Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho

카주라호 칸다리야 마하데바 사원

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple of the medieval temple group at Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh, India. Its name means "the Great God of the Cave", and the main god inside is Shiva. It is considered one of the best preserved temples of its age in India.

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At a glance

Country: India
Location: Khajuraho, India
Built: 1030
Height: 31 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho?

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho is in Khajuraho, India.

When was Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho built?

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho was built in 1030.

How tall is Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho?

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho is about 31 m tall.

Largest of the Khajuraho temples, its shikhara rising like a mountain range of 84 miniature spires.

It was built during the reign of King Vidyadhara of the Chandela dynasty, around 1030, when Khajuraho was the Chandela capital. UNESCO added the Khajuraho temples to the World Heritage List in 1986, praising the temple's artistic quality and what it tells about Chandela culture. The temple is part of the western group.

A mountain of stone

The main tower, or shikhara, rises to 31 metres, and the temple is about 31 metres long and 20 metres wide. It stands on a large plinth about 4 metres high. The roofs climb in steps toward the top in the shape of a steep mountain, which stands for Mount Meru, the mythical source of the world. The shikhara carries 84 miniature spires.

Carvings

A steep flight of steps leads to the entrance, where a torana, a decorative garland arch, is carved from a single stone. More than 800 carved figures cover the temple, and the carvings show how the stone's surface was worked with great care. The temple belongs to the western group, which is the largest of Khajuraho's three groups. Shiva is honoured in the inner sanctum.