The temples of Khajuraho, including the Western Group, were built by the Chandela dynasty between the 9th and 11th centuries AD. The Chandela rulers were Rajputs who controlled a large part of Central India. They were known for their patronage of art and architecture. It is believed that there were originally around 85 temples, but only about 25 remain today. After the decline of the Chandela dynasty, the temples were largely forgotten and overgrown with vegetation. They were rediscovered in the 19th century by a British surveyor. Since then, they have been restored and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting tourists and scholars from all over the world.