Khajuraho has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Khajuraho is famous for its imperial temples, built by the rulers of Chandela dynasty in Shikara architectural style with intricate sculptures. Famous Khajuraho temples gained popularity with erotic sculptures carved on the walls.

Southern Group of Temples:
A southern temple tour mainly includes the most important Duladeo and Chaturbhuj Temple.

The Duladeo Temple:
Constructed in1130 A.D, Duladeo Temple lies on the bank of the Khudar stream. It forms the last phase of Khajuraho buildings for which the Chandella style of art and architecture are aptly famous. It was built during the rule of King Madanavarman, a worshipper of Lord Shiva.

The Temple’s Attraction
The Duladeo is a small, five-chambered temple, having a large closed hall with the ceiling illustrated with 20 apsaras-brackets, which are further grouped in bunches.
Ceiling is adorned with identical images of Shiva and Parvati with figurines. They are richly decorated with intricately carved jewellery, though rather 'wooden' in style and expression. The Duladeo is replete with some famous Khajuraho erotic carvings.

The Chaturbhuja Temple
Built in 1100 A.D., the Chaturbhuja Temple lies 3 kilometres from Khajuraho. One of the famous architectural temples of Khajuraho, this west facing temple stands on a platform, which is ascended with a flight of ten steps. The floor of the platform is smoothened with white sandstone.

The architectural and sculptural traditions of the Chaturbhuja temple are similar to the Javari temple. The temple on plan consists of a shikhara, a square sanctum, an antarala, the mahamandapa and an ardhmandapa; they are interconnected and are located on the same axis.

The Temple’s Attraction
The Chaturbhuja temple houses a massive 9 feet high, intricately carved image of Lord Vishnu, in Chaturbhuja (four-armed) form. Here, he gesticulates possibly varada (boon-giving) with his broken lower right hand, and abhaya with his upper right hand. He holds a manuscript along with a lotus stalk in his upper left hand, and possibly a water pot or conch shell in his lower left hand.

Chaturbhuja lacks erotic sculptures, with wall bands decked with architectural images of dikhpalas, ashtavasus, nymphs and the recesses of mythical lions. Though this impressive temple has been preserved in major portions, still signs of decline are evident.