Khajuraho history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Khajuraho is inextricably linked with the Rajput Chandela dynasty, which ruled in Central India. The city began to take shape as a religious and cultural capital approximately in the 9th–10th centuries. In ancient manuscripts and inscriptions, this place is mentioned under the name "Kharjuravahaka," which translates from Sanskrit as "bearer of date palms" or "place where date palms grow."

Key Factors of Formation

The transformation of a small settlement into a grand temple complex was driven by a combination of political ambitions and geographical features:

• Political Will: The rulers of the Chandela dynasty, at the peak of their power, sponsored large-scale construction, desiring to create an earthly reflection of the divine world.
• Isolation: Its location in the forested area of the Bundelkhand region, away from the main military routes of that time, allowed the city to develop without frequent destructive invasions during the early stages.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The economy of early Khajuraho was based on the support of the royal court and the flow of pilgrims. The city became a center of attraction for the best stonemasons, sculptors, and architects of the era. A unique feature of the early period was religious tolerance: the Chandela rulers patronized both Hinduism and Jainism, which led to the harmonious coexistence of temples of different faiths and the flourishing of the unique Nagara architectural style.

Major Milestones in the History of Khajuraho

• 9th Century: The Chandela dynasty comes to power in the Bundelkhand region, marking the beginning of Khajuraho's development as their religious capital.
• 900–1130: The "Golden Age" of construction, during which the city's main temple complexes were erected.
• Around 954: Ruler Yashovarman completes the construction of the majestic Lakshmana Temple, dedicated to Vishnu.
• 1017–1029: During the reign of King Vidyadhara, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is built — the tallest and most richly decorated temple of the complex.
• 1202: The army of the Delhi Sultanate, led by Qutb al-Din Aibak, captures the region, leading to the gradual decline of the Chandela dynasty.
• 1335: The famous traveler Ibn Battuta visits the city and describes the temples, which were still being used for worship at that time.
• 15th–18th Centuries: Khajuraho loses its significance, residents leave the city, and the temples are reclaimed by the jungle, which saves them from destruction during periods of war.
• 1838: British engineer T.S. Burt, following the accounts of local residents, rediscovers the temple complex lost in the forests for the outside world.
• 1860s: Archaeologist Alexander Cunningham conducts the first detailed survey of the monuments and creates their classification.
• Early 20th Century: Under the guidance of the Archaeological Survey of India, large-scale work begins on clearing the area and restoring the buildings.
• 1986: The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• 2023: Khajuraho hosts meetings of the G20 Culture Working Group, confirming the city's status as an important global cultural center.

Key Stages of City Development

The history of Khajuraho is a journey from the religious capital of a powerful empire to lost ruins and subsequent revival as a global tourism hub. The major transformations of the urban environment and way of life can be divided into the following stages:

• Large-scale Sacred Construction (10th–11th Centuries): The period of highest economic prosperity, when vast resources of the Chandela empire were directed towards construction. During this time, a unique architectural landscape was formed, originally numbering about 85 temples, of which just over 20 have survived to this day.
• Urban Planning Dualism: The formation of the urban structure was influenced by religious tolerance. The city was zoned into sectors: the western part with temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, and the eastern part where the Jain community developed, which was reflected in the architectural appearance of the complexes.
• Loss of Political Status (12th Century): With the transfer of the dynasty's administrative capital to the Mahoba fortress, Khajuraho lost its strategic importance, remaining only a spiritual center. This led to a gradual halt in new major architectural projects.
• Period of Isolation and Conservation (14th–19th Centuries): After the decline of the dynasty, the city was absorbed by the jungle. This led to a complete stop in urban life but paradoxically saved the architectural monuments from the destruction by conquerors that characterized other open cities of North India at the time.
• Archaeological Renovation (from the mid-19th Century): The beginning of large-scale forest clearing and restoration works turned the abandoned area into an organized archaeological park. This changed the functional purpose of the territory, making heritage preservation the main priority.
• Integration into Global Tourism (from 1986): The designation of UNESCO World Heritage status radically transformed the settlement's economy. A small town with a population of about 24,000 people gained the infrastructure of a metropolis: its own airport, railway station, and a network of international-class hotels.

Architectural Style: The Pinnacle of Nagara

The architectural appearance of Khajuraho is inextricably linked to the flourishing of the Chandela dynasty and represents the culmination of the North Indian temple architecture style known as Nagara. Unlike European cities where styles replaced one another over centuries, Khajuraho is a unique "architectural reserve" of a single period (10th–11th centuries), preserving unity of design and execution.

Key features of local architecture:

• Vertical Aspiration: The main element of the temple is the shikhara — a curvilinear tower symbolizing the mythical Mount Meru.
• Fractal Geometry: The main tower is surrounded by numerous smaller replicas (urushringas), creating the effect of a mountain range and visually increasing the height of the structure.
• Material and Technique: Most buildings are constructed from fine-grained sandstone (ranging from light beige to pinkish shades). The builders did not use mortar: the stones are held together by a system of mortise and tenon joints, as well as gravity.
• Sculptural Decor: Architecture and sculpture are inseparable here. The walls are covered with high reliefs depicting gods, apsaras (celestial dancers), and scenes from everyday life, including the famous artistic compositions depicting human intimacy.

Urban Structure and Zoning

Initially, Khajuraho developed not as a fortified citadel, but as an open religious garden city. Massive fortress walls, characteristic of other capitals of that time, are absent here. The urban planning logic is subordinate to sacred geography, and modern archaeologists divide the monuments into three main groups:

• Western Group: The most famous and rich part of the complex. Here are the most majestic temples, oriented towards the sunrise. This zone is distinguished by a dense concentration of religious structures and landscape design.
• Eastern Group: A historically established district where Jain temples dominate. This part of the city demonstrates the peaceful coexistence of different religions during the Chandela era.
• Southern Group: A more remote and scattered part of the complex, including temples built at the sunset of the era of great construction.

Iconic Structures of the Era

Every building in Khajuraho is a masterpiece of stone carving, yet several temples define the architectural face of the city:

• Kandariya Mahadeva (approx. 1025–1050): The pinnacle of Chandela architectural mastery. The tallest and most complex temple of the complex, over 30 meters high, decorated with nearly 900 sculptures.
• Lakshmana Temple (approx. 930–954): One of the oldest and best-preserved temples of the Western Group. It set the standard for subsequent buildings, establishing the canonical panchayatana layout (a main shrine with four smaller temples at the corners).
• Parshvanatha Temple (Eastern Group): The largest Jain temple in the city. Despite belonging to a different faith, it is executed in the same Nagara style but is distinguished by the absence of intimate sculptures and the exceptional fineness of the carving.
• Chausath Yogini Temple (late 9th century): The only surviving temple built entirely of granite. It belongs to the early, archaic period of development and is characterized by rough masonry and the absence of a shikhara, demonstrating the evolution of technology from granite to sandstone.

Historical Figures and Researchers

The history of Khajuraho is intrinsically linked to the rulers of the Chandela dynasty who created this architectural masterpiece, as well as to the travelers and scholars who rediscovered it for the world.

• Chandravarman — Legendary Founder of the Chandela Dynasty.
  According to legend, he was the son of the Moon deity and an earthly woman. He is considered the mythical progenitor of the clan who, according to legend, laid the foundation for the construction of the first temples in Khajuraho, although historical data attributes the construction to a later period.
• Yashovarman (Lakshmanavarman) — Maharaja (ruled approx. 925–950).
  It was under him that the Chandela state gained de facto independence and power. He initiated the construction of the majestic Lakshmana Temple, symbolizing the new status of the empire, and turned Khajuraho into a thriving capital.
• Dhangadeva — One of the Greatest Chandela Rulers (ruled approx. 950–999).
  A long-lived ruler who reigned for over 50 years. Under him, masterpieces such as the Vishvanatha and Parshvanatha temples were erected. He finally established the sovereignty of the region and promoted the peaceful coexistence of Hinduism and Jainism in the city.
• Vidyadhara — Ruler of the Chandela Dynasty (ruled approx. 1003–1035).
  Considered the most powerful king of the dynasty. He not only successfully withstood the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni but also commissioned the construction of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple — the pinnacle of Khajuraho's architectural art and the tallest building in the complex.
• Ibn Battuta — Famous Moroccan Traveler (14th Century).
  Visited Khajuraho in 1335. In his notes, he left valuable evidence that the temples were still active at that time and were a center of attraction for yogis, whose long hair and ascetic lifestyle amazed the traveler.
• Thomas S. Burt — British Military Engineer (19th Century).
  The man who "rediscovered" Khajuraho for the Western world. In 1838, deviating from his route on the advice of his porters, he discovered the magnificent temples in the jungle, which marked the beginning of their study and preservation.
• Alexander Cunningham — Founder of the Archaeological Survey of India (19th Century).
  Conducted the first large-scale scientific research on the territory of the complex in the 1860s. He classified the temples, gave them modern names, and compiled detailed maps of the area, laying the foundation for future restoration.