7 Best Sights in Eastern Group of Temples, Side Trips from Delhi

The late-11th-century Adinath Temple, a minor shrine, is set in a small walled compound southeast of the Ghantai temple. Its porch and the statue of the Tirthankara (literally, Ford-Maker, a figure who leads others to liberation) Adinatha are modern additions. Built at the beginning of the Chandelas' decline, this temple is relatively small, but the spire and base are richly carved.

This granite-and-sandstone temple, one of the earliest here (circa 900), is probably misnamed. Although Brahma is a member of the triad of Hinduism's great gods, along with Shiva and Vishnu, he rarely gets a temple to himself. (The only other famous Brahma Temple is at Pushkar, in Rajasthan.) It differs in design from most of the other temples here, particularly in the combination of materials and the shape of its spire. Nearby is Ninora Tal, one of the largest tanks in Khajuraho.

All that's left of the temple here are its pillars, festooned with carvings of pearls and bells. Adorning the entrance are an eight-armed Jain goddess, Chakreshvari, riding the mythical bird Garuda and a relief illustrating the 16 dreams of the mother of Mahavira, the founder and greatest figure in Jainism and a counterpart to the Buddha. The temple sits south of the Vamana, Javari, and Brahma temples, toward the Jain complex.

Small and well-proportioned, this temple is just south of the Vamana and roughly contemporary with it. It has a simplified three-shrine design: the two main exterior bands of sculpture bear hosts of heavenly maidens. It's also dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

This temple was built in the mid-10th century during the reign of King Dhangadeva. It is the largest and finest in the Eastern Group's Jain complex and holds some of the best sculpture in Khajuraho, including images of Vishnu. In contrast to the intricate calculations behind the layout of the Western Group, the plan for this temple is a simple rectangle, with a separate spire in the rear. Statues of flying angels and sloe-eyed beauties occupied with children, cosmetics, and flowers adorn the outer walls. The stone conveys even the texture of the women's thin garments.

Set within the walled Jain temple complex alongside the Adinath and Parsvanath temples, the Shantinath Temple is a collection of small, early-11th-century shrines. Though remodeled extensively, it still contains some old Jain sculptures. The main draw is the 12-foot idol of Lord Shantinath in the inner sanctum.

The late-11th-century Vamana Temple, the northernmost one in the Eastern Group, is dedicated to Vishnu's dwarf incarnation (though the image in the sanctum looks more like a tall, sly child). The sanctum walls show unusual theological openness, depicting most of the major gods and goddesses; Vishnu appears in many of his forms, including the Buddha, his ninth incarnation. Outside, two tiers of sculpture are concerned mainly with the nymphs of paradise, who strike charming poses under their private awnings. The pretty view from this temple includes barley fields.