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It is a group of Hindu and Jain Temples in Madhya Pradesh
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Built by Chandela Dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD.
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Situated : within the Vindhya Mountain range in Central India.
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It is a UNESCO World heritage Site.
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The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures (about 10% of total sculptures).
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The temples at Khajuraho are all made of Sandstone.
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The temples are categorized into three groups that are Eastern, Western and Southern.
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The largest temple at Khajuraho is the Kandariya Mahadeva temple which is attributed to king Ganda.
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All the towers or shikhara of temple rise high, upward in curved pyramidal fashion, emphasizing temple’s vertical thrust ending in horizontal fluted disc called Amalaka topped with Kalasha or vase.
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The erotic expression of sculptures in these temples gives equal importance in human experience as a spiritual pursuit, and it is seen as a part of the larger cosmic whole.
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Mentions:
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The first documented mention of Khajuraho was made in 641 by Xuanzang, a Chinese pilgrim.
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Later, Khajuraho temples also found mention by Abu Raihan al Biruni in AD 1022 and the Arab traveler Ibn Battuta in AD 1335.
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Government Initiatives: Ministry of Tourism included Khajuraho Temples as one of the sites under the “Iconic Tourist Sites Initiative”.
Note: The 10th-century Bhand Deva Temple in Rajasthan was built in the style of the Khajuraho monuments and is often referred to as ‘Little Khajuraho’.