These Structures were carved from the top/down out of a mountain side

[Ichingcarpenter]

Notice the bridge between the two structures? This was carved from a single piece of stone. Imagine the amount of rock that had to be removed




The pillar made from the top down...notice the tiny humans as a reference to size in the photo.

?itok=XAH9yqmY

Top down....let that sink in the amount of planning and design needed to do this.



a expanded view of the same area



Top Down and then elephants.. Single Piece of Stone.

http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_11.htm

More pictures and more...






The Kailasa temple (also written Kailāsa, Kailash and Kailasanatha temple) is a famous rock cut monument, one of the 34 monasteries and temples known collectively as the Ellora Caves, extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India. Of these, the Kailasa (cave 16) is a remarkable example of Dravidian architecture on account of its striking proportion, elaborate workmanship, architectural content, and sculptural ornamentation of rock-cut architecture


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailasa_temple,_Ellora

[oldandhappy]

1. Beautiful!

and amazing. WOW

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. There are other mysteries about this place

There are square and round tunnels that bore through and beneath the structure to channel water and air but are too small and long for human to have dug. by hand. There is also a suspected lower undiscovered chamber


The structure is carved from basalt

Moh's scale of hardness, Basalt hardness is an 8
http://www.saudicarbonate.com/files%20tables/moh.htm

[jwirr]

6. too small for humans - children also?

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Yes..... about 1 foot by 1 foot or less

and its made from basalt.

[jwirr]

8. Maybe water pressure then. This is truly a work of art.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Here are about 4 different articles at this site

about the place

http://www.ancient-origins.net/ellora


There are some youtube links you can find but just take them with a grain of salt on the commentary however they do point out some interesting points that photos don't give justice.

[jwirr]

13. Thank you.

[oldandhappy]

19. Thanks for the info and for all the following posts.

lots of info for follow up

Never have wanted to go to India but this makes me think about that!

[nashville_brook]

3. this temple is the ONE i remember from Asian Art History

i spent so much time on this b/c it blew my mind. thanks for sharing.

i mean -- i remember lots from that class, but this particular temple is one that i just can't get out of my mind. there's lots of other temples around the world -- Africa and Afghanistan and particular -- that used the same building technique.

[packman]

4. Not impressed

just goes to show how a culture can waste its time when they don't have video games, TV, or the Kardashians to fill up their hours.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. heee!

[littlemissmartypants]

17. Or

Bengazi.

[rhett o rick]

5. Wow

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. This is a classic example of "remove everything that doesn't look like...".

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. I want this part to it look like the "Mines of Moria"

?itok=s_FVkNbN

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. These days we are more likely to see it built with legos.

[aggiesal]

15. Lasers from outerspace! n/t

[catbyte]

16. WOW. I love the carved elephants in the last photo. Thanks!

[littlemissmartypants]

18. Kicking. Thank you. nt

[Recursion]

20. I should be going there this winter

Kanheri in Mumbai is a smaller version of that.

[greiner3]

21. This calls to mind the Bill Cosby routine 'Oops!'.

[alfredo]

22. Ethiopians did the same thing, but on a smaller scale.

Lalibela Ethiopia







In Armenia:

[Judi Lynn]

24. Amazing, had never known about this. Thank you. n/t

[alfredo]

25. It's a magical land.

BTW, do a search for Axum.

[Judi Lynn]

27. So glad to learn where Axum is/was, to to learn its name. Want to find out more, now. Thank you. n/t

[alfredo]

28. I really enjoyed my visits to Axum.

Matara Eritrea was beautiful too.

[Judi Lynn]

23. So glad you shared this. Overwhelmingly wonderful. n/t

[Odin2005]

26. South Asian architecture is amazing.