Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

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Khajuraho is the temple city of India. Khajuraho is situated to the west of Varanasi and Allahabad and South of the River Ganges, in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Complex of Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval temples of Hindu and Jain religion.

Located in the fertile Gangetic plains of Madhya Pradesh, the sprawling Khajuraho temple complex is a fascinating monument to the sanctity of human sexuality. The central theme of the temples is the celebration of womankind, her form, for her beauty and her temperament.

Khajuraho, or Khajur-vahika, derives its name from the golden date palms (khajur) that ones adorned the gate of the great city. The engravings were not built merely for aesthetic value, as they also served to teach young virgins all they needed to know about sexuality. The temples are clustered into three groups, spread over 20square km of land. The Chausath-Yogini, Brahma and Mahadeva temples are made of granite while all the other temples are built with fine grained sandstone.

The famous erotic sculptures of Khajuraho temples are the unique feature of the place. Every year, in the months of February-March, the Khajuraho Dance Festival is organized by the Kala Parishad under the Madhya Pradesh Government. Popular Classical Dancers from all over India perform during this Dance festival. Live performances of Indian classical dances like Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, and Manipuri are the main attractions of this grand dance festival.

The complex, built by the Chandela rulers between 950 and 1050, is a one of the finest example of Indo-Aryan architecture. It was built during a period of peace and prosperity, where creativity flourished under royal patronage. The Chandelas commissioned 85 temples, but only 22 are remaining today. The finely engraved figures show gods, goddesses, nymphs (apsara), men, women and beasts engaged in many and varied sexual activities.

There is perfect fusion of architecture and sculpture at this temple complex. At the Temple of Kandariya, there is a profusion of decorated sculptures considered as one of the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Stunningly explicit sexual sculptures which were created by the artist's imagination of lovemaking positions prevalent at that time, or based on the rules outlined in the Kamasutra. Many of the sculptors have claimed artistic ownership on many sculptures. Built of sandstone in varying shades of buff, pink or pale yellow, most of the temples belong to the Shiva, Vaishnava or Jaina religious Sects, which are difficult to differentiate from one another.

The temples, sited in an East-West direction, depicts a plan with spacious layout with interior rooms inter connected. An entrance, a hall, a vestibule and a sanctum are part the common layout plan of the temples. It is stated that the Khajuraho temples are a celebration of womankind, her innumerable moods and facets which are witnessed by the carvings of a woman writing letter, applying makeup to her eyes, combing her tresses, dancing, and playing with her child. Also etched, sculpted with consummate skill are innocent, coquettish, smiling, seductive, passionate and beautiful and erotic sculptures depicted in intricate detail. It is also opined that the Chandelas followed the Tantric cult with the faith that gratification of earthly desires is a step towards attaining Nirvana, the infinite liberation.

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