About Khajuraho and the Kama Sutra Sculptures
Khajuraho is a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi, the capital city of India.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The name Khajuraho is derived from the Hindi word khajur meaning date palm. The city was once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs,
a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th
centuries. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred
years, from 950 to 1050. 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 22 now stand in a reasonable state of
preservation, scattered over an area of about 8 square miles (21 km˛). The temples of Khajuraho are an example of religion laced with erotica.
They are fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained
popularity due to their salacious depiction of the traditional way of
life during medieval times. They were rediscovered only during the 20th
century and the jungles had taken a toll on some of the monuments. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
