Steeped in history, blessed by nature and sanctified by faith - the temples of Khajuraho are India's unique gift to the world. A paean to life, love and joy, the temples of Khajuraho extraordinary breadth in every form and mood. The temples here were built in the short span of a hundred years , between 950 - 1050 A.D in a truly inspired burst of creativity during the reign of Chandela dynasty. There were about 85 temples, out of which only 22 survive, showcasing the great artistic wonders of the craftsmen. In a nutshell one of the most celebrated manifestations of Indian architecture can be found in the group of temples of Khajuraho.

Khajuraho Temples - Oozing out eroticism, passion, dance and music

Khajuraho temples, which wax a pale pink at dawn and a mysterious white in the moonlight - are some of the greatest in India. The intricacy with which every stone has been carved in to an image exhibits the craftsman's artistry. The 22 temples in Khajuraho are very much different from each other.

The Western Group Of Temples
The temples of this complex are large and lavishly decorated, displaying the wealth and power of the rulers. Most of the temples here are dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva.
Kandariya Mahadeo
The 31m high temple is the largest and most typical Khajuraho temple with exquisite carvings and intricate and detailed craftsmanship in stone . This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and enshrines the 'linga'.
Chaunsath Yogini
The temple is the earliest temple of the group that has survived. It belongs to 900 AD and is dedicated Goddess Kali. It has the distinction of being the only granite temple here.
Chitragupta Temple
This temple is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev). It is in front of this temple and the Vishwanatha temple that most of the dance performances take place during the Khajuraho Dance Festival.
Vishwanatha Temple
This temple has outstanding entrances with magnificent stone guarding its northern steps and royal masonry elephants taking care of the southern steps. The three-headed image of Lord Brahma here is worth seeing.
Lakshmana Temple
A pretty Vaishnava temple flaunts a lintel over its entrance depicting the divine trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva along with Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu.
Matangeshwara Temple
Situated outside the premises of Western group of temples, this Lord Shiva's temple is known for the daunting eight-feet high lingam (male organ representing the natural process of reproduction and the continuity of human life form) that it enshrines.

The Eastern Group Of Temples
The sculptural embellishment and profundity of architectural designs in Temples of Khajuraho is well ostensible in the Eastern Group of Temples.
Ghantai Temple
This is a Jain Temple, famous for its ornamental depiction of 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother and a Jain goddess on a winged Garuda.
Vamana Temple
This temple is adorned on its outer walls with carvings of apsaras (celestial beauties) in a variety of sensuous moods.
Javari Temple
This temple is famous for its richly carved gateway and exterior sculptors.
Brahma Temple
This is known for its four-faced image of Brahma housed in the sanctum of the temple. The temple is made up of granite stone and its shikhar is that of sandstone.
Hanuman Temple
This is another remarkable specimen of Khajuraho temple architecture. It is famous for the colossal statue of Hanuman, about 8 ft high, placed in the temple.
Adinath Temple
The Adinath temple is dedicated to the Jain Tirthankara Adinath. The lavish embellishment with sculpted figures, including that of Yakshis is quite remarkable.


Southern Group Of Temples
The southern group of temples comprises of only two temples which are architecturally stupendous.
Duladeo Temple
This Shaiva temple is known for flaunting the striking images of the celestial maidens or apsaras and richly ornamented figures.
Chaturbhuja Temple
It is the huge imposing intricately carved image of Lord Vishnu in the temple's sanctum, which is the chief attraction of the temple.

Year Of Kudos

The Khajuraho temples were designated as the World Heritage Site in the year 1986. The sculptures in the premises of the temples really need to be preserved because of their great artistry and their importance for the generations to come.

Zestful Leak

• All the 85 temples of Khajuraho were built by the kings of the Chandela dynasty but mysteriously their construction was given only a passing reference in Chandela literature.
• The temples were taken over by the jungle but were rediscovered in the 1830's by a British army engineer.
• The name Khajuraho is said to be derived from khajur or dates after the date palms grew all round.
• Chandela kings were great believers of tantric tradition of working towards satisfaction of all carnal desires to attain salvation and hence Khajuraho temples were built.
• Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu temples, famous for their erotic sculpture.
• The temples of Khajuraho are dedicated to Hindu deities like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and various Devi forms, such as Devi Jagdamba.
• Khajuraho temples do not contain sexual themes inside the temple premises or near the deity but only on external carvings.
• Only 10% carvings depict sexual themes , rest are best on common man's life of those days.
• In the Khajuraho temples, the idols of Shiva, Nandi, Goddess Durga, Incarnations of Vishnu etc are fully clothed.