General Information:

In the realm of temple architecture, khajuraho holds a unique postion. The temples here were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. by the Chandela dynasty, who claim descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Henavati, with whom the God fell in love.

Most of the temples of the north were destroyed by invaders, but Khajuraho escaped and stands today as an island of beauty.

Architecturally the temples have some unique features. They stand on high platforms and do not have customary enclosures. Each temple has a large number of spires in ascending order representing human being’s
aspirations towards spiritual goals.

Possibily the Chandela rulers belied in a fertility cult. Whatever the reason, several temples have erotic sculptures. The recurrent theme of the sculptures is woman. In all her glory.

What to see

THE WESTERN GROUP:
This is the most famous setoff temples in Khajuraho which have the Lakshmana and Kendariya Mahadev temples. The best place to start is the Archaeological Museum just outside the enclosure of the temples. The museum contains a rich collection of relics found in the area. Next door is a shrine dedicated to the region’s former ruler, Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Dev, laid out to recreate this bedroom complete with photographa and personal effects.

Set in beautifully maintained gardens, the Western group of temples represents the zenity of Chandela art and architecture. Just to the left stands a quartet of early temples, all dedicated to lord Vishnu. The Lakshmana temple, believed to have been constructed around 950 AD is covered with rampaging sculpture celebrating the martial might of the Chandelas. Also notable are fine figures of apsaras with numerous erotic scenes on a frieze running around the temple base. It is the only temple which preserves the subsidiary shrines and platform terrace with their essential features and decorations infact. The temple really is a complex of the evolved temple form such as the mandapa, vestible and sactrum are in an excellent state of preservation.

Two small temple stand nearby, Lakshmi and Varah, the latter bearing a huge statue of Vishnu in his Incarnaton as a boar. Slightly south of the enclosure is the enclosure is the Matangeswere temple, the fourth of the group, with its giant lingam. This is Khajuraho’s most “living” temples and on festival days it comes alive with clandind bells and colourfully dressed villagers offering flowers and worshipping in the shrine.

Walking westwards, you will find the magnificient Kendariya Mahadev-the last and most of the Khajuraho temples built around 1050 A.D. It is teeming with over 900 sculptures and its shikara, the spectular main spire soars to a height of 31 metres (180 ft). friezes depict deities on their cosmic plateau, observing the activities of the mortals beneath, swarming into epic battles with phalanxes of elephants and dragons-a symbol incidentally adopted by the chandellas - or reclaiming withshepely young women on their return home. Every detail of contemporary life is captured here, portrayed with landed realism and often lemoyr. Above all, the sculptures celebrate the woman, with her hour-glass figure, smouldering with sexuality in countless poses and moods. As if caught

Unseen, these seductive creatures go about their toilette, combing hair, applying eye-shadow, preening in the mirror or joyfully entertaining with their lovers. Also found here Khajuraho’s most energetic and explicit maithunas or love-making scenes and though they may not have been intended serve as graphic illustration from the Kamasutra.

Just north is the small Devi Jagdamba temple, believed to be dedicated to Goddess Parvati, and filled with formidably athletic orgiastic sequences. In the north-eastern corner is the Chitragupta temple, which is dedicatesd to surya, the sun god, portrayed riding his chariot drawn by seven houses. There are interesting exterior relief of hunting scenes, dancing nymphs, small processions and elephant fights. Inside look for the 11-headav Vishnu statue, in the Garbha, the inner sanctum, each head representing his various incarnations. Completing the temple circuit is the Parvati temple, notable for its inner frieze of Goddess Ganga using a crocodile as her mount, and the Vishwanath temple, which is dedicated to Shiva and flanked by a statue of Nandi, Shiva’s bull mount.

THE EASTERN GROUP
It takes about 15 minutes to cycle to the Eastern group of temple, following the dirt road to Khajuraho’s medieval village. The walled enclosure is more sedate in comparison to the Western group, a possible influence of Jainism. The largest and finest temple in this group is the central Parasvanath temple, with its elegantly chiseled apsaras engaged in prosaic day to day activities ;playing with a child, writing a letter, applying make-up, removing a thorn from her feet. Within the inner shrine stands an ornamental throne and ornate carved bull, the emblem of the first Jain Tirthankara, the saint Adinath. Just outside is a circular museum which houses a collection of relics, columns and broken off friezes from the site .The Eastern group temples are really scattered in the surrounding fields around. The Javari temples are dedicated to Vishnu is located near village. The Vamana temples,200 metres is dedicated to Vishnu but in his incarnation as a dwarf and noted for its dazzling maidens in a variety of poses .The Brahma temple nearby is the oldest in entire Khajuraho and one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe.

THE SOUTHERN GROUP
Perhaps the least visited of the Khajuraho temples. But don’t miss the Duradeo and the Chaturbhuj temple that has a large image of Vishnu which glows during sunset.

Excursion

A rewarding day excursion is out to the fantasy tree-house built by Khajuraho eccentric, Gile Bohneublust, a Swiss who stayed on, and on ruins the Raja Café with hid English wife, Betty. His designer tree above has to be seen to be believed .It perches high above the gushing movements of the Ken River in Pauna District, about 23 kms away. Actress Julie Christie and Vivien Leigh found the tree –house and so can you. Ask the staff at Raja Café.

Standard Sightseeing tours:
Half day tour visiting the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela Kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD .The most important are the Chaunset Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, The Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath and Nandi Temple, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple dedicated to Shiva, which is the largest and most typical of temples.

Visit the Eastern group of temples that consist of the parasvnath Temple, which is the only Jain Temple surviving at Khajuraho and has excellent sculpture on the outer walls of the Sanctum, the Javeri Temples in this group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath.