Khajuraho

The Khajuraho temples are famous for their erotic carvings, some of which are quite graphic. I didn't know quite what to expect. The detail in the carvings, particularly in the Western Group of temples, is stunning. The erotic carvings are surprising because the depictions are even by modern standards usually considered pornography.

The purpose of erotic carvings is unknown though subject to much speculation. Little seems to be known about the builders of these temples. When the temples were built a 1000 ago years, this was a remote kingdom. It's still a remote place. Other than a small town with the hotels, restaurants and shops that spring up wherever there are tourists, the surrounding area is either sparsely populated, low intensity agriculture or jungle in every direction for at least 100 miles.