FUN-travel: Elaborate Ellora Caves
November 24, 2016 by Susan Clarke
- One of the largest rock-cut…
…monastery-temple caves complexes…
…in the world…
…dating from 600-1000 AD…
…and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 34 caves…
…extending over more than 2 km…
…dug side by side…
…in the wall of a high basalt cliff…
…existing of Buddhist…
…Hindu…
…and Jain…
…religious monuments…
…served as monasteries for monks…
…temples for prayers…
…and a place for pilgrims to rest.
- These monuments…
…and their artwork…
…reflect religious harmony…
…prevalent during this period of Indian history.
- Cave 16… the Kailash temple…
…features the largest single
…monolithic rock excavation…
…in the world…
… a chariot shaped monument…
…dedicated to Shiva…
…carved out of one single rock.
- Courtyard features…
…two life size statues of elephants…
…and two tall victory pillars.
- Inside columned galleries…
…decorated with huge sculpted panels…
…adorn the side walls…
…and traces of colorful paintings…
…can be seen on the upper story patio.
FUN-fact – The Kailash Temple is a stupendous piece of architecture. The construction was a feat of human genius – it entailed removal of 250,000 tons of rock, took 100 years to complete and covers an area double the size of the Parthenon in Athens.
Today’s Rulers of the Road