Kailasanatha Temple – Ancient Dravidian Architecture Marvel

Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to talk about one of the most amazing buildings I have ever read about, the Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora. Most temples are made by putting stones one on top of another, but this temple was cut out from one single rock, and that also from top to bottom. Yes guys, you heard it right. In this post I will tell you about its history, how it was carved, its architecture, famous sculptures and some interesting facts. At the end I have also added how you can visit it. So let’s start.

What is the Kailasanatha Temple?

The Kailasanatha Temple, also called the Kailasa Temple, is Cave No. 16 of the famous Ellora Caves in Maharashtra. Ellora is around 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (old name Aurangabad), as per Live History India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is made to look like Mount Kailash, the home of Shiva in the Himalayas.

But guys, the most amazing thing is how it was made. Normal temples are built by placing stones one above another. This one was cut out of a single huge rock from top to bottom, and the gateway, halls, shrine, pillars and elephants are all part of the same rock. As per Indian Culture, a Government of India portal, it is the largest monolithic rock structure in the world.

Many people get confused here. Ellora has Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves, but the Kailasa Temple itself is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. If you ask me, out of all 34 caves of Ellora, this one is the real star.

Quick Facts About the Kailasanatha Temple

Here is a quick table with the main facts, so you can get the idea in one look.

Fact	Details
Other names	Kailasa Temple, Kailasha, Cave 16
Location	Ellora Caves, around 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
Dedicated to	Lord Shiva
Built by	Mostly Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (ruled c. 756–773 CE)
Style	Dravidian (South Indian)
Courtyard size	82 m × 46 m
Height	Top of the shrine is 32.6 m above the courtyard
Rock removed	Around 200,000 tonnes
UNESCO status	Part of the Ellora Caves World Heritage Site since 1983
Entry fee	Around ₹40 for Indians, ₹600 for foreigners

History of the Kailasanatha Temple

Who Built It?

There is no inscription on the temple itself that says who made it. But as per Wikipedia, historians give most of the credit to the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I, who ruled from around 756 to 773 CE. This is mainly because of two old copper-plate grants. One of them, the Vadodara copper plate from around 812–813 CE, says that King Krishnaraja made a Shiva temple at Elapura (old name of Ellora) so wonderful that even the gods and the architect were surprised.

Built by One King or Many?

Some historians like Hermann Goetz think the work may have started under Krishna’s nephew Dantidurga, and later Rashtrakuta kings kept adding to it. On the other hand, historian M.K. Dhavalikar believes the main shrine, the gateway, the Nandi mandapa, the elephant-lion frieze, the court elephants and the victory pillars were all finished in Krishna I’s time. He also says the whole temple was planned from the start, and nothing in it looks like an afterthought. I think this is the most amazing part, because planning something like this without computers is not a joke.

Inspired by South Indian Temples

As per Dhavalikar, the main shrine looks very similar to the Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal in Karnataka, but much bigger. And the Virupaksha Temple itself was a copy of the Kailasanatha Temple of the Pallavas at Kanchipuram. After defeating the Chalukyas, Krishna I was probably so impressed by the Virupaksha Temple that he brought its sculptors and architects, including some Pallava artists, to Ellora. That’s why this temple in Maharashtra looks so much like a South Indian temple.

Later Additions and Paintings

The famous sculpture of Ravana shaking Mount Kailash was probably carved around 30–40 years after the main shrine, and it is possible that the temple got the name “Kailasa” because of it. The temple was also painted many times. As per Goetz, the Paramara king Bhoja added a new layer of paintings in the 11th century, and the last layer was done by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of the 18th century. Many people mix up these two, but there is a gap of around 700 years between them.

Interestingly, when Alauddin Khalji’s troops came to this area, they damaged a nearby temple at Devagiri, but they never harmed the Ellora temple. Instead it became a sightseeing spot for them.

The Legend of the Queen and Architect Kokasa

There is a lovely legend about this temple in a medieval Marathi text called Katha-Kalpataru, written by Krishna Yajnavalki. As per this story, a local king got very sick, and his queen prayed to Lord Ghrishneshwar (Shiva) at Elapura. She promised to build a temple if he got well, and she also vowed not to eat until she could see the shikhara (top) of that temple.

When the king got well, all the architects said it would take months to make a temple with a shikhara. Then an architect named Kokasa came forward and said that queen will see the shikhara within a week. He started cutting the rock from the top, and he finished the shikhara in one week, so the queen could end her fast. The temple was named Manikeshwar after the queen.

Historian Dhavalikar even thinks Kokasa may have really been the chief architect, because many 11th–13th century inscriptions mention architects from Kokasa’s family. I really love this story, because it also explains why the temple was carved from top to bottom.

How Was It Carved from a Single Rock?

This is the question everyone asks. As per Live History India, the workers first dug three huge trenches straight down into the basalt rock. Then they slowly carved the temple from the top towards the bottom, using only hammers and chisels, and removed around 200,000 tonnes of rock.

Because they worked from the top, the artists always had enough space to sit and work, so there was no need for scaffolding, as per Indian Culture. But here is a small mystery guys, nobody knows for sure where all that removed stone went.

And how long did it take? As per Wikipedia, historian Dhavalikar estimated that if one person cuts around 4 cubic feet of rock per day, then 250 workers could have finished it in about 5.5 years. Some websites say it took 18 years, but I could not find a clear source for that number. Either way, I think one mistake could spoil the whole design, because in rock you cannot just add a broken piece back.

Architecture of the Kailasa Temple

The temple follows the Dravidian or South Indian style, and it has all the parts of a normal Hindu temple, just carved instead of built. Let me take you through it the same way you will see it when you visit.

The Gateway (Gopuram)

You enter through a low, two-storey gopuram. As per Wikipedia, most of the gods carved on the left side of the entrance are related to Shiva, and on the right side they are related to Vishnu. As soon as you enter, you see a beautiful panel of Goddess Gajalakshmi sitting on a lotus.

The Courtyard

After the gate there is a big U-shaped courtyard of around 82 m × 46 m. Around it there are three-storey galleries with huge carved panels of different gods. Once there were stone “flying bridges” connecting these galleries to the main temple, but they have fallen now.

Nandi Mandapa

In the middle there is the Nandi mandapa, a shrine for Shiva’s bull Nandi, facing the main temple. A bridge carved from the same rock connects it to the porch of the main temple.

Victory Pillars and Elephants

On both sides of the Nandi mandapa stand two tall pillars called dhwajastambhas or victory pillars, around 45 feet high, as per Indian Culture. In the north and south courts there is also one life-size elephant each, carved from the same rock. I think these pillars and elephants were a way for the Rashtrakuta kings to show their power.

The Main Shrine

The main shrine has a flat-roofed hall (mandapa) with 16 pillars, and inside the sanctum there is a big Shiva lingam. Above it rises a Dravidian-style shikhara, and the top of the structure is 32.6 m above the courtyard. The base is carved in a way that it looks like elephants are holding the whole temple on their backs. Honestly guys, this elephant base is my favourite part, it looks so powerful.

Side Shrines and Lankeshvara Cave

There are five separate small shrines around the temple, and three of them are for the river goddesses Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. On one side there is also a cave called Lankeshvara, which has a famous sculpture of Shiva doing the tandava dance.

Famous Sculptures and Paintings

Ravana Shaking Mount Kailash

This is the most famous sculpture of the temple. As per the story, the demon king Ravana tried to lift Mount Kailash, so Shiva pressed the mountain down and trapped Ravana under it, as per Wikipedia. In the carving you can see Shiva and Parvati sitting on top, Parvati holding Shiva in fear, and the many-armed Ravana trying to lift the mountain from below. It is considered one of the finest pieces of Indian art, and I fully agree with that.

Ramayana and Mahabharata Panels

The base of the temple hall has scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There is also a set of 12 scenes from the childhood of Lord Krishna, as per The Tiles of India. If you know these stories, it feels like reading a comic book carved in stone.

River Goddesses Shrine

Near the front of the northern wall there is a small shrine of the three river goddesses. Ganga is in the middle, and Yamuna is shown standing on her tortoise.

Different Forms of Shiva

In the galleries you can see Shiva as an ascetic, Shiva as a dancer, and Shiva with Parvati. The side wall of the Nandi mandapa also has a dancing Shiva, as per eSamskriti.

The Paintings

The temple is also called “Rang Mahal” because it once had colourful paintings, but today only small traces of them are left. It is also said that the whole temple was once covered with white plaster, so that it looked like the snowy Mount Kailash, as per Studio Matrx. I wish we could see it like that once, it must have looked unreal.

Some Interesting Facts About the Kailasa Temple

It is the largest monolithic rock structure in the world, as per Indian Culture.
It covers around twice the area of the Parthenon in Athens and is about 1.5 times as high, as per Deccan Herald.
Its design is close to the Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal, but that temple is only half its size, as per Swarajya.
Other caves of Ellora were cut straight into the cliff, but Kailasa was cut downwards, so it is open to the sky and gets lots of sunlight, as per Britannica Kids.
The Ellora Caves, including this temple, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple, the same Shiva the queen prayed to in the legend, is just around 1 km from the caves, as per Ghumakkar.

Myths You Should Not Believe

The internet is full of “Kailasa Temple mystery” stories, and Live History India also talks about this. Some people even say aliens or special machines made it. But historians agree it was made by skilled human workers with hammers and chisels, and honestly guys, I think that is even more impressive.

Another popular story says the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb sent his army for three years to destroy this temple, but they failed. I could not find strong historical proof for this story. In fact, as per Wikipedia, Aurangzeb was infamous for destroying many other temples, but he liked visiting Ellora and called the Kailasa temple a “marvellous place for strolling”. So I think we should treat this story as a legend only.

How to Visit the Kailasa Temple

The Kailasa Temple is inside the Ellora Caves complex, and its entry is included in the normal Ellora ticket. As per Gateway Hotels, Ellora is around 29 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), roughly a 45 minute drive. Also, the Kailasa Temple is close to the main entrance, so you reach it very quickly.

By Air: The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Airport, as per the ASI.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Railway Station.
By Road: Buses, taxis and autos are easily available from the city, and Ellora (Verul) has its own bus stop.

Timings and Entry Fee

As per the ASI’s official page, Ellora is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. The entry fee is around ₹40 for Indians and ₹600 for foreigners, as per Gateway Hotels. But one important thing guys, most travel guides say Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, while the ASI page shows Monday as the closed day. So please check once before you go, otherwise you may reach there and find the gate closed. You can also book tickets online on the ASI website and skip the queue.

Best Time to Visit

The ASI says October to March is the best season, and I agree, because in summer the temperature here can go up to 40°C. Monsoon is also beautiful because the hills turn green, but the stone paths can get slippery.

Some Simple Tips

Keep at least 1 to 1.5 hours only for the Kailasa Temple.
Climb the path on the hill around the temple and see it from the top, the view is amazing.
Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowd.
Hire an ASI-licensed guide, they explain the stories behind the carvings very nicely.
After the caves, visit the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple nearby.

FAQs

Who built the Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora?

Most historians give the credit to the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I, who ruled from around 756 to 773 CE. Some parts were added later by other kings.

Why is the Kailasa Temple called a monolithic temple?

Because the whole temple was cut out of one single rock, from top to bottom. It was not built by joining separate stones.

How long did it take to build the Kailasa Temple?

Nobody knows exactly. Historian M.K. Dhavalikar estimated that 250 workers could have finished it in about 5.5 years.

Which cave number is the Kailasa Temple?

The Kailasa Temple is Cave No. 16 of the Ellora Caves.

Is it the same as the Kailasanathar Temple of Kanchipuram?

No. The Kanchipuram temple is a built Pallava temple in Tamil Nadu, while Ellora’s Kailasa is carved from rock in Maharashtra. But Ellora’s temple was inspired by it, through the Virupaksha Temple of Pattadakal.

Final Words

So guys, this was all about the Kailasanatha Temple of Ellora, from its history and legends to how it was carved and what you can see there. For me, this temple is a proof that our ancestors had amazing skill and patience. I have tried to explain everything in simple words, and I hope you will visit it at least once in your life. Keep visiting The Indian Architecture for more such blogs.

Sources

Facts checked on Oct 18, 2026.

Kailasanatha Temple (Ellora Caves, Maharashtra)