Places To Visit In Khajuraho Tourism

Khajuraho is a town in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh popular for the erotic sculptures on the walls of the ancient temples. There are many theories as to why these Khajuraho Mandir were built. The kings of the Chandela dynasty built these temples to depict lovemaking in all forms and instill passion in ascetics who followed Buddhism, is a popular theory behind the story of these Khajuraho Mandir. There are many places to visit in Khajuraho tourism. History and architecture buffs can find these ancient temples fascinating. This is a world UNESCO sites and all the Khajuraho temple in this ancient town are UNESCO heritage sites. The town used to have many date trees, which are called ‘Khajur’ in the Hindi language, hence the name Khajuraho.

Khajuraho Mandir

Khajuraho Temple History

Places To Visit In Khajuraho Tourism

Nightlife In Khajuraho

Khajuraho Weather

Khajuraho Airport

Khajuraho Mandir

Khajuraho Mandir

The Khajuraho mandir has a mystery surrounding it and links it to the ancient science of lovemaking called Kamasutra. You can find various copulation sculptures involving groups, couples, and mass copulation. The reason behind these erotic sculptures probably goes beyond sex education and teaches the essence of passion to reach divinity of some kind.

Khajuraho Temple History

Khajuraho Temple History

Khajuraho temple was built in the 11th century by the kings of the Chandella dynasty. Over a period of time, many of the Khajuraho Mandir were destroyed by the Muslim invaders. For many centuries these temples were buried inside the forest. T.S Burt, a British engineer discovered these temples centuries later. This is the town that is full of ancient temples apart from the Khajuraho Mandir that depicts the erotic sculptures.

Places To Visit In Khajuraho Tourism

1. Kandariya Mahadev Temple

Kandariya Mahadev Temple

This temple was built in the 10th century and is known for its grandeur and intricate detailing in the architecture. It has beautiful frescos of women and is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Inside the temple is a Shivling in sandstone. The images on the walls of this represent erotism. One of the best places to visit in Khajuraho tourism.

Kandariya Mahadev Temple Facts

  • This is at the largest medieval temples surviving from the 85 temples in this Khajuraho temple town.
  • It was built by the Chandela rules, Raja Dhangadeva.
  • The spire of the temple depicts the sacred Mount Kailash and is surrounded by 84 mini spires.
  • The Shivling inside this temple is made in marble stone.
  • There are 646 statues inside the temple.
  • This temple is built on the ancient principles of Vastu design and architecture.
  • There are many chambers inside the temple leading to another inside the temple.
  • Inside the temple are pillared halls called the mandapa and dark areas known as the Garbhagriha.

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple Architecture

There are exotic carvings throughout the temple. Most of these carvings depict four essences of life; karma is desire, Dharma is the righteous living, Artha means wealth, moksha means liberation. These four essences of Hindu philosophy are depicted on the carvings of the walls of this temple. The top of the temple depicts the classification of the plant and animal life. The bottom of the temple has sculptures of gods and demigods depicted going towards heaven. The purpose of the architecture of this Khajuraho temple was to educate people about life and Hindu philosophies of life.

2. Lakshmana Temple Khajuraho

Lakshmana Temple Khajuraho

This temple is named after the king who ruled the town in one of the eras by the name Lakshmana. Inside the temple are the idols of the holy trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The design and architecture of this temples are aesthetically pleasing. One of the best places to visit in Khajuraho tourism.

Lakshmana Temple Architecture

This temple was built to depict various forms and expressions of female beauty. Within the sculpture system of the temple, there are various forms of female beauty that are carved. These sculptures represent fertility, loving couples, prosperity, growth, divine union of male and female to attain spirituality in its highest form. These are erotic structures that were meant to instill a sense of spirituality in the art of lovemaking and do not have the goal to titillate the viewers of the sculptures.

It is built in the Nagara style of architecture from the 10th and the 11th century. It has a shrine, a porch known as the mandapa, and a Shikara that represents Mount Meru. The sculptures on the walls of this temple also represent daily life. The poses of most of the sculptures represent the three-dimensional principle. The erotic images represent the tantric sexuality that couples spiritual principles with sex.

3. Duladeo Temple

Duladeo Temple

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built in the 11th century. Inside the temple is a beautiful Shivling. The walls of the temple are decorated with sculptures of apsaras and many other intricate details of carving. There is also a sculpture of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi.

4. Devi Jagadamba Temple

Devi Jagadamba Temple

This is a temple that is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. There are many erotic sculptures on the walls of this temple. Originally, this temple was built and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There beautiful carvings inside this temple. One of the best places to visit in Khajuraho tourism for an art lover.

Devi Jagadambi Temple Architecture

There are sculptures of a lion with a parrots head, an elephant, a boar, and many divine structures of the goddess. There are many artistic carvings inside the temple. It has the sculptures of the Hindu trinity gods. The temple is built in the Nagara style of architecture and has many erotic carvings on the walls of the temple. It has a mandapa and a Garbhagriha. This temple is smaller than the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.

5. Parshwanath Temple Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh

Parshwanath Temple Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh

Inside this temple, you will find intricate scripts written in Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist languages. There are unique sculptures on the outer walls of the temple which are a rare sight to see a blend of three religions together.

6. Vishwanath Temple Khajuraho

Vishwanath Temple Khajuraho

This is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are imposing statues of Nandi, the sacred bull, image of Lord Brahma, and a marble Shivling inside the temple.

7. Adinatha Temple Khajuraho

Adinatha Temple Khajuraho

This is an ancient Jain temple that has many figures sculpted onto the walls of the temples. This is an aesthetically pleasing Jain temple and has carvings of Yakinis inside the walls of the temple.

8. Lakshmi Temple Khajuraho

Lakshmi Temple Khajuraho

This is one of the smaller ancient temples in Khajuraho. It is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the giver of wealth and good fortune. Inside the temple, there are fewer shrines of the Goddess.

9. Chaturbhuj Temple Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh

Chaturbhuj Temple Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has erotic carvings on the walls of the temple. This is a temple where many pilgrims pay a visit and worship at this temple.

Chaturbhuj Temple History

It was built by the Bundela king Madhukar Shah in the 16th century for his wife after getting a vision in his dream. It has a vestibule, a mandapa, and a sanctum. This is the only temple where Lord Rama is worshipped as a king and not a god. The temple walls have erotic carvings and lotus symbols throughout the temple. There are many other places to visit in Khajuraho tourism around this Khajuraho temple.

Chaturbhuj Temple Timings

05:00hrs to 12:00hrs and 16:00hrs to 21:00hrs 

10. Javari Temple Khajuraho

Javari Temple Khajuraho

This is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The statue of Lord Vishnu is broken and is not yet renovated. The outer sanctum has scriptures of the Trinity, Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It also has the scriptures from Navagrahas.

11. Varaha Temple Khajuraho

Varaha Temple Khajuraho

Varaha is the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu who saved the Earth from drowning and entering the netherworlds. This temple is dedicated to this boar form of Lord Vishnu. Most of the statues and sculptures inside the temple are made in sandstone.

12. Matangeshwar Temple

Matangeshwar Temple

This is one of the popular Khajuraho temple of Lord Shiva made in sandstone. It has many sculptures and inscriptions in Nagari and Persian language. This is the unique feature of this temple. Many devotees pay a visit to this temple.

Matangeshwar Temple Khajuraho History

Matang was an incarnation of Lord Shiva and this temple is dedicated to this avatar of Lord Shiva. It was built in the 10th century. This is one of the UNESCO world heritage Khajuraho temple with erotic carvings inside the walls of the temple. This is the temple where prayers are still held and are one of the oldest temples where people worship and pay a visit.

13. Chitragupta Temple Khajuraho

Chitragupta Temple Khajuraho

This is an 11th-century temple that is dedicated to Sun God. This is an ornate temple with an idol of Lord Surya with his seven chariots. The ceiling of the temple is octagonal in shape. The sculptures inside the temples include eleven headed idol of Lord Vishnu, erotic couples, and many other small sculptures of Lord Surya. It has a Chopra which is a three-storied tank and a sanctum. This Chopra tank of the temple was said to have the healing power to cure diseases. This is one of the places to visit in Khajuraho tourism.

14. Shantinatha Temple Khajuraho

Shantinatha Temple Khajuraho

This is a group of Jain temples, that have numerous shrines built in the 1027 A.D. The sculptures carved are from the 10th-century style of architecture. It has a life-size statue of Adinatha from the 10th century. This is a world heritage site. Around these temples, you will find inscriptions from the 10th century.

15. Beni Sagar Dam

Located on the outskirts of the town, you can enjoy activities like boating, fishing, angling, and go on a picnic soaking in the scenic beauty of this place. The sunrise and sunsets at this dam have a stunning view. One of the adventurous places to visit in Khajuraho tourism with your family.

16. Raneh Falls

Raneh Falls

These are natural and mesmerizing waterfalls and have beautiful gorges. There are small and big waterfalls in the area which are called Raneh Falls. This waterfall is one the best places to visit in Khajuraho tourism. Visit this area to view the scenic waterfalls and explore the surroundings. These waterfalls through the rock formations which look stunning.

Raneh Falls Entry Fee

Indian: INR15

Foreigner: INR 150

17. Dhubela Museum

Dhubela Museum

This museum is located on the banks of Lake Dhubela. It has a Maharaja Chhatrasal Palace and a museum within that has collections of sculptures, armory, paintings, and many other items spread across a display in eight galleries.

Nightlife In Khajuraho

Though this is an ancient town, it is not limited to Khajuraho Mandir and Khajuraho temple, there are many bars and pubs inside the town. You can also view the sound and light show in the night times. There are many pubs and bars in the Chhatarpur district that have live music, cocktails, and drinks. The Downing Street, Temple-bar, and Lounge bar are some of the places you can visit in the temple town.

Khajuraho Weather

Visiting the Khajuraho Mandir is very hot during summers. The best time to visit this ancient Khajuraho Mandir and town is between the months of October and March. The weather is pleasant and you can take a walking tour inside the town to view the stunning architecture and history of the temples. Tourism in Khajuraho is a walking tour through the medieval history and architecture of the ancient temples.

Khajuraho Airport

This is the airport in the Khajuraho town that has domestic airlines. There are ample parking space and basic amenities available for travelers. There is no international airport in this town.

Read More: Indian Culture And Traditions: Indian History

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