Khajuraho Temple: History, Architectural Design, Light & Sound Show, Timings, How to Reach. (2024)
India is a country of many wonders. From gorgeous geographic locations to mesmerizingly beautiful monuments, India has always been one of the most vibrant places on the earth. But the Khajuraho group of temples is one of the unique monuments in India. The temples located in the tiny town of Khajuraho are not ordinary at all. They are quite different from any temple or shrine situated in India as well as the world. The Khajuraho temples are historically crucial in India not only because of their foundations but also because of the mesmerizingly carvings constructed on their walls. You might have heard about the significance of the Khajuraho temple in your life. If not, you must know that throughout the walls of the monuments, sculptures, and carvings of Kama Sutra are created.
It might seem odd that a country like India has such temples where sexuality or human anatomy is celebrated. As for the entirety of the country, talking or discussing sex is a taboo, it is quite refreshing to know that the ancient Indians did not think in that way. If you visit Khajuraho, you will witness these breathtakingly beautiful yet explicit carvings not only on one temple but on multiple temples. Khajuraho group of temples has been listed under the UNESCO world heritage site due to its majestic beauty and unbelievable craftsmanship of the artisans. The ironic part about the temples is that they are constructed not only to depict erotic sculptures but to worship Hindu and Jain deities. In case you are planning on visiting Khajuraho, you will find this travel guide quite handy. Here, we will provide you all the necessary information about the Khajuraho group of temples in detail.
History Of The Temples In Khajuraho
The Khajuraho temples are breathtakingly beautiful, but they play a significant part in India’s history. These temples were constructed by the Chandela rulers between 950 AD to 1050 AD. If you visit Khajuraho right now, you will get to see only 22 temples, but you will be surprised to know that the Chandelas built 85 temples initially. The entire area of the temple complex is spread over 20 square kilometers. Right now, the state government of Madhya Pradesh preserves and maintains the temples.
The name Khajuraho primarily came from the word “Khajur,” which means dates. You might be wondering why the temple complex was named after dates. The reason for the name is that the temples were hidden for many years before their discovery because they are protected by date and palm trees. In 1838, the temples were discovered by British engineer Captain T.S. Burt.
The Khajuraho temples are perfect specimens of architectural masterpieces. Every one of the temples is inspired by Indo-Aryan architecture. The artisans and craftsmen who created the Khajuraho temples, deserve an immense amount of praise because they built the temples from rocks. Moreover, it was pretty difficult for them to carve everything by their own hands at that time. Even though the temples are magnificent, most people visit Khajuraho to witness the temples’ carvings constructed on the walls and roofs.
Most of the carvings are quite erotic, but they are famous not only for being erotic but they are famous because the carvings made by the artisans are incredibly authentic. Even after so many years, you will be able to understand the stories behind the sculptures. Most carvings depict sexual poses mentioned in Kama Sutra quite vividly, while others will show you scenes of varying human emotions. When you visit the temples, you will be quite stunned to see the views of courtship, royalty, marriage, and others between Goddesses or human beings.
Architectural Designs Of The Temples In Khajuraho
Even though the temples of Khajuraho are primarily inspired by Indo-Aryan architecture, the main inspiration behind the temples’ designs is Nagara-style architecture. As most of the temples are constructed by granite and sandstone, they look gorgeous during the daytime. Almost every one of the temples in Khajuraho has Mandala design. You will notice, the idols residing in the temples are portrayed to be co-dependent on one another. We have already mentioned that there is a total of 22 temples in Khajuraho. Now, they are divided into three zones- Western, Eastern, and Southern.
You will find the Ghantai temple, Adinath temple, Parasvanath temple, Brahma temple, Hanumana temple, Vamana, and Javari temple in the eastern block of temples.
In the Western group of temples, you will get to see Chitragupta temple, Chausat Yogini temple. Kandariya Mahadeo temple, Lakshmana temple, Jagambi temple, Vishwanath temple, Matangeshwara temple, and Varaha temple. 
Finally, in the Southern block of temples, you will find Dulhadev temple, Chaturbhuj temple, Beejamandal temple, and Jatkari temple.
The unique aspect about every temple in Khajuraho is that all of them are built facing towards to sun. It is common in most Hindu temples in India, but in the Khajuraho group of temples, the same thing applies to Jain temples.
Best Time To Visit Khajuraho Group Of Temples
To be frank, Madhya Pradesh is a pretty warm state in India. Throughout the year, the state is quite hot. But the climate in winter is almost comfortable as the temperature lies within 27 to 34-degree Celsius. That is why it is better to visit Khajuraho during the winter. Most people prefer to visit Khajuraho in March, as the famous Khajuraho dance festival is held during that time. 
The monsoons are also comparatively better than the summers in Khajuraho. That is why you should go there between September to March to explore the temples somewhat comfortably.
Light and Sound Show at Khajuraho Temple
The best way to know about the history of the Khajuraho temple complex is by attending the light and sound show. As Amitabh Bachchan narrates the show, you will be quite thrilled to witness it. The way the light and sound show is portrayed is unique. You will get to know a lot of individual information regarding the temple over there.
There are two different timings for the show. If you visit Khajuraho between March to September, you will see the show between 7.30 pm and 8.25 pm.
In case you are visiting there from October to February, you will get to see the show between 6.30 pm to 7.25 pm.
The fee for seeing the light and sound show is different for foreigners and Indians. If you are an Indian, you will have to pay INR 250.
Whereas, if you are a foreigner, you will have to pay INR 700. As the show is available in both Hindi and English, you will not have any problem understanding it.
Khajuraho Temple And Museum Timings
The Khajuraho group of temples is open from 8 am to 6 pm every day of the year.
The Khajuraho museum is a great place to know about the detailed history of the temples. It is located quite close to the Western group of temples and is open from 8 am to 5 pm. But remember the museum is closed on Friday.
The ticket cost for the Khajuraho museum is INR 10 for Indian tourists and INR 250 for foreign tourists.
How To Reach Khajuraho Group Of Temples?
There are three different ways through which you can visit Khajuraho. They are through: road, rail, and air.
By Road: There are several buses available from cities in Madhya Pradesh, like Satna or Jhansi, which will take you to Khajuraho. You will also get buses from other major Indian cities, namely Delhi, Agra, or Jhansi.
By Train: Khajuraho can also be visited by trains. You will find trains from Indian cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Jhansi, or others to take you to the Khajuraho railway station.
By Flight: Even though Khajuraho has its airport, but that does not accommodate flights from different Indian cities. You will get flights from Mumbai, Delhi, or Varanasi to Khajuraho, but flight costs are pretty high.
Khajuraho group of temples is one of the most famous monuments in India, and every tourist visiting Madhya Pradesh must visit there. In case you are a lover of archaeology and history, you will find these temples of Khajuraho extremely beautiful. You will find a lot of practical tourist guides at the temple who will be able to explain to you the intricate architecture and history of the temple. Remember to wear loose cotton to explore the temple comfortably. Also, tourists are not allowed to carry any leather goods in the premise of the temple complex. That is why remember to avoid any leather goods while visiting there. If you plan on visiting there, remember to bookmark this blog. You will get a lot of help in planning the trip by following this blog.
