Khajuraho - Part 1

Monday, 20 March 2017

Khajuraho is a small town with an amazing set of 9th and 10th Century temples. So far 25 have been uncovered, but there are probably many more, perhaps as many as 85 altogether. While the temples are noted for their erotic sculptures, the most remarkable thing to me is how well-preserved they are. Shortly after their completion, they were abandoned and the jungle obscured and protected them from defacement and vandalism. They were “discovered” by the British in 1838.

The major site, the “western group”, has five main temples with additional shrines and monuments. Here they are in chronological order:

Lakshmana Temple

Vishwanath Temple

Chitragupta Temple - I did not get an image of the entire temple.

Jagadambi Temple

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Each temple got a bit more elaborate and ambitious, culminating in the unequaled splendor of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.

The tallest tower on the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.

Looking up the main tower of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.

The tallest towers are over the “garbhagriha” (inner sanctum). Under the small towers, over the “mandapas” (pavilions leading up to the sanctum) are corbelled domes:

Interior dome in the Vishwanath Temple.

Interior dome in the Chitragupta Temple.