The Kailasa Temple: An Amazing Temple In India Carved Out Of A Single Rock Face

India is a huge country that plays host to incredible beauty, art and culture if only you know where to look.  The country’s temples especially are historical works of art simply because of the complexities of their architecture.  Perhaps one of the finest examples of complex temple architecture and also considered one of the unofficial wonders of the world is the Kailasa temple which is one of the most impressive and elaborate cave temples of India. What makes this particular one unique is that it is a temple carved from a single stone.

A Temple Carved from A Single Stone

The Kailasa temple is a huge temple structure carved out of a single rock and part of the 34 cave temples and monasteries that make up the Ellora Caves. The caves have been declared a UNESCO heritage site and are situated in the western region of Maharashtra.  Many living in India may not even know the existence of this fascinating structure right here in their own homeland.

Ancient Monuments Dating Back To 600 CE

The monuments in fact are so old; they date back to 600 and 1000 CE and among all of them it is Kailasa the temple carved from a single stone. As a megalithic structure, it may be well known among lovers of art, culture and the history fraternity but certainly not the average person unless it is those who love travel.

Famous For Its Ornamentation

The Kailasa temple carved from a single stone is especially famous for its magnificent size and ornamentation.  It isn’t very clear who actually had this temple built but the general historical consensus is that it was built by Krishna I the Rachtrakuta King whose rule was from 756-773 CE.

The connection was made because there are several epigraphs connecting the temple to Krishnaraja although there is no concrete evidence or written records to that effect. Scholars are still to find out the origins of the temple although legend has it that it was built by a queen to honor Lord Shiva whom she prayed to for her husband’s recovery from sickness.

Construction soon began but ran into problems until an engineer came to their aid and advised that the temple should be constructed from the top to the bottom

It Is Three Stories Tall

The structure stands at three stories tall with a courtyard and a gopuram in the entrance. It is widely assumed that the work could have taken centuries to complete with every ruler adding his own influence.

Around the temple there are gigantic stone carvings of different deities but focusing mostly on the God Shiva. The left panels show sculptures of the God Vishnu and the right show The God Shiva. There is an elaborately carved herd of elephants at the base of the temple meant most probably to hold the temple on their backs.

Because of its fantastic engineering Kailasa is today considered one of the best examples of fine temple architecture India. As a megalithic temple carved from one rock, there is none to beat it in the world as it is truly unique.

What is the best way to get to Kailasa Temple?

Ellora by Train: The nearest railway station to Kailasa temple is Aurangabad, which is around 30 kilometers away. There are direct trains to Aurangabad from Maharashtra’s major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nashik, and others.

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