Khajuraho Tourism - Madhya-Pradesh

Located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho has emerged as a renowned tourist destination from a tiny unknown village. A World UNESCO Heritage Site, Khajuraho is better known as the Temple Town. Famed for its magnificent Jain and Hindu temples and intricate stone sculptures, Khajuraho remains the epitome of the temple architectural style and aesthetic sensibility. Of the 85 beautiful temples, only 22 have survived the ravages of time. Made of sandstone blocks fitted together, these remain as a collective glorification to life, love and joy, to the spirit of creativity and human relationships. Built by the Chandela rulers in 9^th and 10^th century AD, the temples exhibit carved images of gods and goddesses, celestial maidens and dancers, animals and musicians, all frozen in stone. The unique spiral architecture of these temples makes them even more interesting. The temples stand on high masonry platforms and have three sections, the ardhamandapa or the entrance, mandapa or the assembly hall and garbha griha or the sanctum sanctorum. Each component of the temple is topped by pyramid-shaped towers rising in tiered succession and culminating at the shikhara or the pinnacle. Long forgotten, the secluded village of Khajuraho with its treasure trove was discovered accidentally by a British officer, Captain T S Burt in 1838, giving it renewed attention and fame.