Lakshmana Temple

Lakshmana Temple is the oldest and one of the largest temples in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, located in the Western Group of Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 10th century by Chandela ruler Yashovarman, it is dedicated to Vaikuntha Chaturmurthy, a four-faced form of Lord Vishnu. The sandstone temple exemplifies early Nagara architecture with intricate sculptures, a sanctum, mandapa, and subsidiary shrines.

Visitors can expect a large sandstone temple set within the enclosed Western Group of Temples complex in Khajuraho. The temple stands on a raised platform with a sanctum, antarala, mandapa, and entrance porch, surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the corners. The exterior and interior are covered with detailed sculptures of deities, mythical figures and daily life scenes. The main idol is a three-headed Vaikuntha Chaturmurthy image of Vishnu. The area is open, walkable, and explored on foot with other nearby temples.

Built between c. 930 and 950 CE by Chandela ruler Yashovarman (also called Lakshmanadeva), Lakshmana Temple is the earliest surviving temple at Khajuraho. It marks the beginning of the mature Khajuraho style of Nagara architecture and is dedicated to Vaikuntha Chaturmurthy. An inscription mentions its construction and dedication. It is part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

The temple is an important Vaishnavite shrine and a major example of 10th-century Nagara temple architecture in central India. It illustrates early Chandela art, iconography of Vishnu, and the religious and artistic traditions of the Khajuraho region. As part of the Western Group, it holds significant heritage and pilgrimage value and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.