Western Group of Temples
UNESCO site · 3 hoursKandariya Mahadeva is the masterpiece. Take a guide — the iconography needs one.
UNESCO temples · Madhya Pradesh
Around twenty temples survive of the eighty-five built here between 950 and 1050, and they are among the finest surviving examples of Nagara-style architecture in India. The erotic carvings are what Khajuraho is known for and they account for perhaps a tenth of the sculpture; the rest is daily life, deities, musicians and animals, executed with a naturalism that is startling a thousand years on. The Western Group holds the major temples and takes a full morning with a guide, which is worth paying for here more than almost anywhere — the iconography is dense and unexplained carvings are just carvings. One night is enough; two if you are continuing to Bandhavgarh or Varanasi at an unhurried pace.
What to see
Kandariya Mahadeva is the masterpiece. Take a guide — the iconography needs one.
Jain temples, still in worship, and considerably quieter.
Evening at the Western Group. Amitabh Bachchan narrates the Hindi version.
20 km out. A granite canyon in five colours. Best after the monsoon.
Durations
Khajuraho works well as a 1–2 night stay. Tell us your dates and party and we'll price a tailored itinerary.
Good to know
Yes. The erotic sculpture is a small proportion of the whole and is high on the walls; most visitors with children find it a non-issue.
More than at most sites, yes. Without one the temples are beautiful but silent — the carvings tell stories that are invisible unless someone points them out.
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View guide →Plan it properly
We price the real configuration rather than an average — exact adults, children and rooms — and come back within one working day.