| Khajuraho Sightseeing |
| Kandariya Mahadeva temple |
Kandariya Mahadeva temple is not only the largest in the group of temples, but architecturally and artistically it is most perfect. It was built during the period of 1025-1050 A.D and represents Chandela art. Although its five other subsidiary shrines have disappeared, the main temple stands majestically with the typical five-part design of Khajuraho temples. The British archaeologist Cunningham counted 226 statues inside the temple and another 646 outside it, making a total of 872. Most of these are one metre high. The statues are carved around the temple in three bands and include among them gods, goddesses, musicians, dancers, beautiful women showing off their body and the famous Maithuna poses. |
| Chitragupta temple |
The fourth temple at the back of the western enclosure is called Chitragupta temple. Its design is similar to Devi Jagdamba temple. A Unique feature of this temple is that it is dedicated to the god Sun (Surya) driving his chariot with seven horses. On the central niche, you can see an eleven-headed statue of lord Vishnu. The central head is of lord Vishnu and the other 10 are of his various incarnations. It has many other fine sculptures of dancing girls, elephant fights and processions, etc. |
| Lakshmana temple |
The large Lakshmana temple, is dedicated to lord Vishnu. Its design is similar to that of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple. It is one of the well-preserved temples. Around the shrine, there are two rather than three bands of sculptures. There are some very good sculptures of Apsaras (nymphs) and erotic scenes. Around the base of the temple, there is a continuous strip with scenes of battle, hunting and processions. Facing the large Lakshmana temple there are two small shrines - Lakshmi and Varaha temples. The Varaha Temple is dedicated to Vishnu's boar incarnation or the Varaha Avtar. Inside this small shrine there is a huge, solid figure of the boar. Walking around the enclosure we see another small shrine Parvati temple. It has an image of Ganga riding over the back of a crocodile.
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| Vishvanath temple |
Vishvanath temple was built in 1002 A.D. and has the five parts temple design similar to that of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple. Since the shrine has Shiva's vehicle the bull Nandi, it was obviously dedicated to lord Shiva. Steps lead upto its high terrace, flanked by lions on the northern side and elephants on the southern side. The sculptures around the Vishvanath temple include the usual Khajuraho scenes but the sculptures of women in this temple are remarkable for their delicacy and beauty. The women write a love letter, fondles a baby and play music. Inside the temple there is a polished 2.5 metre high Lingam.
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| Khajuraho museum |
Within the area of Western group of temples it is the rich archaeological museum of Khajuraho. The Museum is small but worth a visit. Opposite the museum is the Archaeological Surveys Of India compound and it has many rescued sculptures. |
| Chausath yogini temple |
This is the oldest temple in western group built around 900 A.D. or perhaps earlier. It is the only temple which is built entirely of granite, and the only one oriented northeast instead of the usual north south. Chausath means 64 and the shrine contains the cells of 64 Yakshinis (nymps) who attended to Goddess Kali and only 35 survive. Another half kilometer west, you can see the Lalguan Mahadev temple, a shrine dedicated to Shiva and built of stone and granite. |
| Adinath temple |
It stands east of Ghantai. It is a shrine contains the statue of Adinath. The largest and the finest is called Parasvanath temple. Kandariya Mahadev undoubtedly is the best designed temple in Khajuraho but Parasvanath is larger, architecturally perfect and has some great sculptures. Some of the best known classic sculptures of Khajuraho temple art can be seen here, a woman removing thorns from her foot; another woman applying her eye make up, etc. Originally dedicated to Adinath, an image of Parasvanath was substituted some centuries later. And the temple, therefore takes its name from the image of Parasvanath. Santinath is another relatively modern Jain temple here, but contains many components from very old temples around Khajuraho. It also has a small museum.
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