandela dynasty between the ninth and 11th centuries. The site once had around 85 temples spread across 20 sq km. About 25 survive today, including the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.
The proposed development is intended to move Khajuraho beyond conventional heritage tourism. A new tourism zone is being planned at Datla Pahar, where the government has more than 100 hectares of land. The proposed facilities include hotels, adventure activities such as skydiving and hot-air ballooning, and other visitor amenities designed to encourage longer stays and higher tourist spending.
“Khajuraho is being developed as a high-value experiential destination,” Abhay Arvind Bedekar, additional managing director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and commissioner of Archaeology, Archives and Museums, Bhopal, said, according to the report. The state is also seeking to improve links between Khajuraho, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur through the airport and upgraded road networks.
The plan is aimed at attracting travellers already visiting the Golden Triangle and positioning Khajuraho as an extension for culture, heritage, luxury and experiential tourism. Before the pandemic, the destination attracted more than one lakh foreign tourists annually. Current foreign arrivals are estimated at 35,000 to 40,000 a year, while domestic tourist numbers run into several lakhs.
Madhya Pradesh received around 21 crore tourists last year, with more than 60% travelling for spiritual tourism, particularly to Mahakaleshwar near Ujjain. The state is also promoting destinations including Pachmarhi, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Omkareshwar. From West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh receives around one lakh tourists annually.
The tourism department is developing rural tourism, homestays, meetings and events, and destination weddings alongside major visitor projects. Madhya Pradesh currently has about 860 registered homestays and plans to add another 140 this year. Villages near Khajuraho have also been developed as rural tourism sites to support community-led visitor experiences.
Khajuraho already has premium hospitality properties including Radisson, Clarks, The Lalit, Chandela and Mint Bundela, as well as palace-linked accommodation such as Rajgarh Palace. The state expects the destination’s expansion to create scope for additional branded hotels and high-end stays. The next steps involve advancing the proposed tourism zone, improving connectivity and developing the infrastructure and visitor facilities linked to the funding proposal.
