Where We Be
| The temples look golden in the morning sunlight |
| Bands of artistic stonework decorate the outsides of each temple |
| This is the largest and most famous of the Khajuraho temples, Kandariya-Mahadev. Built around 1025 AD, it represents the high point of Chandelan architecture. |
| The three Jain temples (set off by themselves) have some of the most famous individual sculptures in Khajuraho, including this one of a woman applying mascara |
| Playful figures swirl out from the flat stone |
| One of Kajuraho's most famous sculptures, demonstrating the feasibility of the headstand position! |
| Wow! The famous south side of Kandariya-Mahadev, incredibly well preserved and astonishingly detailed. |
| Two happy elephants intertwine trunks |
| Their erotic content should not distract (too much!) from the great skill underlying the sculptures |
| The grounds surrounding the temples in the Western Group at Khajuraho offer a peaceful oasis |
| Regal-looking surasundari (heavenly nymph) |
| We had the place largely to ourselves in the early morning |
| Mythical beast embraced by a young woman |
| The tops of the temples are carved with intricate geometric designs |
| You have to remove your shoes to enter inside each temple |
| The sculptures suggest sex was a popular pastime 1000 years ago as well! |
| Looking straight up from the base of one of the temples |
| Camel caravan |
| Another famous sculpture depicts a woman removing a thorn |
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| Khajuraho, India |
Khajuraho is known for its 25 temples covered
with intricately carved Kama Sutra images. The
carvings are erotic in nature -- and UNESCO
World Heritage listed -- representing some of
the finest temple art in the world. On our first
evening we took a rickshaw ride to visit three
Jain temples on the outskirts of town known for
the high quality of their carvings. Two of the
most famous carvings are of a woman pulling a
thorn out of her foot and a woman applying
mascara. The sheer amount of carving on the
outsides of the conical temples is impressive.
Next morning we visited the main grouping of
temples at Khajuraho: the Western Group. This
cluster of temples is world-famous: certainly we
heard just about every language under the sun
as we went exploring that morning. Walking
from one end of the site to the other only takes
a few minutes, and the dozen or so temples are
surrounded by green grass, flowering bushes,
and beds of flowers. The sculptures of buxom
goddesses, virile men, and intimate goings-on
may be outside the comfort zone of some but
can be quite captivating for others.
NOTE: THE SCULPTURES ON THIS PAGE ARE
EROTIC IN NATURE
with intricately carved Kama Sutra images. The
carvings are erotic in nature -- and UNESCO
World Heritage listed -- representing some of
the finest temple art in the world. On our first
evening we took a rickshaw ride to visit three
Jain temples on the outskirts of town known for
the high quality of their carvings. Two of the
most famous carvings are of a woman pulling a
thorn out of her foot and a woman applying
mascara. The sheer amount of carving on the
outsides of the conical temples is impressive.
Next morning we visited the main grouping of
temples at Khajuraho: the Western Group. This
cluster of temples is world-famous: certainly we
heard just about every language under the sun
as we went exploring that morning. Walking
from one end of the site to the other only takes
a few minutes, and the dozen or so temples are
surrounded by green grass, flowering bushes,
and beds of flowers. The sculptures of buxom
goddesses, virile men, and intimate goings-on
may be outside the comfort zone of some but
can be quite captivating for others.
NOTE: THE SCULPTURES ON THIS PAGE ARE
EROTIC IN NATURE
