Khajuraho: The Temple Town With Erotic Sculptures

Khajuraho Erotic Sculptures

Those who want proof that the 'Kama Sutra' originated in India, must visit the temple town of Khajuraho, India. Luckily I got a chance to visit the place in the last week of February. It was the time when the entire town was busy with the celebrations of an annual classical dance festival. Somebody told me that this week long festival is celebrated at the Chitragupta Temple complex and attracts performers and dance groups from all over India. It was certainly good or me as I was craving to enjoy all the popular classical dance forms of India under one roof.

As I arrived Khajuraho, about 620 km from Delhi, I first booked a room in a budget hotel where the hotel manager told me that Khajuraho is not just another temple city of India. Going back to the history of Khajuraho, he told me that once in a fit of passion and lust, the Moon God seduced and ravaged a beautiful Brahmin girl 'Hemvati', which resulted in the birth of Chandravarman (the founder of the Chandela dynasty). Later he made a temple with countless sculptures to reveal all aspects of the treasure of passion and erotic fantasy to the world. It is believed that the construction of this entire masterpiece (started in the 11th century) was completed over a period of about 200 years.

Finally, I headed for the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, the key attraction of Khajuraho tourism. A large arts and crafts fair was also organized during that period, which added some more beauty to the place. A guide told me that originally there were over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 25 now stand in a state of preservation. The temples of Khajuraho, scattered over an area of about 21 sq. km., are famous for the eroticism etched on its walls in the form of sculptures.
After visiting Khajuraho temples, I enjoyed various classical styles of Indian dance like Kathak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali. A short visit to the ASI Museum (Archaeological Survey of India), Jain Museum and State Museum of Tribal and Folk is also quite fascinating about Khajuraho. These museums exhibit hundreds of statutes and a rarest of collection of tribal artifacts in terracotta, metal craft, wood craft, painting, jewelery etc. My last activity during Khajuraho tour was to explore the market area, which is loaded with wonderful sculptures made of iron, brass and stones.