9 facts about Khajuraho Temples
- Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples and is well-known for erotic sculptures adorning the temples.
- The name Khajuraho is derived from the Hindi word 'khajur', which means 'date palm'.
- It was during the reign of Chandel Empire, between 950 and 1050 AD, that Khajuraho temples were constructed.
- These temples are considered the "high point" of Indian architectural genius during the medieval times.
- The fascinating temples of Khajuraho represent the expression of a highly matured civilization. They comprise of one of the top tourist attractions of India.
- It is wrongly believed that Khajuraho temples are filled with erotic sculpture. Erotic scenes represent a relatively small part of the carvings, but sensuous eroticism prevails in all the sculptures.
- Archeological Survey of India has ranked Khajuraho temples as the best preserved monuments of antiquity.
- The images of Goddesses and Gods sculpted on the temple walls represent the many manifestations of the divine Shakti and Shiva, the female and male principles, the Yin and the Yang.
- Khajuraho temples, constructed with spiral superstructures, adhere to a North Indian shikhara temple style and often to a Panchayatana plan.
