"Amazing Temples" Top 5 Page for this destination Khajuraho by Donna_in_India

Khajuraho Travel Guide: 262 reviews and 801 photos

Erotic Sculptures - Khajuraho - Khajuraho

Khajuraho is located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a small village in the shadow of the Vidhya hills and most famous for its Unesco World Heritage Temples.

Khajuraho was the religious capital of the Chandelas. The Chandelas were a powerful Rajput dynasty from the 10th to the 12th centuries. They built 85 temples in Khajuraho between 950 and 1050 AD. Life was very good then - people were rich - and happy. There were feasts, music, and dancing. It was against this backdrop that the temples were created.

Of the 85 temples only 20 remain. They are split into 3 sections - Western, Eastern, and Southern. The Eastern temples are Jain temples which are much more simple in design then the Western temples and don't have the amount or kinds of sculptures either.

The main temples are in the Western group and they are magnificient. The sculptures are actually are a part of the temple structures, not just an ornament on the outside. The are three types of sculptures: 1) sculptures of the divinities (including the images), 2) female sculptures variously known as nymphs, asparas, etc., and 3) the most famous of the scultures - Mithuna - the sculptures of couples in graceful, amorous, coitus, or perverted positions.

Mithuana sculptures are described in a guide book as "...the sensuously carved, erotic figures that have been shocking a variety of people, from Victorian archaeologists to busloads of blue-rinse tourists."

Let me just say that every kind (and I do mean every kind) of sexual act and coupling or grouping is depicted in the sculptures. I am sure that some are even illegal. :-) But I found most extremely beautiful and "happy".

So the big question seems to be why all the sex? One theory is that it is kind of a Kamasutra in stone - a "how to" guide. Another theory is that the figures were thought to prevent the temples from being struck by lightning by appealing to the rain god Indra. Indra it seems, was an old lecher and keen voyeur!

Rather more convincing is the explanation that these are Tantric images. According to this sect, gratification of the baser instincts is one way to blot out all the evils of the world and achieve nirvana. (I rather like that thinking!)

However, it is said that the real truth is that the Khajuraho sculptors were simply representing life as it was viewed by their society, including unhampererd sexual expression. It should be noted that most of the sculptures are not "erotic" but depict day to day life at that time.

It may take a little doing to get to Khajuraho but it still manages to be one of the most popular visitors destination in India.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Temples are in the top 3 most beautiful in India
Cons:A little of out the way
In a nutshell:In the top 5 places that are a MUST SEE in India

Last visit to Khajuraho: Sep 2004
Intro Updated Nov 11, 2009
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Reviews (9)

Travel Within India... Warnings and Dangers (1)

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How Much to Tip Local Customs (1)

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Apsaras (damsels) at Vishwanath Temple Things to Do (4)

Although it is smaller in size, the Vishwanath Temple is similar to the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in both plan and... more travel advice

Buy Something Erotic, What Else?? Shopping (1)

You will find plenty of shops around the Western Groups of Temples selling souvenirs including plenty of stone and... more travel advice

Transportation (2)
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Comments (3)

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earthflyer Jan 9, 2010 at 9:59 AM

Nice to know EROTIC art has not change much over the years.
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Nov 9, 2009 at 1:22 AM

Thank you Donna for visiting and leaving a kind comment on my HP! Dream to visit India and Khajuraho next year. Wonderful travelogues, making my desire even stronger, haha!
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MikeySoft Sep 19, 2008 at 7:28 PM

I went to Khajuraho with my sister. She didn't expect to see those things.