About
The Kailasa Temple stands in Maharashtra, in western India, and is one of the most striking sights in the country. It is a monolithic temple, carved entirely out of a single rock rather than built up from separate blocks. Its form is meant to represent Mount Kailash, the mountain regarded as the abode of Lord Shiva, so a visit is as much about seeing a sculpted landscape as about seeing a building.
What to expect
The temple is a work of remarkable scale. Its construction is described as having required the removal of around 200,000 tons of stone, which gives some sense of the labour involved in shaping the structure from the rock around it. The carving is intricate throughout, and the sheer amount of detail rewards slow looking. Visitors who enjoy architecture, sculpture or the history of religious art will find plenty to examine.
The temple is usually approached as a day visit. Allow time to walk around the complex and look at it from more than one vantage point, since the carved surfaces change with the light.
Planning your visit
- Setting: The temple lies in Maharashtra, so it fits well into a wider trip through the state.
- Who it suits: Those interested in ancient carving, Hindu temple traditions and engineering in stone.
- Pace: Plan a relaxed visit, with time to walk the site and take in its details.
