The Kailash Temple: Epitome of Indian Rock-cut Architecture

An awesome feat of engineering, the Kailash Temple or the Kailashnath Temple, dedicated to Hindu God Shiva, is the most impressive remainder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Deccan that held sway for more than two centuries. Under the Rashtrakutas the rock-cut architecture in India reached its zenith.

Carved out of the single rock (monolithic) hewn out of Charanandri hills at Ellora under the instructions Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (756-775), the Kailashnath Temple has been described in glowing terms by Percy Brown, the noted writer on Indian architecture. He says, "The temple of Kailash at Ellora is not only the most stupendous single work of art executed in India, but as an example of rock architecture it is unrivalled…. The Kailash is an illustration of one of those occasions when men's minds, hearts and heads work in unison towards the consummation of a supreme ideal. It was under such conditions of religious and cultural stability that this grand monolith representation of Shiva's paradise was produced."

The shrine of Kailash Temple is complete with shrineroom, hall, gateway, votive pillars, lesser shrines and cloisters. The carvings of Kailashnath Temple are among the finest sculptures in India. Mainly in the form of deep reliefs, these sculptures give the effect of freestanding sculpture and illustrate scenes of mythology. The grand sculpture of Ravana trying to lift Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, has been vividly portrayed.