The Khajuraho temples are a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, built mainly between about 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. They are known for fine sandstone sculpture, including the erotic carvings that draw most curiosity. UNESCO listed the Khajuraho Group of Monuments as a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh |
| Builders | Chandela rulers |
| Main building period | c. 950 to 1050 CE |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Temples surviving | Around 25 of an estimated 85 (figures vary by source) |
| UNESCO listing | 1986 |
| Groups | Western, Eastern and Southern |
Who built Khajuraho?
The Chandelas were a Rajput dynasty who ruled the Bundelkhand region of central India from roughly the 9th to the 13th century. Khajuraho was one of their religious centres, with Mahoba and Kalinjar being other important places. Rulers like Yashovarman, Dhanga and Vidyadhara are linked with the major temples. Over about a century, successive kings and their families added shrines, one after another.
The name Khajuraho is usually explained as coming from khajur, the date palm. Tradition says the city had golden date-palm trees at its gates, although this is a popular explanation rather than a proven fact.
Why were so many temples built here?
There is no single agreed reason, but a few points explain the pattern. The Chandelas were wealthy and wanted to show their devotion and power. The region was not on a major trade route, yet it was a political centre. Khajuraho was also in the heart of their territory, away from the frontier. The temples are mostly Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva, with a group of Jain temples as well, which suggests a tolerant and diverse society.
The three groups
Western Group
This is the main cluster and the one most visitors see first, inside a landscaped enclosure. The largest and finest temple here is the Kandariya Mahadeva, dedicated to Shiva, rising to a height of about 30 metres on a high platform, with hundreds of carved figures. Next to it, the Lakshmana temple, the Vishvanatha temple and the Chitragupta temple (a rare dedication to the Sun god) are other highlights. The Chausath Yogini, a granite temple, is among the oldest at the site and stands slightly apart.
Eastern Group
This group includes a cluster of Jain temples such as Parshvanath, Adinath and Shantinath, together with a few Hindu temples like the Vamana and Javari temples. The Parshvanath temple is the largest among the Jain ones and has beautiful carved panels.
Southern Group
A smaller group, including the Duladeo temple and the Chaturbhuj temple, located a bit away from the main area.
Architecture in simple words
Most of the temples follow a style called Nagara. They stand on high platforms, have a tall, curved tower (shikhara) made up of clusters of smaller spires that rise like a mountain range, and a series of halls leading to the sanctum. Many have a path for circumambulation inside. Little or no mortar was used between the stone blocks; they were cut to fit closely and joined with fine joints and sockets. Over the walls, three bands of sculpture wrap around the temple.
What do the sculptures show?
Many visitors come for the erotic sculptures, but they form only a small share of the carvings, roughly a tenth by common estimates. Most of the carvings show gods and goddesses, celestial beings (apsaras), musicians, warriors, animals and scenes of daily life. The erotic panels are usually placed on specific bands of the walls and have drawn different explanations from historians: some link them to Tantric ideas, some to the concept of life’s pleasures as part of a complete worldview, and others to ritual or auspicious symbolism. No single explanation has been proven, so it is best to treat them as open questions.
Decline and rediscovery
After the Chandelas lost power to the Delhi Sultanate in the early 13th century, Khajuraho gradually lost its importance. The temples were not destroyed in the same way as some other sites, and the jungle covered many of them. Local communities continued to worship at a few, which helped them survive. In 1838 a British engineer, T. S. Burt, reported on the temples, and the Archaeological Survey of India under Alexander Cunningham documented them in the following decades. Of the original number, about 85 according to a widely repeated estimate, around 25 survive today.
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Every year, usually in February, a classical dance festival is held in front of the Western Group, with performers of Kathak, Odissi, Bharatanatyam and other styles. Dates change every year, so check with Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
Visiting Khajuraho
The town has a small airport, and Jhansi and Satna are the closest major railway stations. The Western Group requires an entry ticket, and there is an evening light and sound show whose timings vary by season. Because I could not verify current ticket prices and show times, check the ASI and Madhya Pradesh Tourism sites before you go. October to March is the best time. Hiring a licensed guide helps, as many details on the carvings are easy to miss.
Notable temples to look for
The Kandariya Mahadeva is the grandest, with a hall, a porch and a sanctum, all topped with a rising series of towers. The Lakshmana temple is among the earliest big temples and has well-preserved sculptures of gods, apsaras and a frieze of processions. The Vishvanatha temple has a Nandi shrine nearby. The Chaturbhuj temple in the southern group has a large image of Vishnu in the sanctum. Each temple has its own character, so it is worth looking at details rather than moving quickly.
Tips for photographers and families
Early morning light on the sandstone is soft and the crowds are small. Families with children can focus on the apsara and animal carvings, which are plentiful and easy to spot. A guide can point out the erotic panels in context. Dress modestly, as the temples are living places of worship in some cases, and some Jain temples have separate rules.
Conclusion
Khajuraho is better understood as a monument to the artistic confidence of the Chandela age than as a place defined by one kind of sculpture. A slow walk around Kandariya Mahadeva will show you why UNESCO called it an outstanding example of Indian temple art.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who built the Khajuraho temples?
The Chandela dynasty built them, mainly between about 950 and 1050 CE.
How many temples are there in Khajuraho?
About 25 temples survive today, out of an estimated 85 originally, though figures differ by source.
Why does Khajuraho have erotic sculptures?
Historians offer several explanations, including Tantric influence and the idea of life’s pleasures as part of existence. There is no single proven reason.
Is Khajuraho a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments was inscribed in 1986.
What is the best time to visit Khajuraho?
October to March, when the weather is cooler. The dance festival is usually held in February.
