Khajuraho Temple
Build between 950-1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty, Khajuraho Temples are one of the most important heritage sites in India, it is both a group of Hindu Temples and Jain Temples in Chattarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India about 175 southeast of Jhansi. Today a UNESCO world heritage site, the temple complex is divided into three spheres. The Western Shere, Eastern and Southern Sphere. The Western group consists of majority of temples, the Eastern comprises of carved Jain temples while the Soutern group has only a few temples.
The Temple is popularly known for its very erotic sculptures has been a subject of curiosity and an admiration for many tourists. Because of the erotic nature of the sculptures it has been a popular tourist destination, where people are mostly drawn out of curiosity or to simply adore it for its impeccable architecture. The architecture has been known depicting human connection in its most pure form. A blend of religion and spirituality. There are many theories that attempt to explain why the erotic art has been displayed so skillfully. One among them dates back to the Vedas where the four Purusharthas (principal object of human life) as identified in the tradition of Indian philosophy. These are: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Interesting facts about the temple:
- As per the legends, Hemvati was a beautiful woman, after whom the Khajuraho temples were built. One day, when she was bathing in a pool in Benaras, the Moon God was swooned by her beauty, and could not wait any longer to see her. They conceived a child and named him Chandravarman. However, she feared that her child might have to face harassment as he was born out of wedlock. She was so distressed that she cursed the Moon God, who later prophesied that the child will grow up to become a great king.
Just like the prophecy, the child indeed grew to become a great king, who founded the Chandela dynasty. One day, after Hemvati passed away, her son saw her in his dreams, where she asked him to construct temples that would depict human passions.
- It is, supposedly, said that Mahatma Gandhi found the sculptures in Khajurahotemples very disheartening and persuaded his supporters to wash and chip the temple walls clean of “embarrassing and indecent” portrayal of Indian culture. However, they were unsuccessful in committing such a blunder, and thankfully, the temples stand tall gracefully till date.
Temple Address
Located in the Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, 471606
Temple Timings
The visiting hours are from 8am to 6 pm.
Light and Sound Timings
The shows are conducted in both Hindi and English language. The timings differ for both summer and winter.
- The Winter timings are from 6:30 pm to 7:25 pm which is from October to February.
- The Summer timings are from 6:30 pm to 7:25 pm which is from March to September.
The entry fees for the Indian visitors is Rs 250 and for International visitors Rs 700, while there is no entry fee for children below 5years
Khajuraho Museum Timings
The museum is open from 8am to 5pm while remains closed during Fridays. The ticket price for India tourists, SAARC and BIMSTEC tourists is Rs 10 while foreign tourists have to pay Rs 250.
How to reach the temple premises
The easiest way to reach Khajuraho Is by flight, the airport is only 2 minutes’ drive from the town. The town of Khajuraho is 44km from district Chattarpur, 281 km from Gwalior ,375 km from Bhopal, 565 km from Indore, 355 km from Ranchi. Nearest railway station Khajuraho Railway station which is 5km from Khajuraho temple. Choose from khajuraho- HazratNizamuddin Express, UP SamparkKranti Express, Bundelkhand Link Express to reach the town.
