1. Origin of the Name
The city derives it from the Hindi word ‘Khaujur’ which means ‘year’ as the walls of the city have been decorated with year palms. Khajuraho was known during ancient times as Khajjurpura.
2. Temples Built-in Sandstone
Most temple structures are constructed in sandstone, together with varying shades of pink, buff, and yellow.
3. The Degenerated Temples
There were 85 temples in Khajuraho during the medieval era, of which only 22 Hindu temples survived, and the rest were destroyed due to natural calamities.
4. The Erotic Sculptures
Though the common perception is that the Khajuraho temples are rich in erotic and sensual sculptures, only around 10% if these sculptures depict sensuality, the rest of them displaying various aspects of daily life like potters and farmers at work, musicians composing. Women dressing up, etc.
5. Best Preserved Monuments of Antiquity
The Archaeological Survey of India has ranked Khajuraho monuments as the best preserved monuments of antiquity.
6. The Interiors of the Temples
The rooms inside the temples are interconnected on the East-Wst line. Each of the rooms has an entrance, a hall, and a vestibule.
7. Images of Gods and Goddesses
The images of Gods and Goddesses at the Khajuraho temples represent the various manifestations of Shakti and Shiva, or the Yin and Yang, the female and male principles.
8. Division of Temples
The Khajuraho cluster of temples is divided into three groups – Western, Eastern and Southern.
9. Rediscovery of Temples
The temples that were built during the medieval period were alter rediscovered only in the 20th century, after which they have been preserved.
10.High Point of Architectural Genius
The temples of Khajuraho are believed to be the high point of Indian architectural genius during medieval times.
