Known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jain patriarchs, the erotic carvings at the Unesco World Heritage Site–listed temples are among the finest temple art in the world. Of the 85 original temples-most constructed of hard river sandstone-about 20 are still reasonably well preserved.
Both internally and externally the temples are richly carved with excellent sculptures that are frequently sensual and, at times, sexually explicit. Khajuraho itself is just a small modest village with no more than 3000 residents surrounded by forestland.