The Kailasnath temple is unrivalled centrepiece of Ellora. This has been constructed for the recollection of Lord Shiva. It has been carved out of one single piece of rock. The two-floor gate opens to a u-shaped courtyard. On the edge of the courtyard, there are galleries which are three floors high. These galleries have huge carved boards and niches consisting of giant sculptures of various idols. In the previous times, the galleries were connected to the centre temple through bridges, which are no more there. The courtyard has three structures in it. They are the sacred bull Nandi, Mantapa and Mandapa. The bases of these have been such carved that they depict an actual sized elephant holding the whole structure over it. In a whole, the temple is a pyramidal arrangement and is connected to the Shiva temple with a rock bridge. The shrine is complete with the pillars, windows, inside, outside, meeting halls, the huge Lingam at the centre, fortes, pillars, windows as well as the mithunas.