Kailasanath Temple -- the pinnacle of engineering thought of the builders of Ancient India
The Kailasanath Temple, located in the Indian village of Ellora, is an outstanding monument of architecture and engineering art. This rock temple, dedicated to the god Shiva and embodying Mount Kailash — the mythical abode of Shiva in the Himalayas, was built over a period of 150 years (approximately from 740 AD), and in its construction up to 7 thousand people
Kailasanath is unique for several reasons, which makes it one of the greatest architectural achievements of humanity.
Firstly, it is the largest monolithic temple in the world, completely carved from a single rock. Unlike traditional constructions, it was not built from separate blocks, but "carved" from a single mass of basalt like a sculpture. Construction proceeded from top to bottom, and about 200 thousand tons of rock were removed in the process to "free" the finished structure from the rock, standing about 30 meters high.
Secondly, its scale is astonishing: the temple covers an area of 1,980 square meters (twice the size of the Parthenon) and extends 33 meters deep into the rock. It is separated from the rest of the complex by three deep fissures, emphasizing its monumentality.
Thirdly, the temple's architecture represents a unique synthesis of South Indian (Dravidian) and North Indian (Nagara) styles. Its walls are adorned with intricate carvings and numerous sculptures
Ratio of positive and negative votes: 6/0
