Brahma Temple

The Brahma Temple is an early 10th-century Hindu temple located on the banks of Khajuraho Sagar in Khajuraho, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. Part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the oldest surviving temples in the complex. Built primarily of granite and sandstone, it is noted for its simple tri-ratha plan, pyramidal shikhara and four-faced Shiva lingam enshrined inside.

Visitors can expect a small, east-facing temple set on a low platform beside Khajuraho Sagar lake, surrounded by open ground. The structure has a sanctum, vestibule and porch with a modest shikhara, built largely of granite with sandstone elements. Inside is a four-faced Shiva lingam. The temple is less ornate than the Western Group temples, offering a quiet setting for sightseeing, photography and viewing early Chandela architecture.

Built around 900 CE in the early Chandela period, the Brahma Temple is among the earliest temples in Khajuraho. It is constructed mainly of granite and coarse-grained sandstone and exhibits a simple tri-ratha plan with a sanctum, antarala and mukha-mandapa. Originally dedicated to Shiva, its four-faced lingam was mistaken for Brahma, giving it its present name. It is part of the Eastern Group and included in the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments.

The temple is an important example of early Nagara-style architecture in central India and illustrates the evolution of Khajuraho temple art. Though dedicated to Shiva, it is traditionally called Brahma Temple by locals and pilgrims. It remains a place of worship and a key heritage attraction within the sacred landscape of Khajuraho.