Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Hindu temple in Khajuraho, India
Kandariya Mahadeva is a Hindu temple in Khajuraho in the Chhatarpur district of India, with a central tower rising 31 meters into the air. Three successive mandapas lead to a Shiva sanctuary at the core of the structure.
The temple was built between 1017 and 1029 under the Chandela dynasty, when Khajuraho served as their religious capital. It is considered the best preserved and most artistically important structure in the entire temple group.
The outer walls show scenes from daily life, religious figures and symbolic representations of Hindu philosophy and traditions in detailed stonework. These reliefs connect worldly and spiritual themes in a manner characteristic of Chandela art.
The temple opens daily from sunrise to sunset, and guided tours explain the architectural elements and religious meaning of the different chambers. Good footwear is recommended, as the visit involves a lot of walking and some uneven surfaces.
The construction uses mortise and tenon joints without mortar and demonstrates advanced engineering through precisely cut sandstone blocks. This building method makes the structure flexible against earthquakes and explains its excellent preservation over a millennium.
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