"Erotic goings-on at Khajuraho" Khajuraho by Willettsworld

Khajuraho Travel Guide: 262 reviews and 801 photos

Khajuraho is a village located in northern Madhya Pradesh about 385 miles (620km) southeast of Delhi. I came here, by bus, after visiting Orchha and before taking the bus back to Jhansi and then on to Lucknow.

Khajuraho is one of India's top tourist destinations so expect lots of hotels (budget, mid-range and top-end), internet cafes, restaurants selling Indian, Chinese and western cuisine; and tacky souvenir shops. Really the village is split into two with the touristy bits around the western group of temples and the village itself to the east. If you have limited time then you might only get to see the western group of temples but if you have more time then take a trip into Khajuraho village itself to experience rural village life.

The reason why it attracts so many visitors is due to the fact that it was once the original capital of the Chandela Rajputs that once ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries. They originally built some 80 Hindu temples, of which only 22 now stand, scattered over an area of about 8 sq miles. The best and most decorative of these lie in an enclosed compound known as the western group. These were all built over a 100 year period between 950 and 1050 A.D. and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples feature detailed erotic scenes that have been carved into the external panels. When the erotic panels were first viewed by western eyes in the 19th century, they caused an outcry and have done ever since. Scholars are uncertain as to why there is so much eroticism on display here but one theory is that the carved panels acted as a how-to manual for adolescent Brahmin boys growing up in all-male temple schools. Another theory claims that the figures were thought to prevent the temples being struck by lightning, by appeasing the rain god Indra.

Khajuraho is a tricky place to get to as there is no direct train line so you have to come by bus which takes 4-5 hours from Jhansi which lies on the Delhi-Bhopal line or by a combination of bus and rail from Varanasi via Satna. If your time is limited in India then you might not be able to spare a couple of days to get here, visit and get out but if your schedule takes you to Varanasi then you shouldn't miss out on visiting here.

Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu

Erotic carved panels

Last visit to Khajuraho: Dec 2006
Intro Written Jun 17, 2007
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Reviews (43)

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Internet Favorites (1)

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Southern Group - Duladeo Temple - Khajuraho

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Restaurants (3)
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Tourist Traps (1)
All around the temples
Hotels (2)
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Comments (3)

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illumina Apr 8, 2010 at 9:17 AM

You have some great photos here, and an impressive amount of tips! I need to get a move on with mine!
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albaaust Nov 15, 2009 at 12:47 AM

Some great tips and photos..still deciding whether or not to visit. Bus does not sound good.
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cbeaujean Oct 11, 2007 at 10:03 AM

what a double good surprise: being the first to write comments (I appreciate!)...on a page written 4 months ago which deserves more than my only comment!useful tips!