Temples
Western Group of Temples
The largest and best-preserved cluster at Khajuraho, the Western Group gathers the site's most celebrated sculpted temples — including Kandariya Mahadev — inside one landscaped, UNESCO-listed enclosure.
Gallery
About Western Group of Temples
Khajuraho's temples were built by the Chandela kings between about 950 and 1050. Of the eighty-odd temples they raised, around twenty-five survive, and the Western Group gathers the largest and finest of them in one landscaped enclosure, among them the Kandariya Mahadev, Lakshmana and Vishvanatha temples.
They're famous for their erotic sculpture, but that's a small part of the carving. Most of the thousands of figures are gods and goddesses, celestial dancers, musicians, warriors and scenes of daily life, arranged in bands that climb towards the spires like the peaks of a mountain range. UNESCO listed the site in 1986.
Western Group of Temples At A Glance
- Location
- Khajuraho
- Type
- Temples
- Heritage Status
- UNESCO World Heritage
- UNESCO
- World Heritage Site
- Entry
- ₹400 foreign nationals · ₹40 Indian citizens
Know Before You Go
Timings
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (sunrise–sunset)
Weekly closed: Open all days
Online Booking
Yes — ASI portal
Restrictions
Tripod for professional shoots needs permission; footwear removed at inner shrines; no touching sculptures
Washrooms
Available near ticket counter
UNESCO World Heritage Site; main temple complex — ticketed
Good To Know
Visiting Western Group of Temples
Are the erotic carvings the main feature?
- No. They're the best known, but they make up only a small share of the sculpture, which mostly shows deities, dancers, musicians and scenes of court and village life.
How long should I allow?
- Two to three hours with a guide for the main temples. Early morning is best, when the sandstone is warm in colour and the paths are quiet.
Is Western Group of Temples a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- Yes — Western Group of Temples is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
What is the Western Group of Temples entry fee?
- ₹400 foreign nationals, ₹40 Indian citizens. Tickets for the sites on your route can be included in your trip estimate.
What are the Western Group of Temples timings?
- 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (sunrise–sunset). Open every day of the week.
Can I book Western Group of Temples tickets online?
- Yes — ASI portal.
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