Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Hindu and Jain temple complex in Chhatarpur, India
Khajuraho is a complex of 25 preserved temples in Chhatarpur, India, built with red sandstone and featuring the Nagara architectural style. The structures stand across a spread-out area and present detailed sculptures on outer walls, pillars, and doorframes depicting various themes.
The Chandela dynasty erected the temples between 950 and 1050, when originally 85 structures were created. For centuries they remained largely unknown until T.S. Burt rediscovered them in 1838 and brought them to outside attention.
The temples remain active sites where pilgrims and visitors come to experience the connection between the divine and the everyday through the carvings. The depictions show scenes from life, mythological figures, and social activities that reflect medieval India and remain accessible to present-day travelers.
The temples are spread across several clusters, so visitors can focus on the western section where most structures stand. Comfortable footwear helps while exploring, as many stairs and uneven surfaces run throughout the site.
Kandariya Mahadeva holds more sculptures than any other structure in the complex, displaying 872 statues distributed across multiple levels. Many travelers overlook that the arrangement of the figures forms a deliberate system that guides the eye upward through different themes.
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