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 the Khajuraho temples one is left wondering
about the advancement of Indian art and sculpture as
back as the 10th century. Perhaps, there is no place
other than Khajuraho, where all kinds of human
emotions have been portrayed with such great
excellence.
The Chandela Rajputs constructed the Khajuraho
temples between 950 and 1050 A.D. The name Khajuraho
comes from the Khajur tree (the date palm tree)
which is found in abundance in the area. These
temples are considered the "high point" of Indian
architectural genius in the medieval period.
Khajuraho was the capital city of the Chandela
rulers. It was the Chandela rulers who built these
wonderful temples, known all over the world for
their passionate sculptures.
The Khajuraho temples have prominence of Indo-Aryan
architecture. Many of these temples are dedicated to
Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain Tirthankaras.
Originally, the Khajuraho temples numbered 85 but
unfortunately only 22 are in good shape. The images
at Khajuraho temples are a matter of great research
for art historians and main source of attraction
worldwide. The erotic sculptures at the Khajuraho
temples are of different significance to different
people.
Each temple at Khajuraho stands on a high platform
with a distinctive upward direction to their
structure. This is further enhanced by numerous
upright projections to create the effect of an
overall lightness. The three main compartments In
the Khajuraho temples are the "Ardhamandapa"
(entrance), the "Mandapa" (assembly hall) and the "Garbha
griha" (sanctum sanctorum). The Khajuraho Temples
are divided into 3 groups, Western, Eastern and
Southern.
The Western group of temples lies in the center of
green meadow and kaleidoscopic flowerbeds. This
group of temples is included in World Heritage site
and showcases one of the most remarkable sculptures
of Khajuraho. The most notable among these temples
are the Jagadambi temple, the Kandariya Mahadeva
temple and the Chitragupta temple. The temple of
Lord Vishnu built by Yasovarman is also known an
important temple.
Near the Khajuraho village you will find the Eastern
group of temples, which include temples like Brahma,
Vamana and Javari located near the Khajuraho Sagar
and many Jain pilgrims visit the Ghantai, Adinath
and Parsvanath situated little further.
Of the southern group of temples the Duladeo and the
Chaturbhuja temples are very famous. The Duladeo
temple, built in1100-1150A.D. is dedicated to Lord
Shiva. This temple is situated 1km. south of the
Khajuraho village. On the other hand the Chaturbhuja
temple, 3km from the town is dedicated to Lord
Vishnu.
