Varaha Temple

The Varaha Temple is a 10th-century Hindu temple located in the Western Group of Temples at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. Dedicated to Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu, it is one of the earliest temples in Khajuraho and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is renowned for its colossal monolithic sandstone statue of Varaha, intricately carved with sages and ornamentation, exemplifying early Chandela architecture.

Visitors can expect a small, open shrine within the Western Group of Temples complex housing a large monolithic sandstone statue of Varaha. The temple stands on a raised platform with a simple mandapa and sanctum, surrounded by other sandstone temples in an open park-like setting. Visitors can view detailed carvings on the 2.66-meter tall Varaha image, including the garland, sages and figures carved on its body, and explore the surrounding Western Group temples on foot.

Built circa 900-925 CE during the early Chandela period, traditionally attributed to the reign of Yashovarman (Lakshmanadeva), the Varaha Temple is considered the earliest extant temple at Khajuraho. It enshrines a colossal monolithic image of Varaha and represents the formative phase of Nagara temple architecture in central India that later culminated in the larger Khajuraho temples.

Dedicated to Varaha, the third avatar of Lord Vishnu who rescues the earth, the temple holds religious importance for Hindu devotees. It is part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its artistic and architectural significance, reflecting the religious and cultural traditions of the Chandela era.