They're referred to as erotic carvings, adorning the temples in Khajuraho. Mixed in with scenes of everyday Indian life and beliefs are occasional carvings involving everything from nudity, prostitution, homosexuality, bestiality and group sex. It appears ancient India had rugby league as well.
The carvings are worth seeing for the quality of workmanship and intricate detail then for any titillation factor. Where the scenes from daily life are not, the outside of the temples are still intricately carved. These people had some serious time, skill and motivation on their hands.
Here's a carving of Ganesha, the Hindu god of luck, travel and overcoming obstacles. The jolly little fella pops up all over India. The artists detail in the carving provided for many life like details that lent softness, curve and warmth to the stone, like the hanging belly.
Me pre-op in Khahjuraho (yes mum it's a joke)
If Khajuraho had the raunch (Hindu's Gone Wild), then Orchha had the age. Artifacts from India dating back to 5th century BC are available for viewing in the Orchha museum. Many of the artifacts relate stories or connections to Buddha, who was said to have given his first session with his followers in this area. Ironically Buddhism became strong and survived only after it left India. The archaeological evidence has Buddhists, similar to Christians and Christ, believing that Buddha walked the earth and was for many years merely a normal, if royal, person.
The number of historical monuments in India is astounding, it really is an incredible place. Here workers restore a stupa (which is kinda like a temple for a stone mason with writers block).
Many sights are being restored and maintained, many others don't have the funding for this kind of work. Depending on the money and expertise available restoration work across India ranges from the finest detail and quality imaginable through to merely replacing once carved stones with plain brick of a different colour/stone type, which works none too well.
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