Khajuraho: A Glimpse of India’s Heritage through Stone Carvings

If you’re a vivid traveler, engrossed to explore ages-old Indian art of stone carving, the culmination of eroticism and to feast your senses, you must visit Khajuraho Group of Monuments at least once in a lifetime. You’ll get to see how wonderfully passions wrapped in poses and love engraved in stones.

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a huge conglomeration of 24 Hindu and Jain temples located in Chhatarpur district of the Central Indian state Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho temples are UNESCO World Heriatge Sites constructed in nagara-style of architecture between 950 AD and 1050 AD by the kings of Chandela clan. Historical documents state that the Khajuraho Group of Monuments had total 85 temples by the 12th century, and were spread over an area of about 12 sq. miles. But at present, only 24 temples have survived, expanded over 4 sq. miles of area. Of these temples, 8 are devoted to Lord Vishnu and his consorts, 6 to Lord Shiva and his affinities, 1 each to Lord Ganesha and Sun, and 3 to Jain Tirthankars.

Geographically partitioned into three complexes – Eastern, Southern and Western – the Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone, with a granite foundation that is almost buried. The Western part that includes the Kandariya Mahadeva – the largest and most significant temple – is the most popular. Devoted to Lord Shiva, the temple is studded with imposing sculptures.

Excursionists from around the globe arrive this small town to be visually indulged in the antiquity and the essence that permeates the entire Khajuraho. With carvings all over the walls, the Khajuraho temples are a living museum of art and architecture.

Moreover, Khajuraho temples depict many theories through these sculptures, bear so much of symbolism in it. You may not see any erotic sculpture inside the temple, and the common perception behind this is that leave your lust abaft before entering the temples. This theory gets fortified as you would see these sculptures only on the outer walls.

The 10th century Khajuraho temples can be explored by traveling The Indian Panorama itinerary of the Maharajas’ Express – The World’s Leading Luxury Train.

Click to book The Indian Panorama itinerary