Kailish Temple Cave, Ellora Hills in Hyderabad region, one of group carved into Ellora hillside

Date: 1944 Reference: INF 14/439 Creator: Central Office of Information Catalogue context: INDIA BY CECIL BEATON: Photographs taken by Cecil Beaton whilst in India. Hyderabad region. Views of the Kailash and Ellora temple caves, and the Ajanta caves. 'Ellora Hill, containing the famous cave temples, is about 19 miles North-West of Aurangbad, in Hyderabad state. The hill-face is crescent-shaped, and the caves, excavated from South to North, are Buddhist, Hindu and Jain respectively. The 12 Buddish temple caves are the oldest dating probably from the 3rd to the 6th century AD.' 'Kailash Temple Cave, one of the group carved into the Ellora hillside, is a masterpiece of Indian architecture and sculpture, and is the'gem of the collection' of caves. Its dates from AD 500 to 700. To construct it about 3,000.000. Cubic feet of rock had to be quarried or chiselled. Its courtyard alone averages from 154 ft wide by 276 ft. long with a searp 107 ft. high at its back. The Temple itself, inside and out, roofs, ceilings, walls and pillars, are extravagantly and lavishly sculpted.' 'The 29 Buddhist caves in th... Categories: Overseas; Places Subjects: Photography and film; Art, architecture and design; Indian Subcontinent; Official publications; Religions Topics: Arts and culture; International trade and affairs; Land and buildings; Religion Period: Second World War Copyright information: Copyright clearance for publication is not required, except in the case of documents in third-party copyright. Usage terms: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/use-of-tna-materials.pdf