A major restoration project led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the world-renowned Lakshmana Temple in Khajuraho has led to the accidental discovery of a hidden subterranean vault. Located beneath the sanctum sanctorum, the chamber contained a cache of twelve copper-plate manuscripts dating back to the 10th-century Chandela Dynasty.
Epigraphists have identified the texts as administrative records and sacred geometric blueprints used for the construction of the Khajuraho temple complex. This discovery is expected to provide unprecedented insights into the architectural engineering and ritual logistics of medieval Bundelkhand, potentially rewriting the timeline of the site's development.