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.

Architecture

Temple architecture in India is broadly divided into the northern and southern styles. The form and shape of the shikhara (a prominent roof that surmounts the top of the sanctum sanctorum and dominates the surroundings) and the distinctiveness of its decoration have led to this classification.

The temples of Orissa and Central India have their own distinctive architectural style called the central Indian style, in which the temples resemble a range of mountains with columns of the subsidiary halls rising up towards the central column. The temples of Khajuraho belong to the central Indian style of temple architecture.

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, these temples 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 temple plans, from the simplest to the most sublime, follow the same pattern and all of them are elaborately carved.

Among the 22 surviving temples 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.

The Western Group

The Kandariya Mahadev is the best example of the Central Indian style of temple architecture. It is the largest of the Khajuraho temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located close to it is the Matangeshwara temple, the only one in the entire complex where the deity (Shiva) is still worshipped everyday with prayers and rituals. The Lakshman temple is finest of the western group of temples and has four shrines attached to it. The Devi Jagdamba temple is known for its erotic sculptures and houses Khajuraho's most talked-about image, the mithuna (the sensuously carved figures of amorous couples). The temples of Vishvanath and Nandi depict the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The Chaunsath Yogini is the oldest of the surviving temples at Khajuraho and is dedicated to goddess Kali.

The Eastern Group

This is also known as the Jain group. The Jain temples of Parasnath, Adinath, Shantinagh, and Ghantai have fine examples of elaborate carvings and are bereft of the erotic sculptures seen in the Hindu temples. These temples are dedicated to Jain deities, each temple having a finely sculpted image of the presiding deity.

The three Hindu temples here are those of Vamana, Javari and Brahma. The temples of Brahma and Hanuman are two of the oldest temples of Khajuraho and are made of granite and sandstone.

The Southern Group

This group has two temples only, the Chaturbhuj temple and the Duladeo temple. Both are Hindu temples.

Khajuraho Dance Festival

The beautifully lit temples of Khajuraho provide a perfect backdrop for the annual Khajuraho Dance festival. This festival is held every year in the month of February\March and leading exponents of various Indian classical dance forms (Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odisi, Kathakali etc) perform here. 

How to Reach

Khajuraho is well connected by air to Delhi, Banaras and Agra and has daily flights to and from these places. The nearest railheads from Khajuraho are Harpalpur 94 km and Mahoba 63 km. Once in Khajuraho, travelers can hire taxis, tongas or cycle-rickshaws to reach these medieval monuments.