✦ The Ancient Atlas

Ellora Caves

Rock-CutAsiaIndiac. 600 CEIndian rock-cut / Hindu-Buddhist-Jain

34 caves spanning Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions. The Kailasa temple (Cave 16) is the largest monolithic rock excavation in the world, carved top-down from a single basalt cliff.

20.0258°, 75.1792°

Look Closer — this site carries open questions: stone harder than steel; stones heavier than the period's tools could lift; stones fitted without mortar, almost no gap. See hardness across the Atlas →
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Walkthrough videos (12)

Carved From One Block Of Stone | Who Built Kailasa Temple, India?Carved From One Block Of Stone | Who Built Kailasa Temple, India? · Hugh Newman / MegalithomaniaThe Mystery of the Kailasa Temple of IndiaThe Mystery of the Kailasa Temple of India · Ancient ArchitectsWho Built The Hirebenakal Dolmens of India?Who Built The Hirebenakal Dolmens of India? · Hugh Newman / MegalithomaniaLaser Cut Dolmens of India... built by Dwarfs!Laser Cut Dolmens of India... built by Dwarfs! · Hugh Newman / MegalithomaniaEllora Caves 1 to 10 : Intriguing IndiaEllora Caves 1 to 10 : Intriguing India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 11 to 15 : Insane IndiaEllora Caves 11 to 15 : Insane India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 17 to 21 : Imposing IndiaEllora Caves 17 to 21 : Imposing India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 22 to 24 : Incredible IndiaEllora Caves 22 to 24 : Incredible India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 25 to 28 : Incomprehensible IndiaEllora Caves 25 to 28 : Incomprehensible India · Ageless RockEllora Cave 29 : Improbable IndiaEllora Cave 29 : Improbable India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 30 to 31 : Illustrious IndiaEllora Caves 30 to 31 : Illustrious India · Ageless RockEllora Caves 32 to 34 : Inconceivable IndiaEllora Caves 32 to 34 : Inconceivable India · Ageless Rock

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