Kailasa Temple

The Rashtrakuta dynasty (circa 8th–10th centuries CE) is renowned for pioneering advanced stonemasonry techniques, most famously at Ellora’s Kailasa temple in Maharashtra, India, where artisans carved the entire structure top-down from a single basalt cliff.

This method required meticulous planning to avoid structural failure, using iron chisels, hammers, and primitive wedges to remove thousands of tons of rock with remarkable precision.

They incorporated elaborate friezes, free-standing pillars, multi-tiered mandapas, and detailed sculptures depicting deities and epic scenes, showcasing their mastery of load distribution, aesthetic proportion, and integration of architecture with sculptural art.