Things to do in Khajuraho
Things to do in Khajuraho
Khajuraho, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, is home to one of India's most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites — a group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 CE, celebrated worldwide for their exquisite erotic sculptures that represent only a fraction of the temples' vast iconographic program. The three temple complexes — Western, Eastern, and Southern — contain 20 surviving temples of the original 85, each a masterpiece of Nagara-style architecture adorned with thousands of meticulously carved figures depicting every aspect of human life, divine beings, and erotic union. The annual Khajuraho Dance Festival held in front of the illuminated temple facades is a cultural highlight of India's classical arts calendar.
- No photoHeritage / HistoricalView full guide
3–4 hours
Western Group of Temples UNESCO Tour
Khajuraho's Western Group of temples — including the magnificent Kandariya Mahadeva — represents the pinnacle of the Chandela dynasty's medieval temple art, with thousands of erotic and celestial sculptures covering every exterior surface in compositions of breathtaking complexity and beauty. A guided tour here is one of India's finest art history experiences.
- No photoCultural / EntertainmentView full guide
50 minutes
Sound and Light Show at Western Temples
Every evening, Khajuraho's Western Group of temples comes alive under dramatic illumination as a 50-minute sound and light show narrates the story of the Chandela kings and their architectural legacy through the voices of the temples themselves. The sight of floodlit 1,000-year-old temples against a dark sky is genuinely spectacular.
- No photoHeritage / SpiritualView full guide
1.5–2 hours
Eastern Group Jain Temples Walk
While less visited than the Western Group, the Eastern Group includes a cluster of exquisitely carved Jain temples — particularly the Parsvanatha Temple with its beautifully detailed friezes of celestial beings — set in a peaceful garden complex in Khajuraho's old village area.
- No photoCultural / Arts / FestivalView full guide
Multiple evenings (7 days)
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Held every February against the backdrop of the Western Group temples, the Khajuraho Dance Festival is India's premier classical dance celebration — featuring performances of Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Manipuri by the country's finest exponents in the most visually perfect outdoor setting imaginable.
- No photoNature / Wildlife / AdventureView full guide
3–4 hours per safari
Panna National Park Tiger Safari
A 45-minute drive from Khajuraho takes you to Panna National Park — a Project Tiger reserve that saw remarkable recovery after going tiger-free in 2009 through successful reintroduction. Morning and evening safaris offer genuine chances of tiger sightings alongside leopards, sloth bears, gharials, and abundant wildlife in spectacular forest scenery.