Khajuraho

Khajuraho - the religious and political capital of the Chandela Rulers, who built 85 temples to the glory of God, out of which only 22 remain today. The period 950 - 1050 A.D. - a mere 100 years, saw a flowering of architecture in Khajuraho, which has no parallel. These temples are designed to lead one's eyes from ground level ever upwards to the ultimate heaven - "Kailash". They are ornately carved, with each frieze and sculpture depicting the genius of the sculptor who carved it and the king who inspired them.

The sculptures in totality, depict the everyday life of the people and the court of the 10th and 11th centuries. The temples can be divided into 3 main geographical groups:

(Distance from the Airport 4 Kms, Approx. time 10 Mins.)

Places of Interest

I. WESTERN GROUP

Varaha Temple - This small rectangular temple, built on a rock foundation, has a pyramidal roof of receding tiers, supported on 12 pillars. In the middle of the shrine stands a monolithic, colossal image of Varaha (Boar). The image is carved from one piece of yellow sandstone and is exquisitely finished to a glossy lusture.

Matangesvara Temple - This ancient Shiva temple, enshrines one of the largest Shiva - lingas of North India. The temple is built entirely of sandstone.

Lakshmana Temple - This temple dedicated to Vaikuntha - a form of Vishnu, distinguished by 3 heads respectively of lion, man and the boar, is the earliest and best-preserved temple of Khajuraho.

Visvanatha Temple - True to its traditional name "Visvanatha", it is dedicated to Shiva. Although, the stone linga alone survives today, there is no doubt by its architectural grandeur and sculptural exuberance, that it is a monument worthy of a king.

Nandi Temple - This temple is really a pavilion containing a colossal image of Nandi, the bull mount of Shiva.

Chitragupta Temple - The only sun temple at Khajuraho, it is constructed in close proximity to the Chopra Tank - a deep, 3 storeyed well built by the Chandela Rulers.

Jagadambi Temple - This temple is essentially a replica of the Chitragupta temple, in respect of design, dimensions and decorative schemes.

Kendariya Mahadev Temple - Enshrining a marble Shiva - linga, this temple is the largest and the loftiest monuments of Khajuraho. The sculptures on this temple are conspicuously slender and taller, and show the richest variety of nymphs in lively and often violently agitated postures.


II. EASTERN GROUP

The Eastern Group of monuments includes 3 Brahmanical temples known as Brahma, Vamana and Javari and 3 Jain temples, the Ghantai, Adinatha and Parsvanatha.

Brahma Temple - It is because of the four - faced linga, which now forms the main deity of the shrine that it is popularly, called the temple of Brahma. Three faces of the linga are benign whereas the Southern face shows a skull on the "Jatamukta", protruding eyes and a gaping mouth. This temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu as is evident from the carvings on the doorways.

Vamana Temple - Dedicated to Vamana (dwarf) incarnation of Vishnu. Unlike the other temples, erotic scenes are conspicuous here by their absence, except in the roof pediments.

Jevari Temple - Again dedicated to Vishnu, this is a small, well-proportioned shrine. The temple is a gem of architecture and is remarkable as much for its ornate entrance, as for the slender soaring outline of its spire.

Ghantai temple - The Ghantai temple is locally so-called on account of the chain-and-ball (ghanta) motifs prominently carved on its tall pillars. The Ghantai is dedicated to the Digambara sect of Jainism.

Parsvanatha Temple - Of all the local Jain temples, the Parsvanatha is the best preserved and indeed one of the finest temples in Khajuraho.

Adinatha Temple - The temple enshrines a modern image of Adinath in place of the old one, of which only the pedestal has survived.


III. SOUTHERN GROUP

Duladeo Temple - Dedicated to Shiva, this temple has many individual features which distinguish it from the rest of the Khajuraho temples. The dancing nymphs and flying angles show vigorous tension and dynamic movement. The sculptures are generally stereotyped and overburdened with ornamentation.

Chaturbhuja Temple - This temple enshrining Shiva, is the only temple in Khajuraho absent of erotic sculpture.

The annual dance festival in March, when India's leading dancers perform on the podium of the Kendriya Mahadev Temple, is a good time to visit Khajuraho.