The Kailash Temple, also known as the Kailasa Temple, is a popular tourist destination in Aurangabad, Maharashtra’s Ellora Caves. The temple, which was constructed by King Krishna 1 of the Rastrakuta dynasty in 760 AD, is mysterious in several ways. Here are a few of the Kailash Temple’s most intriguing and enigmatic facts.

Mysterious about the Kailash temple

Resemblance Of Mount Kailash

To resemble Mount Kailash, the place where Shiva resides, artists built the Kailasha Temple. According to experts who were closely observed, the entire temple had initially been painted white to make it resemble Mount Kailash.  Similarly, to the mountain, it has a pyramidal shape.

Crafted from Single Rock

The temple is situated in one of the Charanandri hills’ single-rock-carved tunnels in Ellora. The Kailasa Temple was constructed with a single stone that had only been chiseled off in one spot. 

World’s Oldest Single-Rock Carving

One of the world’s earliest multi-story constructions with a single rock carving is the temple. The temple stunned Western scientists who discovered it during an archaeological survey since it was twice as large as the Parthenon in Athens.

Carving Dates Back To Hundreds Of Years

The fact that no one is aware of the temple’s history or its creators or builders is among its most enigmatic characteristics. Even though the sculpture does not include a name or any other indication of a date, it is believed to be hundreds of thousands or even a million years old.

Involvement Of Multiple Religions And Cultures

Buddhists and Jains were among the many cultures and religions that contributed to the creation of the complete structure. Later, the Hindu Kings significantly aided in the building of the Kailash Temple.

Each Sculpture Comes With a Definitive Legacy

The Kailash Temple’s pillars each have a unique heritage and communicate the divine language. From the summit of the rock, one can observe the vast scale of the entire structure. In particular, the sculpture that shows Ravana hoisting Mount Kailash marks a significant turning point in Indian architectural history.

Carved From Top To Bottom

The engraving that runs from top to bottom of the Kailash Temple is among its most stunning and enigmatic features. It is just not possible to carve such a flawless construction from top to bottom with merely chisels and hammers even now.

Largest Cantilevered Rock Ceiling

Incredibly impressive for a temple constructed thousands of years ago, the Kailasha Temple boasts the largest cantilevered rock ceiling in the entire globe.

Four Hundred Tons Rock Scooped Out

The sculptors performed a Mahayagna and prayed to the rock for approval to build the temple before beginning work on the Kailash Temple, as is customary in Vedic culture. By reciting mantras, the priests electrified and consecrated the rock. This explains why mantra chanting still has an odd echo and resonance throughout the world today.

Temple Build With Vedic Tradition

The sculptors performed a Mahayagna and prayed to the rock for approval to build the temple before beginning work on the Kailash Temple, as is customary in Vedic culture. By reciting mantras, the priests electrified and consecrated the rock. This explains why mantra chanting still has an odd echo and resonance throughout the world today.

Blessed By Sages

The way sound travels between the temples’ walls and pillars is a sign that the area has received the heavenly favor of Indian sages. Every element of the temple symbolizes the sanctity of Hindu tradition.

It Took 150 Years to Complete

More than 7,000 laborers carved the Kailasha Temple over more than 150 years. Simply expressed, it indicates that the amount of work completed by each worker was vast and hasn’t been surpassed.

Unique Drilling of Holes

One of the biggest puzzles for everyone is how the sculptors drilled the holes in such a special method. The holes suggest that a very small person drilled it because a human cannot fit inside and perform the drilling. You wonder if they employed something like computers to do the work given all the shafts, tunnels, and tight passageways.

Labors Worked 16 Hours A Day

The laborer’s worked for roughly 16 hours per day. Since there was no power during that time and the interior was still quite dark, mirrors were used to reflect light within the cave.