Khajuraho Dance Festival
The Khajuraho Dance Festival brings India’s finest classical dancers to one of its most beautiful settings. For about a week each February, performances take place in the open air in front of the temples of Khajuraho, lit against the night sky. It is one of the most atmospheric cultural events in the country.
The temples of Khajuraho
Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh, is famous for its temples, built by the Chandela dynasty about a thousand years ago and covered in some of the finest stone carving in India. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, the largest, rises in a series of peaks meant to recall the Himalaya.
What happens at the Khajuraho Dance Festival
Each evening, leading performers present India’s classical dance forms, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Kathakali. The festival is organised by the government of Madhya Pradesh and attracts audiences from across India and abroad. By day there are often exhibitions, talks and craft stalls.
Planning your visit
- The Khajuraho Dance Festival is usually held in late February; dates are confirmed each year.
- Khajuraho has a small airport with flights from Delhi and Varanasi.
- February evenings are cool, so bring a warm layer for the performances.
- Allow a full day to see the Western, Eastern and Southern groups of temples with a guide.
Combining the festival with wildlife
Khajuraho sits between the tiger reserves of central India. Panna is close by, and Bandhavgarh and Kanha are within a day’s drive, which makes the festival an easy addition to a wildlife journey such as our tiger safari. You can read more in our guide to Kanha National Park.
To plan a journey around the Khajuraho Dance Festival, tell us your dates.
