Temples of Khajuraho

The temples of Khajuraho are one the finest examples of the central Indian style of temple architecture. Though these temples have gained popularity because of their erotic carvings, they are reflective of the traditional way of life of the Hindu society in the medieval period.

The temples of Khajuraho are an enigma for art historians. The contradiction is created by the fact that these temples, despite being places of worship, are adorned with explicit erotic sculptures. However, several other Hindu temples of the same period also feature these, but the architectural harmony and beauty of the Khajuraho temples are unlike any other in the country.

Spread through the high forest plateaus of the region, the temples of Khajuraho were rediscovered only a few decades back. It was this isolation and the encroachment by jungles that had led to the destruction of most of them. Built within a 200-year span, the temples plan, from the simplest to the most sublime, follow the same pattern and all of them are elaborately carved.

The temples of Khajuraho are divided into groups of temples namely, the Western group, the Eastern group, and the Southern group. Among the 22 surviving temples of Khajuraho out of the original 85, some remain well preserved while others are less so. They are located in three groups of which the largest and most easily accessible is the Western group. People from far and away travel to Khajuraho to experience its romantic aura and bask in its beauty.