The world renowned temple town of Khajuraho in the Bundelkhand region
in northern Madya Pradesh is designated by UNESCO as a world heritage
site for its archeological and historical monuments. The famous erotic
sculptures of Khajuraho temples are India's unique gift to the world,
representing, as they do, a pageant to life, to love, to joy, perfect
in execution and sublime in expression. Khajuraho is situated to the west
of Varanasi
and Allahabad
and south of the Ganges, in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Life
in every form and mood, has been captured in stone, testifying not only
to the craftsman's artistry but also to the extraordinary breadth of vision for the rich and powerful Chandela Rajputs under
whose rule the temples were conceived and constructed. Lost among
forests for centuries they were accidentally discovered by a British army
engineer T. S. Burt in 1838.
A week- long festival of classical
dances is held every year in February/March against the spectacular
backdrop of the magnificently lit temples.
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Khajuraho derives its name from 'khajura'-date
palm which grows freely in the area and perhaps because there were two
gold khajura trees on a carved gate here. Taken in totality, the sculptures
of Khajuraho depict the everyday life of the people and the court in the
10th and 11th centuries.
The Khajuraho temples were built in a short span
of hundred years, from 950-1050 AD in a truly inspired burst of
creativity. Of the 85 original temples, today only 25 have survived,
and is spread over three locations to constitute one of the world's
great artistic wonders. The creators of Khajuraho claimed descent
from the moon and the legend behind the founding of this great dynasty
and the temples is a fascinating one.
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Monuments 
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