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Khajuraho sightseeing by cab

Khajuraho in 1 day: what to see, in what order

One day covers all three temple groups if you start at 08:00: the Western Group, the Archaeological Museum and Chausath Yogini in the morning, the Jain temples before lunch, then the Brahma, Javari, Vamana, Duladeo and Chaturbhuj temples in the afternoon. It is about 14 km by cab, back by about 16:00, with the light and sound show in the evening.

7 places14 km by cabtimed against opening hours
Day 1

All three temple groups

The Western Group of Temples at 08:00, then the Archaeological Museum and the Chausath Yogini Temple. Late morning, across town to the Jain temples, with lunch after them. In the afternoon, the Brahma, Javari and Vamana temples, then Duladeo and Chaturbhuj in the south. About 14 km by cab, back by about 16:00. On a Friday the museum is closed: spend the time at the Western Group.

08:00 to 16:047 places14 km by cab
  1. 1Western Group of Temples
  2. 2Archaeological Museum
  3. 3Chausath Yogini Temple
  4. 4Jain temples (Eastern Group)
  5. Lunch
  6. 5Brahma, Javari and Vamana temples
  7. 6Duladeo Temple
  8. 7Chaturbhuj Temple
  9. Back
  1. Leave central Khajuraho
  2. 1

    Western Group of Temples

    2 h 30 min here
    Western Group of Temples
    Photo: Ms Sarah Welch, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The main temple park of Khajuraho and the reason most people come. Inside a garden are the biggest temples, built by the Chandela kings about 1,000 years ago: Kandariya Mahadeva, Lakshmana, Vishwanatha, Chitragupta, Devi Jagadambi and the Varaha shrine. Every wall is covered in carved figures of gods, dancers, musicians, soldiers and couples. Matangeshwar Temple, by the gate, is the only one still in daily worship.

    TemplesAbout 06:00 to 18:00 every day (sunrise to sunset); ticket sales stop at 17:30

    Tip: Buy the ticket at the gate or online on the ASI site; the same ticket lets you into the Archaeological Museum. Take two hours or more and walk round each temple clockwise. Licensed guides wait at the gate; agree the fee first.

  3. 2

    Archaeological Museum

    45 min here
    Closed on Fridays
    Archaeological Museum
    Photo: SpeakingArch, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Archaeological Survey of India's museum of Khajuraho sculpture, opposite the Western Group. It holds statues and carved panels found round the temples, including a dancing Ganesha, and they are easier to see up close here than high on a temple wall. There is also a newer gallery building, opened in 2016, about 1 km north of the temples.

    MuseumsAbout 10:00 to 17:00 (some listings say 09:00); closed Fridays and public holidays

    Tip: Closed on Fridays. Keep your Western Group ticket: it usually covers the museum on the same day.

  4. 3

    Chausath Yogini Temple

    30 min here
    Chausath Yogini Temple
    Photo: Arnold Betten, Public domain

    The oldest temple site in Khajuraho, older than the Western Group. It is built of rough granite, not the smooth sandstone of the later temples, and is a rectangle of small empty shrines round an open court, on a low rise above Shiv Sagar lake. There are no carvings left, but it is quiet and few people come.

    TemplesAn open site, free, visit in daylight?

    Tip: It is a few minutes past the Western Group, on the far side of Shiv Sagar lake. Wear shoes: the steps are uneven stone.

  5. 4

    Jain temples (Eastern Group)

    1 h here
    Jain temples (Eastern Group)
    Photo: Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A walled compound of Jain temples that are still in use. Parshvanath is the finest, with carvings as fine as the Western Group's; Adinath stands next to it, and Shantinath holds a tall standing statue of the Tirthankara. A small Jain art museum is by the gate.

    TemplesOpen daily from early morning; one listing gives 06:00 to 20:00; free?

    Tip: Take off your shoes and leather belts before going in, and dress with shoulders and knees covered. Ghantai Temple, with its pillars carved with bells, is about 300 m north on the way to the Brahma Temple.

  6. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  7. 5

    Brahma, Javari and Vamana temples

    40 min here
    Brahma, Javari and Vamana temples
    Photo: Sfu, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Three small temples of the Eastern Group, near the old village of Khajuraho. Javari has a tall, slim tower and a carved gateway; Vamana has figures of heavenly women on its walls; the Brahma Temple, by Ninora Tal pond, is one of the oldest here. They are free and usually quiet.

    TemplesOpen sites, free, visit in daylight?

    Tip: Walk between the three: they sit within 300 m of each other along village lanes, and the cab can wait at Javari.

  8. 6

    Duladeo Temple

    30 min here
    Duladeo Temple
    Photo: Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A Shiva temple of the Southern Group by the Khudar river, one of the last built at Khajuraho. Its carvings of dancers and heavenly women are crowded and lively, with jewellery cut in fine detail.

    TemplesAbout 06:00 to 18:00 every day; free

    Tip: It is about 1 km south of the Jain temples. Pair it with Chaturbhuj Temple, 2 km further south.

  9. 7

    Chaturbhuj Temple

    30 min here
    Chaturbhuj Temple
    Photo: Nishantsrivastava, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The southernmost temple of Khajuraho, in open fields. Inside stands a 2.7 m statue of Vishnu with four arms, carved from one stone. It is the one big temple here with no erotic carvings, and it faces west across the fields.

    TemplesAn open site, free, visit in daylight?

    Tip: The excavated mound of the Bijamandal temple is about 1 km away, but there is little to see above ground.

  10. Back at central Khajuraho

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Khajuraho itself is small and quiet, but the road to Raneh Falls is narrow, and NH39 to Panna has trucks and slow stretches. Allow more time than the map shows. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for this day

Call or message a local Khajuraho operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

1 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

We are still listing Khajuraho operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Western Group of TemplesAbout 06:00 to 18:00 every day (sunrise to sunset); ticket sales stop at 17:30Early morning, in soft light and before the tour groups.2 h 30 min
Archaeological MuseumAbout 10:00 to 17:00 (some listings say 09:00); closed Fridays and public holidaysLate morning, after the Western Group.45 min
Chausath Yogini TempleAn open site, free, visit in daylight?Any time in daylight; the light is softest late in the day.30 min
Jain temples (Eastern Group)Open daily from early morning; one listing gives 06:00 to 20:00; free?Morning or afternoon.1 h
Brahma, Javari and Vamana templesOpen sites, free, visit in daylight?Any time in daylight.40 min
Duladeo TempleAbout 06:00 to 18:00 every day; freeAny time in daylight.30 min
Chaturbhuj TempleAn open site, free, visit in daylight?Any time in daylight.30 min

More or less time in Khajuraho?

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Khajuraho in 2 days

The Western Group and the museums · Raneh Falls, then the Jain and Southern temples

See the 2-day plan →
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Khajuraho in 3 days

The Western Group and the museums · Raneh Falls, then the Jain and Southern temples · Panna tiger safari and Pandav Falls

See the 3-day plan →

All 12 places in Khajuraho

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

See all places →

Questions people ask

Can you see Khajuraho in one day?

Yes, the temples. It is a full day of about 8 hours with 14 km of driving. Raneh Falls and the Adivart museum need a second day.

Why start with the Western Group?

It has the biggest temples and gets busy by mid-morning. At 08:00 the light is soft on the carvings and the lawns are quiet. Plan on two and a half hours there.

What if my day is a Friday?

The Archaeological Museum is closed on Fridays. Skip it and spend the time at the Western Group; everything else in the plan is open.