KHAJURAHO:UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Khajuraho temples in Khajuraho, a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometres southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The Khajuraho temples has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The name Khajuraho, ancient "Kharjuravahaka", is derived from the Sanskrit words kharjura -- “date palm” and vahaka -- "one who carries".

The city was the cultural capital of “Chandela Rajputs”, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10-12th centuries. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of 200 years, from 950 to 1150.

The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions: western, eastern and southern. The whole area was enclosed by a wall with eight gates, each flanked by two golden palm trees. There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 25 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 20 square kilometers.

The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The builders didn't use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons.These temples of Khajuraho have sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today.

Today, the temples serve as fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity due to their explicit depiction of sexual life during medieval times.

Khajuraho temple offers a well-made light and sound show every evening. The show is about an hour long and covers the history, philosophy and the art of sculpting of these temples. It is held in the open lawns in the temple complex.

Books:                                                                                                       
Khajuraho (Monumental Legacy Series)
The Hindu Temple: Deification of Eroticism
Khajuraho: With Latest Discoveries
The Love Temples of Khajuraho: A Memoir of Love, Lust, and Exotic Places 
DVD:                                                                                                           
Khajuraho - The Tale of Love (Original Hindi Version With English Subtitle) - Region Free DVD
Divine Temple. Khajuraho. Bollywood DVD 
Travel with Barry & Corinne- India Far North
Monument Ave.