Khajuraho, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, is known all over the world for its temples. They were built by the Chandela kings between about 950 and 1050 CE. Of the 85 temples said to have stood here, around 20 survive, and together they form one of the finest groups of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in India – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
The sculptures:
The temples are covered with thousands of sculptures of gods and goddesses, celestial dancers, musicians, warriors, animals and scenes of daily life. Khajuraho is famous for its erotic sculptures, but these make up only a small part of the carvings: they celebrate life in all its forms, and many see in them the balance of the spiritual and the worldly in Hindu thought.
The temple groups:
- Western Group – the largest and best preserved, with the Kandariya Mahadeva temple, the finest of all, as well as the Lakshmana, Vishvanatha and Chitragupta temples.
- Eastern Group – mainly Jain temples, such as the Parsvanath temple, with very delicate carvings.
- Southern Group – the Duladeo and Chaturbhuj temples, a little outside town.
Good to know:
A local guide helps to read the sculptures and their stories. In the evening a sound and light show is held at the Western Group, and every February the Khajuraho Dance Festival brings classical dancers to perform in front of the temples. Khajuraho is often combined with Orchha and Varanasi, and it has its own airport.
