Some of the churches thus have their entrance ornamented with porticoes, and the immense monasteries (which are sometimes three stories high) with lateral entrances and facades.  The mountain has also been excavated in other places, so as to form a relatively narrow entrance, which gives access to the internal court of one of these monasteries.  It thus becomes nearly invisible to whoever passes along the road formed on the sloping side of the mountain.  The greatest curiosity among the monuments of Ellora is the group of temples known by the name of Kylas (Fig. 2).  The monks have excavated the rocky slope on three faces so as to isolate completely, in the center, an immense block, out of which they have carved an admirable temple (see T in the plan, Fig. 2), with its annexed chapels.  These temples are thus roofless and are sculptured externally in the form of pagodas.  Literally covered with sculptures composed with infinite art, they form a very unique collection.  These temples seem to rest upon a fantastic base in which are carved in alto rilievo all the gods of Hindoo mythology, along with symbolic monsters and rows of elephants.  These are so many caryatides of strange and mysterious aspect, certainly designed to strike the imagination of the ancient Indian population (Fig. 3).

[Illustration:  FIG. 3.—­SUBTERRANEAN TEMPLE AT ELLORA.]

Two flights of steps at S and S (Fig. 2) near the main entrance of Kylas lead to the top of this unique base and to the floor of the temples.

The interior of the central pagoda, ornamented with sixteen magnificent columns, formerly covered, like the walls, with paintings, and the central sanctuary that contains the great idol, are composed with a perfect understanding of architectural proportions.

Exit from this temple is effected through two doors at the sides.  These open upon a platform where there are five pagodas of smaller size that equal the central temple in the beauty of their sculptures and the elegance of their proportions.

Around these temples great excavations have been made in the sides of the mountain.  At A (Fig. 2), on a level with the ground, is seen a great cloister ornamented with a series of bass reliefs representing the principal gods of the Hindoo paradise.  The side walls contain large, two-storied halls ornamented with superb sculptures of various divinities.  Columns of squat proportions support the ceilings.  A small stairway, X (Fig. 2), leads to one of these halls.  Communication was formerly had with its counterpart by a stone bridge which is now broken.  There still exist two (P) which lead from the floor of the central temple to the first story of the detached pavilion or mantapa, D, and to that of the entrance pavilion or gopura, C. At G we still see two sorts of obelisks ornamented with arabesques and designed for holding the fires during religious fetes.  At E are seen two colossal elephants carved out of the rock.  These structures, made upon a general plan of remarkable character, are truly without an equal in the entire world.