Imperial Elephants at Kailash Temple, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra, India
The Kailash temple sits on a high plinth that is adorned with figures of elephants. It seems that the elephants are carrying the weight of the vimana of Kailash temple.
Elephants at Kailash temple, Ellora re-emphasize the imperial connection to the monument as built during the reign of Rashtrakuta dynasty. Interestingly, most of the Rashtrakuta monuments have monumental elephants carved as seen at the Jain caves at Ellora and at Pattadakkal. How to reach Ellora Caves?
Note: This illustration was sourced from Popular Science Monthly Volume 41 Published in 1892. Drawing by M Albert Tissandier titled The Temples of Kylas, Ellora, India.