The rock cut Kailasha Temple

The Kailasha Temple is a rock-cut temple in Ellora, India. It is believed to be the world's largest monolithic structure. The temple was built between 756 and 773 AD by the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I. The temple was constructed using basic tools like hammers and chisels and took 18 years to complete.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva and is covered with carvings of different deities. The temple complex has five shrines, three of which are dedicated to the river goddesses Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. The temple's intricate sculptures and carvings tell stories from mythology.

The temple's construction is still a mystery. There are no written records or inscriptions of the temple's construction. Archaeologists estimated that it could have taken more than a century to complete the temple. However, it only took 18 years to finish. The temple's architects may have had a plan and a functioning model.

The temple's similarities to the Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal suggest that the same artisans may have carved both structures.