The temples of Khajuraho are famous all over the world for the magnificent
art forms of early medieval period. The carvings and sculptures on the
walls of the temples are so intricately done that they fascinate
tourists even to this day and speak of the genius craftmanship of that
period. The intricately done carvings are highly erotic and sensual and
are regarded as manifestations of human love and other emotions.
Instead of depicting sensuality as a degraded emotion, the art forms
raise it to a higher level to show them as an integral part of human
relationships. The temples were constructed by the powerful Chandela
rulers of the place during the 9th and 10th century A.D. The Chandelas
were known for their love of art and luxury. There are a complex of
Hindu and Jain temples in the place. According to historical details,
there were a total of 85 temples but not all of them could stand the
tests of time. Only 22 of them remain at present.
The temples of Khajuraho are divided into three categories-Western Group
Temples, Eastern Group Temples and Southern Group Temples. The western
temples are some of the largest, precisely built and located centrally.
The eastern group temples consist of five separate sub-groups. The
temples of the southern group are located at some distance. Some of the
finest temples of the three groups starting with the western group are
mentioned below
Location
The temples of Khajuraho are located in Khajuraho
village, a small place in the Bundelkhand region of central Indian
state of Madhya Pradesh.
Reaching the Khajuraho Temples
Air : Khajuraho is air-linked with Delhi, Agra and Varanasi.
Both Indian Airlines and private service providers operate flights to
Khajuraho.
Rail : The nearest railheads from Khajuraho are Harpalpur (94 km) and Mahoba (63 km).
Road : Though the location of Khajuraho is somewhat isolated, a
good road network connects Khajuraho with other towns and cities of
Madhya Pradesh. There are bus services to the place from Panna, Satna,
Chattarpur, Jabalpur, Mahoba, Bhopal, Gwalior and Indore.
