Kailasa Temple derives its name from Mount Kailasa, the Himalayan abode of the Hindu god Shiva. It is generally believed that this temple was constructed in the 8th century AD, during the reign of Krishna I, a ruler of the Rashtrakuta Empire. As the Kailasa Temple is supposed to represent the sacred mountain of Shiva, this temple was dedicated to this particular Hindu god.
A total of 200,000 (other estimations range from 150,000 to 400,000) tons of rock were excavated out of a vertical basalt cliff in the Charanandri Hills to form the magnificent temple.
The Kailasa Temple has been dubbed 'Cave 16' of the Ellora Caves and is notable for being the largest monolithic structure in the world that was carved out of a single piece of rock. Apart from the temple's impressive size, it is also remarkable for its sculptures and the fine workmanship of its other architectural elements.