Khajuraho Group of Monuments Historical Site

Address: Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India

Hours: Daily 6:00am-6:00pm (typical for monument complexes)

Admission: Entry charged (Khajuraho Group of Monuments - tickets available at site; foreign/Indian pricing tiers typically apply)

Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a cluster of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, central India, built mainly between the 10th and 12th centuries by the Chandela dynasty. The ensemble is celebrated for its intricate sculptural decoration and architectural form.

The sculptural program across the temples includes figurative relief panels, narrative friezes and ornamental sculpture, with the Western Group containing some of the most elaborate and best-preserved temples such as the Kandariya Mahadeva. Visitors study both the iconography and the temple plans, which display high medieval North Indian temple architecture.

The grouping is divided into Western, Eastern and Southern clusters, each with distinct temple types and devotional associations; the Western Group is the main focus for visitors and tourism infrastructure. The site’s combination of monumental form and detailed stone carving attracts scholars, photographers and general visitors alike.

Constructed under Chandela rule during the 10th and 11th centuries, the temples were gradually abandoned or fell into disuse by the late medieval period and were later surveyed and conserved from the 19th century onward. The complex is now protected and managed for conservation and tourism.

The monuments are located near the modern town of Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, and are accessible from regional transport hubs and the local town.

• Surviving temples and dates: Approximately 20 major temples survive intact from an original larger complex, and surviving monuments date primarily to the Chandela dynasty across the 10th and 11th centuries.

What to See#

• Western Group: The Western Group contains the largest cluster of temples, including the Kandariya Mahadeva and Lakshmana temples, and is the most visited sector.
• Eastern Group: The Eastern Group includes several Jain temples and smaller Hindu shrines located to the east of the main complex.
• Southern Group: The Southern Group comprises a small cluster of temples south of the principal Western Group and is less visited.

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is on the outskirts of Khajuraho town. Khajuraho Airport (domestic) is about 6-8 km from the temple groups and taxis/auto‑rickshaws connect the airport, town and sites (10-20 minute drive). From Khajuraho town centre the main Western and Eastern groups are a short drive (5-15 minutes) or a walk of up to a couple of kilometres depending on which cluster you visit.

• Plan your visit for sunrise or late afternoon when the sandstone carvings pick up warm light and the major Western Group temples are far less crowded than midday.
• Start with the Western Group (Kandariya Mahadeva and nearby temples) early, then walk to the Eastern and Southern groups-many tour buses only stop at the Western cluster, so the other groups are often much quieter.
• Allow time for the small onsite museum in the town and for the viewpoints around the complex; the museum and peripheral temple orientations contain explanatory material and photo angles that many visitors skip.