The enigmatic Kailasa Temple at the Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, India has fascinated researchers for centuries. Situated about 30 km from the city of Aurangabad, the rock-cave temple of Ellora is the largest monolithic structure in the world.
The Kailash Temple is the sixteenth cave, and it is one of the 32 cave temples and monasteries forming the magnanimous Ellora Caves. As per the historical records, it was built by the 8th century Rashtrakuta King Krishna I between the year 756 and 773 AD. Further, the non- Rashtrakuta style temples located close-by denotes the involvement of Pallava and Chalukya artists.
The Temple is a standalone, multi-storeyed temple complex, made to look like Mount Kailash – the puranic home of Lord Shiva.
The rock temple was cut in U shape about 50 metres in the back, and about 2,00,000 tonnes of rock was removed to give shape to it. The archaeologists had calculated that it would have taken more than a hundred years to finish the temple construction. However, in reality it took only 18 years to complete it. Interestingly, modern age engineers find it impossible to finish the same temple using the modern technology in 18 years.
One of the most unimaginable and mysterious facts of Kailash Temple is its top to bottom carving. Even today, it is simply impossible to carve such a perfect construction from top to bottom so elaborately using just chisels and Hammers.
Each pillar of Kailash Temple speaks the divine language and comes with a definitive legacy. The view from the top of the rock shows the massive scale of the entire construction. Especially, the sculpture that depicts Ravana lifting Mount Kailash is a major milestone in the history of Indian architecture. Every aspect of the temple represents the sacredness of Hindu culture and the symbols depicts the pious intentions behind the construction.
Historians confirm that cave no.16 is the oldest structure among all the caves in ellora. Still, the architect and design of this temple is much more advance than that of the other ellora caves. Kailash temple is complete with secret passageways, state-of-the-art drainage system, connecting bridges and complicated designs.
Mughal ruler Aurangzeb had made a strong attempt to vandalise the Kailash Temple, but he was unable to get much success in his plans. All he could do was a minor damage here and there but not to the main structure.
The Kailash Temple in India is undoubtedly one of the most enduring works of Indian art and architecture ever produced by man. To claim it was built by some aliens is to discredit the art and craftsmanship of the artists who painstakingly worked on it. A megalith carved from a rock cliff face, it is considered one of the most remarkable cave temples in the world because of its size, architecture and sculptural treatment, and ‘the climax of the rock-cut phase of Indian architecture’.
