Unique temple Kailasa temple

• Unique temple Kailasa temple

Temple Kailasa temple at Ellora is an unrivaled masterpiece and one of the most impressive architectural structures. It is the largest monolith in the world complex, carved from a single rock of enormous size.

The temple was built over 150 years, 7000 people were involved in its construction. Temple Kailasa temple is truly grandiose. It covers an area twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens, at the height of its superior half. During construction of 200 thousand tons of rock it was hollowed. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is Mount Kailasa - the abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas. Rectangular courtyard of the temple, surrounded by the inside rows of niches with statues of deities, including dedicated Shikhar (pyramidal completion of) the main sanctuary and multi-column hall for prayers.

Kailasa temple - rock Hindu temple is the central building of the complex of cave temples at Ellora, is unique in its size and power.

The temple Kailasa temple is located in the center cut into the rock yard 58 m long and 51 m wide, extending into the rock 33 meters. The length of the temple 55 m and a width of 36 meters, the occupied surface area of ​​1980 m².

The lower part of the temple is a pedestal height of 8 meters, the center of which are monumental sculptures elephants and lions about 3 meters in height, serving as a base for the top part of the temple.

From top to bottom the temple is covered with stone carvings made with great skill. It is alleged that the original church was entirely covered with white plaster that originally made him stand out against the dark rock, and it was called Rang Mahal.

Instead of the traditional carved into the rock of the underground hall, such as we have seen in the church of Lalibela, the temple Kailasa temple embodies the right direction in the two Indian architecture. It simultaneously blended and ground cave temples.

Indian tourists visiting the temple.

The builders Kailasa temple first Division with the necessary array of rock three trenches and began to cut down the temple on the upper floors, gradually venturing to the base (bottom, some projecting part of the building).

At the same time cutting the outer forms created the sculptural decoration of the temple. Kailasa temple consists of several parts: the entrance gate, the sanctuary of the bull Nandi (the symbol of the god Shiva), a hall for prayers and the sanctuary of the god Shiva, surrounded by five small monastic cells.

A fresco in the church.

The main building is oriented on an axis exactly from east to west. Due to insurmountable difficulties associated with the position of the mountain, the ancient builders had to withdraw from the canon of the requirements to make an entrance on the west side, rather than from the east.

On the walls of the south side of the temple complex located Kailasa temple relief compositions with episodes of "Ramayana", on the walls of the north side - with scenes of the "Mahabharata".

The temples of Ellora are open from sunrise to sunset (except Monday or Tuesday). The cost of visiting the complex of 250 rupees. * The nearest town to the caves of Ellora - Aurangabad (42 km), where there is an airport and you can book excursions at the Ellora and Ajanta.