Exploring the Sacred Heritage: Khajuraho Temple

Table of contents

History of Khajuraho Temple
Significance of Khajuraho Temple
Speciality of Khajuraho Temple
Why must one visit the Khajuraho Temple?
Location of the temple
Darshan Timings of the temple/ Tips before visiting the temple
Special festivals celebrated at Khajuraho Temple
How to reach the Temple



Khajuraho Temple

Known for their breathtaking sculptors and elegance, the magnificent Khajuraho temples present aesthetics at its best. The beauty and elegance of the Khajuraho temples is beyond words and imagination. After visiting Khajuraho you will be left wondering about the advanced art, sculpture and architecture back in the 10th century. There is hardly any other place than Khajuraho, where all kinds of human emotions have been portrayed with such great excellence.



History of Khajuraho Temple

The temples of Khajuraho were commissioned by the Rajput rulers of Chandella Dynasty who ruled over central India from the 10th to the 13th Century CE. The temples were built over a period of 100 years and it is believed that each Chandela ruler commissioned at least one temple in the complex during his lifetime. The temples were built about 57 Km from the city of Mahoba, the capital of the Chandela dynasty rulers. Most of the present-day surviving temples were built during the reigns of king Yashovarman and Dhangadeva. Historical accounts of Abu Rihan-al-Biruni describe the temple complex of Khajuraho from towards the end of 11th century, when Mahmud of Ghazi attacked Kalinjar. The Kings struck a deal with Mahmud by paying a ransom that prevented him from looting the temples.
Throughout the 12th century, the temple complex grew and actively tended to till the downfall of the Chandela Dynasty at the hands of the Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aibak. During the subsequent centuries, the region was largely controlled by Muslim rulers. Some temples were desecrated by the Muslim conquerors but the temples of Khajuraho were left largely neglected owing to their remote location.
Accounts of foreign travellers like Ibn Batutta and archaeologists like Alexander Cunningham presented the great artistic character of the temples to the world making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in India.

Significance of Khajuraho Temples

The name Khajuraho is derived from its Sanskrit nomenclature ‘Kharjura Vaahaka’ which is the confluence of two Sanskrit words ‘Kharjur’ meaning date palm and ‘Vaahaka’ meaning bearer. There are about 25 temples spread over an area of approximately 6 square Km. The temples are grouped into three categories depending on their orientation – the Western Group of Temples, the Eastern Group of Temples and the Southern Group of Temples. These temples are dedicated to several Hindu Gods and Goddesses along with deities in Jain beliefs. Among the temples that are standing till now, 6 are dedicated to Lord Shiva, 8 to Lord Vishnu, 1 each to Lord Ganesha and the Sun God, while 3 are dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras. The largest of the temples is the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple that is dedicated to the glory of lord Shiva. It makes Khajuraho one of the four holy sites dedicated to the glory of Lord Shiva, the other three being Gaya, Kashi and Kedarnath.
The temples are known for their elaborate and intricate carvings and sculpture. While these sculptures depict various scenes from everyday lives, the Khajuraho temples are primarily known for the artful and erotic depiction of the female form as well as various sexual practices of the time.
The four Jain temples are primarily located among the eastern group of temples. The Parasvanath, Adinath, Shantinath and Ghantai temples are the ones dedicated to worshipping of the Jain Tirthankaras. These temples were constructed by the Chandela rulers in deference to the flourishing practice of Jainism in central India during their rule.

Speciality of Khajuraho Temple

The main attraction of the Khajuraho temples is the beautifully intricate carvings and sculptures that adorn the temples’ outer walls. These sculptures were often inspired by religious sensibilities of the kings or may be from various Vedic literatures and even from the traditional lifestyle in day-to-day life. The sculptures are curved in strict accordance with the Shilpa Shastra that governs the various aspects of correct depiction of a deity or female forms. The sculptures display various levels of perfection and artfulness.

The temples of Parshvanatha, Vishwanatha and Lakshmana display sculptures in most classical forms that follow the dictated guidelines of proportions and adornments. From there, a gradual increase in artistic touch is evident in the sculptures of the Chitragupta and Jagadambi temples.
The beauty and elegance of the sculptures reach their zenith in the Kandariya Mahadeo temple, where the human form attains perfect physiognomy. The figures here attain distinctively slender forms with a wide variety among elegantly posing Apsara figures. This sculpture style is evident in the Vamana and Adinatha temples as well.



Why must one visit Khajuraho Temple?

Khajuraho is well-recognised for its historical appeal, and it is home to some of the world's best and most ancient temples. The Khajuraho group of monuments are a collection of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples. They are known for their beautiful nagara-style architecture and sculptures.

The sound and light spectacle put on by the Western Group of Temples is undoubtedly among the interesting nighttime activities in Khajuraho. It is a ticketed event where people can explore the historical, religious, and cultural aspects. Even though these temples are stunning, the light and sound display puts them in a brand new light.

In Khajuraho, the Lakshmana Temple is the second largest temple. The temple was built between A.D. 930 and 950. The temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu, a Hindu deity. The sculptures are wonderful and the architecture is stunning.



Location of Khajuraho Temple

The Khajuraho monuments are located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in Chatarpur district, about 620 kilometres (385 mi) southeast of New Delhi. The temples are located near a small town also known as Khajuraho, with a population of about 24,481 people (2011 Census).


Timings

The best time to visit Khajuraho is during winter between October to March. The winter timings are from 6.30 pm to 7.25 pm which last from October till February. The summer timings from March to September are between 7.30 pm to 8.25 pm. The entry fee for the same for Indian visitors is Rs 250 while foreigners pay Rs 700. There is no entry ticket for children below 5 years.



Famous festivals

The Khajuraho Dance Festival is one of the most iconic events in India that celebrates the country's rich cultural heritage through classical dance performances. This annually-organised week-long festival in Khajuraho attracts art and culture enthusiasts from all over the world.

Apart from the performances, the festival also included workshops and seminars where visitors explored the various classical dance forms and their history.
Nepathya: an exhibition based on the cultural scenario of the Indian classical dance forms and the art journey of kathakali
Art-Mart: exhibiting art forms from across India and other countries
Choreo-lab: a workshop by dance artistes from India and five other countries
Kala-Vata: a discussion session of artistes and art experts
Pranati: a solo exhibition on artistic creations of senior painter Shubha Vaidya
Hunar: an exhibition on indigenous knowledge and traditions
Samashti: a national exhibition on terracotta and ceramic art



How to reach Khajuraho Temple

By Road: Khajuraho Bus Stand is 1 km from the Khajuraho temple. The bus service is available from Delhi to Khajuraho, Agra to Khajuraho, Indore to Khajuraho, Bhopal to Khajuraho and other cities.

By Train: Situated in Chhatarpur district, Khajuraho Railway Station is 5 km from the Khajuraho temple. There are trains from Delhi to Khajuraho, Agra to Khajuraho, Varanasi to Khajuraho and more. Choose from Khajuraho-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express, UP Sampark Kranti Express, Bundelkhand Link Express to reach the town.

By Air: Khajuraho Airport is a stone’s throw away from the Khajuraho Temple Complex, a mere kilometre run. It operates flights from Delhi and Varanasi.