Kailash Temple – Ellora, Aurangabad
t is widely regarded as the largest monolithic structure in the world, carved from a single rock cliff.
Architecture of the Temple
Crafted using the vertical excavation technique, artisans carved the temple from the top down—a feat of incredible precision using only basic tools. Approximately 200,000 tonnes of basalt were removed in the process.
Covering an area twice the size of the Parthenon, the temple features an 82 m × 46 m courtyard, a multi-tiered gopuram, colonnaded arcades, mandapas, shrines to river goddesses (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati), and elaborate reliefs of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Nandi mandapa and inner shrine are connected via a carved rock bridge. The shrine’s base includes sculpted elephants that appear to bear the structure.
How to Reach to Temple
By Air: Fly into Aurangabad Airport, which is about 30–36 km from Ellora. Taxis and buses are readily available.
By Train: Aurangabad Railway Station is the nearest railhead, roughly 30 km away, with road access to Ellora.
By Road: Regular buses and taxis connect Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, and other nearby cities to Ellora.
Temple Timings
