What is so special about the Kailashnath temple at Ellora?

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”.

How old is Ellora?

Ellora Caves, northwest-central Maharashtra state, India. The 12 Buddhist caves (in the south) date from about 200 bce to 600 ce, the 17 Hindu temples (in the centre) date from about 500 to 900 ce, and the 5 Jain temples (in the north) date from about 800 to 1000.

Who destroyed Ellora?

Mughal King Aurangzeb
Mughal King Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of Hindu temple, also tried to destroy Kailasa temple. It is said that 1000 people were sent to destroy the temple in the year 1682. They worked for 3 years but they could break and disfigure a few statues only.

How long did it take to carve Ellora caves?

Other similar caves date back as as early as 300 B.C. In modern terms, it would take around 200 days, working at 24 hours per day, to excavate the entire site using contemporary technology. That doesn’t take into account the elaborate carvings all over the monolithic structure.

Who made Kailashnath Temple?

Rashtrakuta King Krishna I
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.

Who built Ellora temple?

King Krishna I

Who made the Ellora caves?

It was built during 757-783 AD by Krishna I who was the uncle of Dantidurga. Built during the 6th to 8th century in the Kalachuris period, the Hindu Caves were built in two phases.

How many caves are in Ellora caves?

34 caves
The invaluable ensemble of 34 caves at Ellora in the Charanandri hills of western India’s Maharashtra State showcases a spirit of co-existence and religious tolerance through the outstanding architectural activities carried out by the followers of three prominent religions: Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Jainism.

When was Ellora Caves Discovered?

Caves 8,9,10,12, 13, and some bits of 15 are early Buddhist caves. The caves were first discovered in 1819, when Jon Smith, a British official accidentally stumbled upon the horse-shoe shaped rock while hunting a tiger.

How long did it take to build Kailasa temple?

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.