Chandelas

The Chandelas, also known as the Chandela Rajputs, were a medieval Indian dynasty that ruled parts of central India, notably the Bundelkhand region, from roughly the 9th to the 13th centuries. Their territory encompassed areas of present-day Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, with capitals at Kalinjar and later Khajuraho.

The dynasty is best known for its monumental temple architecture, especially the Khajuraho Group of Monuments. Built between the 10th and 12th centuries under Chandela rulers, these temples represent Nagara-style Hindu architecture and reflect the religious life of the period; the site also includes Jain temples. Khajuraho was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its artistic and historical significance.

Historically, the Chandelas rose to power in Bundelkhand and expanded their influence through patronage of construction and the arts. Notable rulers include Yashovarman, Dhanga, and Vidyadhara, who are credited with temple building and political consolidation in the region.

The Chandelas faced pressure from northern invaders and declined in the late 12th to 13th centuries, with their territories gradually absorbed into the Delhi Sultanate and later regional powers. The Khajuraho temples endured as a major cultural landmark even as Chandela political power waned.

In modern times, the Chandela name survives as a Rajput clan in central India, with communities in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They appear in regional histories and genealogies as descendants of the ancient Chandela rulers.