• Khajuraho is much more than Kamasutra. This photo feature gives you an overview of Temples of Khajuraho. This is the first in a series of photo features on Khajuraho. 

Text and Images by Ankur Gupta.

This is the first in a series of photo features on Khajuraho Temples. Padavali Temple Morena, near Gwalior) is supposed to be the inspiration for Khajuraho.

The Khajuraho Legacy: An Introduction

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands as one of the most brilliant achievements of Indian art and architecture. Built between 950 and 1050 CE by the powerful Chandela dynasty, these temples are renowned worldwide for their stunning, intricate carvings and their perfect execution of the North Indian Nagara-style architecture.

Most temples are of sandstone except three that were in granite.

Key Architectural & Sculptural Features

Architectural Marvel (Nagara Style)

These temples are characterized by their towering spires or Shikharas. These are not single cones but are composed of numerous miniature spires. The structure typically follows a sequence: a raised platform (Jagati), the entrance porch (Ardha-Mandapa), the main hall (Mandapa), the intermediary chamber (Antarala), leading finally to the main sanctum (Garbhagriha).

Intricate Sculpture

The temple walls are adorned with thousands of sculptures, often seen as a “Theology of the Body.” While the erotic carvings are famous (constituting less than 10% of the wall space), the vast majority depict a symphony of life: deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti), celestial nymphs (Surasundaris), mythical beasts (Sardulas), musicians, dancers, and scenes of daily life and war.

Religious Significance

The temples reflect the religious harmony of the Chandela period, featuring Shaivite, Vaishnavite and Jain temples constructed in a similar, stunning style.

Exploring the Temple Groups

Khajuraho is a triad of distinct energies, typically divided into three groups:

1. The Western Group (Zenith of Power)

This is the heart of the site, featuring the largest, most famous, and best-maintained monuments.

A. The Mountain of Shiva: Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Significance: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the largest, most ornate, and most architecturally complex structure, standing at nearly 31 meters high. Built by King Vidyadhara (1025-1050 A.D.), it is a triumphant statement of power.

Architectural Detail: The silhouette resembles Mount Kailash. The main spire (Shikhara) is surrounded by 84 smaller subsidiary spires (Urushringas), creating a visual effect of a mountain rising.

Sculptural Detail: Scholars estimate there are over 870 statues adorning the walls, which are particularly dense with carvings. The famous erotic panels are located on the junction walls, often interpreted as a "twilight language" (Sandhya Bhasha) representing the union of the self with the divine.

Visitor Experience: The steep stairs often pass under an exquisitely carved makara torana (archway). Inside, the sanctum houses the main Shiva Lingam.

B. The Guardian of the Threshold: Lakshmana Temple

Significance: The oldest and best-preserved fully developed Nagara-style temple, built by King Yashovarman (930-950 A.D.). It is the first major structure most visitors encounter.

Dedication: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the sanctum houses a rare, mystical, three-headed idol of Vaikuntha Vishnu (human, boar/Varaha, and lion/Narasimha).

Historical Canvas (The Jagati): The high platform (plinth) is a continuous stone documentary of the 10th century, with friezes depicting armies on the march, horses being groomed, and dancers performing—a canvas of social history.

Key Iconography: Facing the main shrine is a smaller pavilion dedicated to Varaha, the boar avatar, featuring a monolithic sandstone boar carved with hundreds of miniature divine figures.

Next to the Lakshmana temple is the Matangeshwara Temple (made 900-925 .A.D), which has a huge linga and live worship exists. Vishwanatha is another grand temple, dedicated to Shiv. (made 1002 A.D). Also, in this group are Chitragupta and Jagdambi temples.  

2. The Eastern Group (Microscopic Perfection)

This group offers a contrast of silence and introspection. It primarily contains Jain temples like Parshvanath, where the focus shifts from cosmic grandeur to the stillness of the Tirthankaras.

3. The Southern Group (Isolation & Sunset)

These temples, like Dulhadeo and Chaturbhuj, stand in isolation, offering distinct architectural styles and often the best views of the sunset, away from the main tourist bustle.

The Raneh Falls, often called the Grand Canyon of India, and the serene Pandav Falls provide a geological context to the history, reminding us that long before the Chandelas stacked these stones, nature had carved its own masterpieces in granite.

Finally, the spiritual pulse of the town is not found in the fenced-off ASI museums but in the Matangeshwar Mahadev Temple and the nearby phenomenon of Bageshwar Dham. While one is the bridge to the past, the other is a roaring testament to the present-day faith of rural India.

Khajuraho is a journey that demands you look beyond the obvious. It is an odyssey from the physical (Kama) to the spiritual (Moksha), set against the backdrop of the Vindhya mountains.

Travel Guide: Planning Your Khajuraho Trip

Getting There: Khajuraho (HJR) has its own airport with connections to Delhi and Varanasi. The nearest major railway hub is Jhansi, though Khajuraho has a smaller station with connectivity to Delhi (Vande Bharat/Sampark Kranti). There is a highway from Jhansi to Khajuraho.

Best Time to Visit: October to March is ideal for temple hopping, with pleasant days and chilly nights. If visiting Raneh Falls, the post-monsoon months (September-November) offer the best water flow.

Weather: Summers (April-June) are scorching (up to 45°C). Winters are delightful (5°C–25°C).

Tickets: Entry to the Western Group is ticketed (digital payment preferred); the Eastern and Southern groups are generally free (except for enclosed complexes).

Pro Tip: Visit the Western Group at sunrise for the best light on the sculptures and beat the crowds.

Here are some pictures.

1 View of the grandest temple, Kandariya Mahadev Shiv Mandir.

2 Water body as you enter the Western Group of temples.

3 Welcome to Khajuraho.

4 Entrance to the Jain Temples complex.

5 Way to the Western Group of Temples.

6 Highway to Khajuraho. Pic by Sanjay Yadav.

Also read/see

1. Meaning behind Erotic Sculptures in Khajuraho

2. Pics of Vishwanatha temple

3. Pics of Western Group temples

4. Pics of Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

5. Pics of Vamana Temple and Dulhadeo/Chaturbhuj Temples.

6. Pics of Jain temples

7. All about Khajuraho Temples

8. Khajuraho Temples a Journey from Real to Surreal

9. MP Tourism site on Khajuraho

10. Pics of Lakshmana Temple  and Matangeshwara Temple

11. Khajuraho Dance Festival

12. Padavali Temple Morena, near Gwalior) is supposed to be the inspiration for Khajuraho

13. Travelogue Khajuraho, Chitrakoot and Prayagraj

14. UNESCO site

15. For a 30 page PDF on the Temples of Khajuraho