Kandariya Mahadeva Templeकंदारिया महादेव मंदिर

About Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple stands in the Western Group of temples at Khajuraho in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the tallest and most elaborate of the surviving Khajuraho temples, which together form the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name is usually explained as Mahadeva of the cave (kandara), a reference to the dark sanctum at its heart. For students of Indian art and for pilgrims alike, it is often described as the high point of the Nagara style of north India.

The Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela rulers between roughly the 10th and 12th centuries, and Kandariya Mahadeva is generally dated to the first half of the 11th century. Many historians link it to the reign of the Chandela king Vidyadhara, though the exact date and patron are not recorded with certainty. After the Chandela period the temples fell out of wider notice, which helped protect them, and they were brought to modern attention in the 19th century. Today the temple is an ASI-protected monument and regular worship is not performed here; active worship in Khajuraho continues at the nearby Matangeshvara Temple.

The temple rises from a high platform and is built so that its roofs climb step by step towards the main spire over the sanctum, like a range of mountain peaks rising to Mount Kailash. A long series of halls leads from the entrance porch to the garbhagriha, where a marble linga is enshrined. The outer walls carry bands of finely carved sculpture: gods and goddesses, celestial maidens, musicians, warriors, animals and couples, along with the famous sensuous scenes for which Khajuraho is known. The carving is best seen in soft morning or late afternoon light.

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple timings

The Western Group of temples is usually open from sunrise to sunset every day. Times may vary; check locally before visiting.

Timings change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Please confirm locally before you travel.

How to reach Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Festivals at Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

• Khajuraho Dance FestivalFeb
• Maha Shivaratri (at Matangeshvara Temple)Feb/Mar
• DiwaliOct/Nov

Visitor tips

Dress code

No formal dress code as it is a protected monument, but modest clothing is appreciated. Footwear must be removed before climbing onto the temple platform.

Entry

ASI entry ticket (separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors). One ticket covers the Western Group of temples.

• Hire an approved guide or use the audio guide to understand the sculptures and their meanings.
• Visit early in the morning to avoid the heat and get the best light for photographs.
• Carry water and a hat; the Western Group is spread across open lawns with little shade.
• Stay for the evening sound-and-light show in the Western Group complex, held on most days.
• Remember that the temples are protected monuments; do not touch or climb on the carvings.

Places to visit near Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

• Matangeshvara TempleLiving Shiva temple with a huge linga, next to the Western Group, about 0.5 km away
• Lakshmana TempleFinely carved Vaishnava temple in the same Western Group, a short walk away
• Eastern Group (Parshvanatha Jain Temple)Jain and Hindu temples in the old village, about 2 km away
• Panna National ParkTiger reserve along the Ken river, about 30 km away

Frequently asked questions