Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Khajuraho temples tour

Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh, holds a group of temples built by the Chandela dynasty and known worldwide for their intricate stone carving, including a small portion of sculpture that depicts human intimacy alongside gods, courtly life and everyday scenes. The surviving temples are split into Western, Eastern and Southern groups, with the Western group, including the Kandariya Mahadev temple, the largest and most visited.

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 13 Sept 2026

RouteKhajuraho
Private guide and vehicle
Reply within four hours, 9am-9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.
IncludedTransfers and sightseeing
CancellationCancellation terms are confirmed with your written quote

Itinerary

1
The Western Group
Step 1
- The main, ticketed complex, and where most of the well-known temples stand, including the largest, Kandariya Mahadev, and the Lakshmana Temple.
2
The carving, walked slowly
Step 2
- This is a site to walk slowly rather than photograph quickly — the bands of carving reward a guide who can point out what's actually going on panel by panel.
3
The Eastern and Southern Groups
Step 3
- Away from the main complex, the Eastern Group mixes Hindu and Jain temples near the old village, and the Southern Group is smaller and more spread out — both quieter than the Western Group.
4
An evening option
Step 4
- A sound-and-light show runs at the Western Group most evenings; ask your guide on the day, since timing moves with the season.

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

What remains is divided into Western, Eastern and Southern groups, spread around the modern town.
The Western Group is the main, ticketed complex, and holds the largest and best-known temples, including Kandariya Mahadev and the Lakshmana Temple.
Every temple's outer walls are carved in bands, floor to spire, with an enormous cast of figures — deities, celestial dancers, musicians, animals, mythical creatures, and scenes of courtly and daily life.
The Eastern Group, nearer the old village, mixes Hindu and Jain temples, including the Parsvanath temple.

Full description

Khajuraho's temples were built by the Chandela dynasty roughly between the 9th and 12th centuries, and survive today as one of India's most celebrated groups of temple architecture, known above all for the density and detail of their carved stone. What remains is divided into Western, Eastern and Southern groups, spread around the modern town.

The three temple groups

The Western Group is the main, ticketed complex, and holds the largest and best-known temples, including Kandariya Mahadev and the Lakshmana Temple. The Eastern Group, nearer the old village, mixes Hindu and Jain temples, including the Parsvanath temple. The Southern Group is smaller and more spread out, including the Duladeo temple, and is far quieter than the other two.

The carving, and how to read it

Every temple's outer walls are carved in bands, floor to spire, with an enormous cast of figures — deities, celestial dancers, musicians, animals, mythical creatures, and scenes of courtly and daily life. A smaller number of panels, concentrated on a handful of temples in the Western group, are explicitly erotic, and are generally read as one part of a much larger decorative and symbolic scheme rather than the temples' main subject — most of the carving has nothing to do with them at all. A knowledgeable guide is worth having here specifically for this reason: walking past the well-known panels without context misses most of what the carving is actually doing.

Includes

Private, knowledgeable guide across the Western, Eastern and Southern groups
Private vehicle for the day
Help booking entry tickets in advance
Context for the carving beyond the well-known erotic panels

Not included

Temple entry tickets
Confirmed on your quote
The evening sound-and-light show ticket if added
Personal expenses

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip per person in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Honest cautions

October to March is the comfortable season; Madhya Pradesh's summer runs hot and the monsoon brings humidity that isn't ideal for a day of walking between temple groups. Modest dress works everywhere, and these are active or semi-active religious sites in parts, so behave accordingly around any temple still in worship.
Photography is generally allowed outdoors; check with your guide before photographing any interior shrine still in active use. Comfortable shoes matter, since some plinths and steps are climbed barefoot.

Important information

Khajuraho

Cancellation policy

Cancellation terms are confirmed with your written quote

No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

How booking works

Send an enquiry
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You approve
Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.
A named specialist runs it
The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Khajuraho famous?

For its temples' extraordinarily detailed stone carving, built by the Chandela dynasty roughly between the 9th and 12th centuries. A portion of the carving is explicitly erotic, which is what most people have heard about, but it's a small part of a much larger decorative scheme covering deities, dancers, musicians and daily life.

How many temple groups are there at Khajuraho?

Three — Western, Eastern and Southern. The Western Group is the largest and most visited, and holds the main ticketed complex.

Is the erotic sculpture the main thing to see at Khajuraho?

No. It's a genuine part of the carving, concentrated on a handful of temples, but the great majority of the sculpture depicts deities, celestial figures, musicians and everyday and courtly scenes. A guide who can read the carving properly makes a real difference here.

How much time do you need at Khajuraho?

A full day covers the Western Group properly and allows time for the quieter Eastern and Southern groups as well. Half a day is enough if you only want the Western Group.

Is there an evening show at Khajuraho?

Yes, a sound-and-light show runs at the Western Group most evenings, with timing that shifts through the year — worth checking on the day.

Request a quote

Tell us your Khajuraho dates and we will arrange a guide who can talk you through the carving, not just walk you past it.

Private guide and vehicle
Reply within four hours, 9am-9pm IST
No payment to start planning

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Price on request

Tailor-made quote

Itinerary

The Western Group

The carving, walked slowly

The Eastern and Southern Groups

An evening option