Chaturbhuja Temple

About Chaturbhuja Temple

At Chaturbhuja the chief attraction is a single piece of sculpture: the huge, imposing and intricately carved image of Lord Vishnu in the temple's sanctum. The name itself refers to the four-armed form of Vishnu, and the figure dominates the small interior.

The temple stands in the Southern group, apart from the main cluster, and receives few visitors. Unlike most Khajuraho temples the exterior is comparatively restrained, so the visit really is about going in and standing before the image.

What to see

The Vishnu image

The sanctum figure is large in relation to the chamber and finely worked, which is why it is the one thing everyone comes for. Allow a few minutes standing still in the doorway for your eyes to adjust before looking at the detail.

The quiet setting

The temple sits on its own away from the main groups, in open ground. Arriving at the end of the afternoon you may well have it to yourself, which changes the experience of the sanctum considerably.

Planning your visit

Chaturbhuja is the furthest of the commonly visited Khajuraho temples from the Western enclosure, so it needs transport.

• Twenty minutes at the temple is enough.
• Pair it with Duladeo, the other Southern group temple.
• Arrange a car or rickshaw with waiting time.
• The sanctum is dark, so go in daylight rather than at dusk.

Best time to visit

October to March makes the trip out comfortable. Late afternoon suits the drive and the quiet, but leave enough daylight to see inside the sanctum, since the interior has little natural light.