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Khajuraho Travel Guide
Exploring the Temples of Khajuraho: A Travel Guide
Khajuraho is a small town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, known for its collection of Hindu and Jain temples. These temples, built between the 9th and 12th centuries, are famous for their erotic sculptures and intricate carvings.
The temples of Khajuraho were built by the Chandela dynasty, who ruled over the region from the 9th to the 12th century. The Chandelas were a Rajput clan and their rule was known for its cultural achievements and architectural innovations.
The temples of Khajuraho are divided into three groups: the western group, the eastern group, and the southern group. The western group is the largest and contains the most famous temples, including the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple and the Lakshmana Temple. The eastern group contains the Jain temples, while the southern group is the smallest and contains the oldest temples.
The architecture of the temples of Khajuraho is a unique blend of Hindu and Jain styles. The temples are built on high plinths and are topped with soaring shikhara towers. The exteriors of the temples are covered with intricate carvings and sculptures depicting gods, goddesses, and scenes from Hindu mythology.
The temples of Khajuraho are also famous for their erotic sculptures, which depict couples in various sexual positions. These sculptures are believed to symbolize the union of the individual soul with the universal spirit, and are an important part of the Hindu philosophy of tantra.
Despite the passage of time and the ravages of weather, the temples of Khajuraho have survived and continue to attract visitors from all over the world. In 1986, the temples of Khajuraho were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of their cultural and architectural significance.
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Chaturbhuj Temple
Chaturbhuj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu in Khajuraho, India. This temple is also known as Jatakari Temple as it is situated in the village of Jatakari. The name Chaturbhuj is an epithet of Vishnu. Enshrined by Lord Vishnu, the temple is free of any erotic carvings or sculptures and hence is considered a unique temple in the region.
Chitragupta Temple
The Chitragupta temple is an 11th-century temple dedicated to Lord Chitragupt and Lord Surya in the Khajuraho town of Madhya Pradesh, India. and here Mithun dancers, Devanganas, Shardul have been inscribed in large quantities. The biggest feature of this temple is that the social scene has been exquisitely depicted in it. The splendour of the intricate statues is one of the reasons that makes it a popular site to visit among tourists.
Dulhadev Temple
The Duladev Temple is one of the popular temples of the place. Duladev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here in the form of Shivling. Built between 1000 and 1150 AD, the Duladev Temple is not as ornate as the earlier Khajuraho temples. Duladev Temple is built using the Nagara style of architecture, representing Mount Kailash which is the abode of Lord Shiva. The main hall of the temple is huge and is in the shape of an octagon. Beautiful images of Apsaras (celestial dancers) are carved on the ceiling. The pillars and walls of the temple have figures and sculptures of women in erotic poses, and young girls dancing around the trees. The Duladev Temple is considered to be "the ultimate glare of Khajuraho's architectural and sculptural mastery". The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are famous for their temple architecture and erotic sculptures. Tourists, travelers and even researchers come here to know more about these stunning pieces of architecture.
Javari Temple
The Javari Temple in Khajuraho, India, is a Hindu temple, which forms part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built between c. 975 and 1100 A.D. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. Forming part of the Eastern Group of Temples, Javari Temple is distinguished for its remarkable architecture and fine interior carvings. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple walls exhibit exquisite images of various men and women in different postures. The beauty and splendour of the temples never fail to leave you spellbound, making it one of the most inspiring Khajuraho tourist places.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple
The Kandariya Mahadev Temple is the most ornate Hindu temple in the medieval temple group found in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the largest and most beautiful temple in the western group of temples of Khajuraho. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kandariya Mahadev temples were built by Vidyadhar, a powerful Chandela king. Its construction dates back to 1025 and 1050 AD. There is a Shivling inside the sanctuary which is made of marble. With a distinctive sandstone structure, the main shrine of the temple is decorated with around 800 images, mostly 3 feet high. The entrance is surrounded by carvings of crocodiles jumping from small pillars and supported by a number of small figures, each with finely carved details. Which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Khajuraho.
Lakshmana Temple
This temple is located in the western temple complex in Khajuraho. The Hindu temple is dedicated to Vishnu, and is mainly built for the purpose of worship. The Lakshmana Temple was the first of several temples built by the Chandela kings in their newly built capital, Khajuraho. Between the 10th and 13th centuries, the Chandelas patronized artists, poets and artists and built irrigation systems, palaces and many temples from sandstone. The architecture of the temple is Indo Aryan Nagara style, embellished with abundance of sculptural work.
Parsvanath Temple
The Parsvanath Temple in Khajuraho, India was constructed in the middle of the 10th century during the reign of Dhangadeva. The temple was previously devoted to Adinath, who was the first Tirthankara (religious saint) of the Jains. This temple is the largest among the Eastern group of temples and has intricately detailed carvings on its walls. The most intriguing side of the architecture of this temple is the aesthetic blend of Hindu, muslim and Buddhist styles. Among all other Jain Temples in Khajuraho, the Parsvanath Temple is the most impressive. Categorized among the Eastern Group of Temples, the architectural pattern of the Parsvanath Temple, Khajuraho bears ample resemblance with the Hindu Temples of Khajuraho. The minute sculptural detailing on the body of the Khajuraho Parsvanath Temple makes it one of the chief Tourist Attractions in Khajuraho.
Varaha Temple
A small yet impressive Varaha Temple housing a huge monolithic sculpture of Lord Vishnu, where it incarnates in the form of a Boar. It is located in the western group of temples of Khajuraho. It is around more than 1000 years old but still the Boar and carvings on it, amazes tourists from all across the globe. It is estimated to have been constructed in 900-925 AD and on a single piece of sandstone.
Viswanath Temple
Viswanath Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. A mesmerizing marble Shivalinga is worshipped as the main deity. This temple, built by Dhanga Deva, belongs to the western group of temples. The temple was built in the structure of Panchayatan temple, in which four additional shrines at four corners surround the main shrine standing in the middle. The temple depicts more than 600 rock images. The temple also has an impressive sculpture of Lord Brahma enshrined inside the temple. The sculpture looks grand with images of lions on the northern steps and elephants on the southern steps guarding the figure. The beauty of the temple lies in the depiction of the exquisite figures of women on the rock walls. The magnificent carvings on the external walls of the temple add charm to its structural beauty. There is a massive 6 ft sculpture of the Nandi bull sitting on a large platform.
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