8 Facts About The Kailasa Temple In Maharashtra That Was Built 1250+ Years Ago

Facts About Kailasa Temple

[{"selector":"#anim-29199290-e7da-4965-a9a1-93e88bee933f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd1be577-335b-460a-9786-97719ae81455","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.33916%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Kailasa Temple is the largest of the rock-cut temples at the Ellora Caves, Maharashtra and here are eight facts you need to know about it. Credits: Wikimedia

1.It Is Carved From Top To Bottom

[{"selector":"#anim-d1ac86c6-6ee1-4523-a673-1c6c783381e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fb3406f-7819-4810-a649-30e4a6d6e9dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 263.31807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Kailasa Temple is notable for being the only structure in the world that is carved from top to bottom. Credits: Wikimedia

2. Carved Out Of A Single Rock

[{"selector":"#anim-c9877867-c628-4cd5-b1f0-23cfd0adcadd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a10382b3-5081-47a2-9d50-96da051f2270","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.70878%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The temple is believed to be carved from a single piece of rock. Legend has it that nearly 200,000 tonnes of rock was removed to construct this monolithic structure. Credits: Canva

3. World’s Largest Monolithic Structure

[{"selector":"#anim-08410d7b-c69a-4f75-b4bf-6246a24ef78a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73753396-95d2-4a34-9083-5bf7af87ed52","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 384.44468%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The 1250+ years old temple is also the largest monolithic structure in the world. Credits: Canva

4. Shrines Inside Temple Complex

[{"selector":"#anim-49c7fc89-a6f0-4721-9f86-d46f63f07f9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeaeaf9a-c443-44b3-ada5-7a659d009dcd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.70878%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kailasa Temple has 5 shrines inside its complex. They are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and the 3 river goddesses - Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna. Credits: Flickr

5. Resembles Mount Kailash

[{"selector":"#anim-fb55f63b-c7bb-4a76-85fb-2b248e29d66c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8c3bd40-3cb1-4c64-8dc4-e17ee2762149","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.33916%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the architecture of the Kailasa Temple resembles the sacred Mount Kailash, which is believed to be the abode of the deity. Credits: Flickr

6. Twice As Big As Parthenon

[{"selector":"#anim-7f846a5d-9ac3-4088-96b1-d5dd210c1f6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08d6ce46-1e08-4c77-9f05-a2beb458caaf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.33916%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kailasa Temple is about 145 feet wide, 195 feet long and 90 feet high. This massive structure is twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Credits: Canva

7. Sculptures & Carvings

[{"selector":"#anim-047e46eb-eb12-4056-8806-9f76da903413","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7ff0f3e-3f01-499c-b614-7e74439a5ecf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 798.93442%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The interiors of the Kailasa Temple contain intricate sculptures and carvings. Credits: Canva

8. Indestructible Structure

[{"selector":"#anim-b6059563-3d7f-42c4-9c89-f53dc23b0290","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bef214d4-eeef-423a-bbc4-4cb7f2208284","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.33916%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It is believed that Kailasa Temple is indestructible. Despite Mughal King Aurangzeb’s many efforts, he was not able to destroy it in even 3 years! Credits: Wikimedia