Page 31 - Elixir 2023-24

Kailash Temple

At Ellora, 34 cave temples were carved out of the hillside
with hand tools. Only 12 of these 34 caves in the centre are the

most impressive. It is believed that it was constructed by
excavating approximately 200,000 tonnes of rock and it’s possibly
the world’s largest monolithic structure.
It represents Lord Shiva’s Himalayan Home, and mythology,
each pulsing with drama, energy and passion. It is believed that the

work on the Kailash temple began in the mid-8th century and
under the direction of King Krishna I (767-773) of the Rashtrakuta
Dynasty, the rulers of the western Deccan area.
It is considered as one of the most astonishing ‘buildings’

in the history of architecture. The temple is said to be the
world’s largest monolithic structure carved from one piece of
rock. And, equally impressive in their own right are the rock-
hewn temples and monasteries of Ellora that lie just 30 km from
Aurangabad. It is the biggest building in the Ellora Cave complex.

The Kailash temple is scooped out of the hillside and has
beautiful sculptors from Ramayana and Mahabharatha carved
on its walls. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a giant
lingam in the garbh griha of the temple.

Every December, the Ellora Festival of music and dance is
organized at the Kailash Temple which is attended by a large
number of people.
Neel Nilesh Tawde (7E)