Kailasa Temple in the Caves of Ellora : A Majestic Marvel Frozen in Time worthy of the Seven Wonders

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Namaste LGs around the Globe :earth_africa:

Today I bring the topic of The Ellora Caves which stand out as a truly awe-inspiring spectacle unlike anything I’ve witnessed before. Situated in the Maharashtra State of India, these caves are more than mere dwellings; they serve as profound testaments to centuries of human artistry and spiritual devotion. My recent journey to the Ellora Caves unveiled a mesmerizing world of ancient wonders.

Ellora caves photo taken by LG NandKK
Ellora caves photo taken by LG NandKK2700×2025 1.5 MB

Upon entering the complex, I was immediately captivated by the intricate carvings and sculptures that adorned the cave walls. These boast an impressive collection of 34 monasteries and temples. The Ellora Caves complex of rock-cut caves represents three major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. While there are over 50 excavations in the vicinity, only 34 caves are open to the public.

  • 12 Buddhist caves (caves 1 to 12), dating from the 6th to 8th centuries.
  • 17 Hindu caves (caves 13 to 29), carved between the 7th and 10th centuries.
  • 5 Jain caves (caves 30 to 34), built from the 11th to 12th centuries.

cave 10 of ellora caves
cave 10 of ellora caves3000×4000 1.74 MB

Photograph of LG NandKK before a temple wall full of rock-cut statues of hindu dieties dancing and battling
Photograph of LG NandKK before a temple wall full of rock-cut statues of hindu dieties dancing and battling1680×2240 1.21 MB

Rock-cut Statue of Hindu Diety Ardhnarishwar (Half Mother God and other Half Lord Shiva) , Photograph by LG NandKK
Rock-cut Statue of Hindu Diety Ardhnarishwar (Half Mother God and other Half Lord Shiva) , Photograph by LG NandKK3456×4608 2.3 MB
Rock-cut statue of mother god (nature earth) surrounded by other animals, Photograph by LG NandKK
Rock-cut statue of mother god (nature earth) surrounded by other animals, Photograph by LG NandKK3000×4000 2.41 MB

My jaw dropped as I entered Cave number 16, the majestic Kailasa Temple. Carved from a single rock, the Kailasa Temple is a colossal structure dedicated to Lord Shiva. As I approached, the sheer scale of the temple left me in awe - its intricate carvings adorn every surface, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology with breathtaking detail. Gods and goddesses dance and battle, mythical creatures lurk in shadows, and celestial chariots soar across the stone ceiling.

A towering of kailasa temple with a a statue of elephant with broken trunk
A towering of kailasa temple with a a statue of elephant with broken trunk2100×2800 1.05 MB

Its towering pillars, and the majestic facade depicting Mount Kailash, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva. The interior of the temple and the caves is equally captivating. The sanctum sanctorum houses an awe-inspiring sculpture of Lord Shiva in his various forms, surrounded by intricately carved panels depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Upside view of Kailasa Temple, photo taken by NandKK
Upside view of Kailasa Temple, photo taken by NandKK3000×4000 2.48 MB

Given the opportunity, I would advocate for the inclusion of the Kailasa Temple among the world’s seven wonders, primarily due to its remarkable engineering marvel. It was constructed by vertical excavations, starting from the top of the rock and moving downwards, which is the opposite of how a building is typically constructed. Now just imagine how it would have been possible in ancient times to start carving on a monolithic hill from the top and then moving carving down to bottom with 1000 % flawless perfect alignment. One can see the level of planning and precision which would have been required for this is extraordinary.

LG NandKK taking selfie in front of Kailasa Temple
LG NandKK taking selfie in front of Kailasa Temple3456×4608 1.53 MB

Exploring the Ellora Caves is not just a journey through time but also an immersive experience into the diverse religious and cultural history of India. As a traveler, I found myself marveling at the artistry, spirituality, and sheer dedication that went into creating these monumental structures. Ellora Caves truly stand as a testament to the artistic brilliance of our ancestors, inviting us to delve into the mystique of a bygone era.

A statue of mother god carved out of rock
A statue of mother god carved out of rock1920×2560 1.34 MB
A statue of Gautam Buddha Carved out of rock
A statue of Gautam Buddha Carved out of rock1920×2560 1.32 MB
A statue of Gautam Buddha in a cave temple Carved out of rock
A statue of Gautam Buddha in a cave temple Carved out of rock3000×4000 2.04 MB
Photograph of LG NandKK beside a rock-cut statute of Lord Vishnu
Photograph of LG NandKK beside a rock-cut statute of Lord Vishnu659×878 174 KB

How to reach :-

:small_airplane: By Air - The closest airport is Aurangabad Airport, which is about 20 km away. From there, you can take a taxi or cab.

:oncoming_automobile: By Road - It is well connected by the major cities of india. Around 329 km from Mumbai. Regular bus services available from the nearby major cities Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Mumbai.

:steam_locomotive: By Train -The nearest railway station is Aurangabad Railway Station from there around 28 kilometers to caves.

:wheelchair: Accessibility- One aspect that pleasantly surprised me was the effort made to ensure accessibility for all visitors. The management has taken steps to make the site :older_man: ‍:motorized_wheelchair: wheelchair-friendly, allowing everyone to experience the wonders of these ancient marvels. Ramps and pathways have been strategically placed to provide smooth navigation for wheelchair users.

Tips for Travelers:

  • The best time will be winter months (oct to march) to visit here, when the weather is pleasant.
  • Ensure you wear comfortable shoes for the extensive walking involved.
  • Protect yourself from the sun by carrying a hat and sunscreen.
  • Photography is allowed inside the caves, but avoid using flash as it can damage the paintings.
  • Guided tours are available for a deeper understanding of the cave’s history and significance.
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@NandKK unglaublich schön. Menschen haben wirkliche schon in der Vorzeit sagenhaftes erschaffen. Ihre Bilder sind auch sehr aussagekrÀftig und sehenswert.

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Vielen Dank, lieber Freund, dass du meine BemĂŒhungen wertgeschĂ€tzt hast. @Annaelisa

TatsÀchlich haben Sie zu Recht gesagt, dass die Menschen in der Antike viele majestÀtische und wunderbare Bauwerke geschaffen haben.

Übrigens, haben Sie schon einmal Felsstatuen oder Höhlenzeichnungen wie die Fotos in meinem Beitrag oben gesehen?

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Fabulous photos of the Kailas Temple and Ellora caves @NandKK :+1:

Having been born and brought up in Aurangabad, I visited here uncountable times as part of school picnics and later accompanying guests who did not want to miss a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site.

The third photo where you stand beneath is the most famous part of the caves that depict the 18-Day Mahabharat War and some stories from Ramayan.

Hence, they say the history and culture of India are carved in stone.

@Annaelisa , they created this rock-cut temple from top to bottom and it is the largest monolith structure in the world.

This was more than 2000 years ago.

6 Generations worked continuously working on the same plan over a period of 150 years.

Many kings and queens ruled the land, and they passed away but the work on the temple did not stop.

Also, it amazes modern people to know how they decided which part of the mountain to choose for the cutting.

This is because say after 50 years of work, if they find that there is an internal crack or some loose rock or a cavity at an undesirable place or there is a water body deep inside, the work of decades would be lost.

But as we see today, that did not happen. Hence this temple is also an engineering marvel.

Also, the artist who carved the beautiful statues and idols had only one chance at the carving, any mistake in it and the work would be useless.

But every carving is beautiful than the other. That is astonishing. Isn’t it?

Reminds me of another well-traveled local guide @TravellerG who has written about the Mahabalipuram Rock Temples in details.

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@NandKK soetwas nur aus Sendungen im Fernsehen und solche Dokumentationen sehe ich gerne. Es gibt ja weltweit ĂŒberall solche SchĂ€tze. Hier in Deutschland habe ich Bauten aus der Römerzeit selbst besuchen können.

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@TusharSuradkar ja es ist fantastisch und genial

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@TusharSuradkar @NandKK

Übrigens habe ich vorhin die Einweihung des neuen Tempels in Indien im Fernsehen gesehen

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Yes, a new temple is being built in India after 500 years @Annaelisa

The word inauguration is less than the real meaning.

This is called ‘Pran Prathishta’ - meaning life is put into the temple by inviting the Gods, the Lord to come and live there.

The temple itself is considered the God


The meaning is deep and cannot be explained in simple English :blush:

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Another great post @NandKK Sir! I have heard a lot about Ellora Caves, but now exploring it through your post! Very informative and nicely presented the key points! I really like the Tips for Travelers key points! Beautiful pictures and great narration! Best of Wishes for all your future post! Regards Sir!

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@TusharSuradkar danke fĂŒr die weitergehende ErklĂ€rung. Obwohl Einweihung enthĂ€lt das Wort Weihe was nach meinem VerstĂ€ndnis dem nahe kommt.

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You were really lucky in Your Childhood that you could visit this wonder uncountable times.

Thank you for your kind words and appreciating my efforts @TusharSuradkar

Also, I am really grateful for providing the additional details about this place which I could not provide in my post.

This also amazed me that, 2000 years ago how they would have planned to start from the top descending to the bottom without the latest technologies of computer 3D Graphics. 6 generations is really very long period, how they would have transferred the plan of working from one generation to another for 150 years. And that too the finishing was flawless with 1000% correct alignment.

This engineering marvel of this wonder, is beyond the imagination of modern human beings.

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Gewiss! Sie können die ausgeklĂŒgelten Details des erstaunlichen Ingenieurswunders, das der Kailasa-Tempel in Ellora darstellt, auf verschiedenen YouTube-KanĂ€len oder in Geschichtsprogrammen im Fernsehen erkunden. @Annaelisa

Ebenso haben die Römer mit ihren beeindruckenden architektonischen Kreationen in ganz Europa bleibende Spuren hinterlassen. Ihre GebĂ€ude verdienen wahrlich Lob fĂŒr ihr Design und ihre Konstruktion.

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@NandKK que post de excelente calidad! Muy bien detallado y las fotografĂ­as son muy interesantes. Saludos.

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Lieber Freund @Annaelisa

Ja, wie von @TusharSuradkar treffend gesagt wurde, handelte es sich in Wirklichkeit nicht um eine Einweihung. Man könnte es jedoch als Ă€hnlich betrachten, wenn ein neu errichteter Tempel der Öffentlichkeit zur Verehrung des allmĂ€chtigen Gottes Lord Rama prĂ€sentiert wird.

Dieser Tempel ist wirklich ein Stolz fĂŒr uns Hindus. Der Ort, an dem dieser neue Tempel errichtet wurde, beherbergte vor ĂŒber 5.000 Jahren einen antiken Tempel.

Leider zerstörte im Jahr 1528 ein tyrannischer muslimischer Herrscher diesen antiken Tempel und errichtete an seiner Stelle eine Moschee (einen Gebetsort fĂŒr Muslime/AnhĂ€nger der islamischen Religion). Dies fĂŒhrte zu mehreren GewaltausbrĂŒchen zwischen den beiden Religionen. Die Hindus wollten den Tempel wieder aufbauen. Schließlich im Jahr 1992 demontierte eine nationalistische Hindu-Menge, bestehend aus Zehntausenden, die Moschee. Danach lag der Fall beim Obersten Gerichtshof Indiens. Im Jahr 2019 entschied das Gericht, den Großteil des Landes fĂŒr den Tempelbau zu ĂŒberlassen.

Die Geschichte dreht sich um den Kampf der Hindus, einen Tempel fĂŒr Herrn Ram an dem Ort zu errichten, an dem er vor etwa 5000 Jahren geboren wurde. Gestern wurde nur die Statue von Herrn Rama in einem teilweise fertiggestellten Tempel aufgestellt, was nach einem langen Kampf von 500 Jahren, von 1528 bis 2024, erreicht wurde. Deshalb war die Nachricht weltweit in den Medien prĂ€sent.

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Thank you @AnubhaBangia for appreciating my efforts.

I would request to not call me SIR. I am just a fellow Local Guide, of Indian Local Guide community.

Thanks again.

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Ich hoffe, ich hÀtte meinen Standpunkt in meiner obigen Antwort klar zum Ausdruck gebracht. @Annaelisa

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Aprecio mucho tus amables palabras, querido amigo. @Maximilianozalazar

Tu reconocimiento hacia mi esfuerzo al redactar este post realmente da valor al trabajo arduo que implica.

Nuevamente, gracias por tus elogios.

Sólo quiero saber ¿qué fotografía te gustó mås?

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@NandKK danke fĂŒr die weiteren Informationen, es ist interessant Details zu erfahren.

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Nochmals vielen Dank, lieber Freund aus Deutschland @Annaelisa

Wenn Sie Fragen zur indischen Kultur haben, können Sie mich ohne zu zögern fragen, ich helfe Ihnen gerne weiter.

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@NandKK @TusharSuradkar also in dem Bericht in den Nachrichten wurde eine große Einweihungsfeier mit vielen GĂ€sten und unter anderen ihr Premierminister mit einer Rede gezeigt. Der Tempel sieht von den Bildern sehr schön und fertig aus. In den Bildern wurde weiter gezeigt wie ihr Premierminister durch den Tempel schreitet um die Weihe zu vollziehen.

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