Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The Khajuraho Temple is now also known as some of the longest surviving temples in India.
They are made of sandstone. They have granite foundations that cannot be seen clearly. There were 85 of them till the 13th Century but now only 22 of them are left.
The state government is trying its best to preserve these temples. The temples attract tourists from across the globe. Each Khajuraho temple speaks of India’s cultural history and a bygone era that people mostly do not know about.
Did You Know that in a Khajuraho temple only 10% of Sculptures are Erotic?
Surprising as it sounds, this is true. If we count all the sculptures in Khajuraho you will find that only 10% of them are erotic and the remaining are regular beautifully carved sculptures. These sculptures are of musicians, farmers, women, and potters who lived there during that era.
Did You Know People Do Not Certainly Know Where the Name Came From?
The word, “Khajur” is a Hindi word that means dates from the palm trees. The city is named after this fruit. The reason for this name is that the temples are surrounded by palm trees.
However, some do contradict this fact and say that the name originated from “Khajura-vahaka” which means scorpion bearer. The Lord Shiva’s symbolic name is Khajura-vahaka.
Did You Know that a British Captain Rediscovered Khajuraho Temple and Introduced It to the World?
Khajuraho was rediscovered by Captain T.S. Burt and he was the one who introduced these temples to the world in the 19th century.
He was a British army captain who took the initiative to follow paths that were not worn to find the hidden temples of Khajuraho.
The world that knows about Khajuraho knows about the magnificent temples with erotic sculptures made by historical artists that you cannot find anywhere else in the world.
It should be noted here that in 1022 CE, a Persian historian Abu Rihan-al-Biruni along with his companion Mahmud of Ghazni, raided Kalinjar and mentioned Khajuraho as the capital of Jajahuti.
Did You Know When These Temples Were Built?
These temples were built during the period of the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 A.D. These temples are surprisingly still standing after being thousands of years old.
At that time the Hindu kinds Yasovarman and Dhanga were the rules of that region. The largest groups of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in India are found in Khajuraho.
Each Khajuraho temple is noted for its erotic sculptures but they should be noted for their strong foundation and completely mesmerizing beauty.
It is believed that the great Hindu lord Shiva is worshiped in the Khajuraho temples. Six of the temples are dedicated to lord Shiva and eight are dedicated to lord Vishnu.
Only one temple is dedicated to lord Ganesha and one to Jain Tirthankars, the sun god. At the gate of the temple, there were two golden date-palm trees according to the legends.
The legends also say that a woman named Hemvati was the inspiration for building the temples of Khajuraho.
Let us know what you think of Khajuraho and the facts that we have mentioned in the comments below. Thanks for reading! Having explored the incredible beauty of the most culturally rich and diverse nation, India.
Also Read:- Drizzling Land Water and Amusement Park – Fun for the Whole Family