The state of Madhya Pradesh is known as the ‘Heart of India’ owing to its central location and also because of its eloquent cultural heritage and architectural splendor. Khajuraho temples are located in a small village by the same name and have been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Khajuraho temples are unique because there is no known temple which has gained popularity across the globe because of its erotic sculptures and depiction of love and passion. Though these temples are dedicated to different Hindu gods like Shiva, Vishnu or Jaina sects but the place is visited less for its religious significance and more for the 22 existing temples which offer a tribute to the beauty of women and celebrate the most compelling emotion called ‘Love’.
Khajuraho temples were the brainchild of Chandela rulers and were constructed from 950-1050 AD. These temples are the finest example of exquisite craftsmanship and architectural excellence during the Medieval period. Originally there were 85 temples but only 22 have survived the nature’s wrath and today, stand tall to tell us about the philosophies and life style of a bygone era. The temples are carved out of sandstone and comprise of separate entrances, assembly hall or Mandapa, vestibule and inner sanctum or Garbha Griha. All the temples are built on a platform and are divided in three groups depending on their location, namely; western, eastern and southern.
Kandariya Mahadeo is the largest of all the temples reaching 31m in height. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has about 900 statues of gods, goddesses, beautiful maidens carved on its walls and ceiling. Chaunsat Yogini is the only temple that has been carved out of granite. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is the oldest temple in the western group. Chitragupta temple dedicated to sun-god Surya, depicts a life-size sculpture of the deity on a chariot. Vishwanath temple is a tribute to Lord Brahma and has intricately carved exteriors. Lakshamana temple and Matangeshwara temple are the other must-see temples in the group with massive statues of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations.
The eastern group has three Jain and three Hindu temples. Parsavanatha, Ghantai and Adinath temples are the Jain temples featuring scenes from every-day life of a woman, dreams of the mother of Lord Mahavira and sculptures of Adinath, the first tirthankara. Brahma, Vamana and Javari temple are the three Hindu temples with four-faced lingam, gorgeous maidens and sensuous postures carved lavishly on their walls and ceiling. The temples of southern group lie outside the village of Khajuraho at a distance of around 5 km and include Duladeo temple and Chaturbhuj temple.
Khajuraho entices environmentalists, tourists and students from India and abroad who travel all the way to this small village for a life-altering visual experience. The popularity of this place can be adjudged on this basis that the state government has built a domestic airport at Khajuraho to connect this place with the rest of the country. Khajuraho Dance Festival is held every year in the month of March to celebrate the true spirit of art and culture. The village is directly linked with Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kathmandu via air service. Khajuraho has excellent connectivity via road and rail network with major towns of Jhansi, Mahoba, Satna, Gwalior, Delhi, Bhopal and Jabalpur. The area offers comfortable options for staying and reasonably priced shops for buying souvenirs and local handicraft items.
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