Kailashnath Temple also known as Kailash Temple is a famous temple that was excavated in a basalt rock in the compound situated at Ellora, Maharashtra, India. It is said that the Kailash Temple was constructed in the mid of 8th century under the guidance of King Krishna I (757-775 CE) of the Rashtrakuta era for his Nepalese queen as she was missing the presence of Kailash Mountain after moving to the Deccan. The queen was a huge follower of lord Shiva.. This temple is the world's major monumental structure engraved from a part of rock and the most widespread rock-carved projects ever commenced.

Kailash Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the idol present in the temple is measures one hundred sixty four feet long and one hundred nine feet wide. This temple is located near the hamlet of Ellora and from Aurangabad its distance is just 30 Kms. In the history of architecture, this temple is believed as one of the most magnificent buildings. This is one of the main 34 excavations at Ellora that took almost a century to get ready.

Kailashnath is the most renowned and mammoth of the caves temples at the Ellora compound.  Kailash is the ideal example for huge effort with elegance, artefacts and excellent craftsmanship. Its carvings signify the traditions Brahmanical Hindu that depicts the stories of Shiva, Parvati, Ramayana, Mahabharata and many other divinities of Hindu mythology.

Architecture of Kailashnath Temple

However, all the caves at Ellora are architectural wonders, but the Kailash Temple is the epitome and the zenith of their artistic art. The multi-level temple with its pyramidal structure looks like Mount Kailash, the home of Lord Shiva. It is the biggest monumental construction in the world which was dug out in the top to down manner from an only rock. Its cantilevered rock ceiling is also the largest in the world.

It is expanding in the area which is double that of the Pantheon in Athens, Greece. Its height is 98 feet, width is 109 feet and height is 164 feet from the foyer to the backside of this cave. It is assumed that 2,00,000 lakhs tonnes of rock required to be separated out which needed seven thousand labourers and almost took 150 years to dig the whole structure. Earlier, the temple was covered with white plaster which made it look similar to snow-covered Mount Kailash.

Special Features of Kailashnath Temple

• Kailashnath temple is more than a shrine of monument than of architecture as it was made by carving of rocks rather than making up the temple by an architectural.
• It is the biggest rock cut temple.
• There is a pyramidal tower which is about thirty metres high and looks like mount Kailash.
• There are five temple dedicated to Parvati, Ganesha, Rudra, Saptamatri and Chand which are located in the base of the tower.
• It stands on a high plinth which is 7.5 metres in height and carved with sculptures of lions and elephants.
• Outside the entrance of the Shiva lingam there are many marvellous painting and sculptured which remind the worshiper about the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The entrance of the temple is double storied and the shrines of Nandi have two portions each having a Trishul, which is the sign of Shiva.