Temple towers are generally the large entrance gates of
Hindu temples in southern India. Also known as Gopurams, they are probably the most
striking attraction of any temple. The taller and more colourful the Gopuram,
the more spectacular it looks. Add to that the stunning sculptures and these Gopurams
are absolute head turners. Though it is mostly the main entrance gates that
take all the attention with its magnificent art works, some temples have
multiple entrance gates which have equally impressive works on them. The
gopurams which are often richly decorated in typical Dravidian architecture,
have a passage and have many storeys that taper as it goes higher. The
sculptures are mostly of Hindu gods, mythological characters and figurines. More
the works or higher the gopuram, indicated that the kingdom was a prosperous
one. Every dynasty and its king wanted to outdo the earlier one in this
perspective, which resulted in spectacular architectural creations over
centuries. Here is a list of my favourite temple towers from South India.
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangam
Sprawling over 156 acres, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is the
largest functional Hindu temple in the world. Located on the river island of
Srirangam, which is carved out of the rivers Cauvery and Kollidam, the temple
is one of the prominent Vishnu temples in India. Ranganatha temple was first
built in the 3rd century CE and was rebuilt over the next many
centuries until 17th century CE. There are 7 decorated
colourful gopurams to pass through to reach the sanctum sanctorum. The south
facing Raja gopuram which is the main entrance gate stands tall at 239 feet,
and is one of the tallest temple towers in Asia. Sri Ranganathar, a form of Vishnu in a reclining pose on
a coiled serpent, is the main shrine here. A narrow stairs near Ranga Vilasa
mandapam goes up to the roof and offers lovely aerial views of all the
gopurams. Please check Srirangam temple timings before
visiting the temple.
Ekambareshwarar temple, Kanchipuram
Sometimes referred as Ekambaranath temple, this was built in the 9th century
by Chola dynasty and is one of the most popular Shiva temples in
Kanchipuram. Spread over 40 acres, the temple’s main attraction is its
glorious 11 storeyed magnificent Rajagopuram (entrance gate) with impressive
carvings. The tower might lack the colours, which are synonymous with temples across Tamil Nadu, however, the 190 feet tower is still quite an amazing
creation.
Murudeshwar temple, Murudeshwar
The 123 feet tall Shiva statue at Murudeshwar temple is the second
tallest in the world, and the temple complex also houses a 20 storied gopuram.
The impressive Raja gopuram or main temple tower was opened in 2008, making it
the youngest in this list. Though it lacks the art works like others, at 237
feet it is quite an intimidating structure, nevertheless. The top floor of the
gopuram which can be accessed by a lift offers breathtakingly beautiful vistas
of Murudeshwar beach and the unending Arabian sea.
Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Dedicated to Shiva, Nartaraja temple was built during the Chola period
in the 11th century CE. The temple which has Shiva in a dancing
pose as its main deity, has extensive Chola sculptures and exquisite architecture
across. The temple has four gopurams which are seven storeyed, have a height of
140 feet, and are adorned with some of the finest works with colourful exteriors and
sculpted interiors. Intricate sculptures of gods and mythological figures
embellish the colourful gopurams.
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
Meenakshi Amman or Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple is one of the most
popular temples in South India. The 7th century temple built by
the Pandya dynasty is located in the heartland of Tamil Nadu. The four tall
colourful entrance gates with extensive carvings are a major attraction of this
temple. The tallest one stands 170 feet high. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi
and Sundareshwarar, which are forms of Parvati and Shiva, respectively.
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site was
at its prime in early 16th century during the Vijayanagara empire when it was
ruled by King Krishnadeva Raya. It was ransacked in mid 16th century, and Hampi
lay in a state of ruins and excavations until it got itself on the UNESCO list.
What remains are the reminiscences of a glorious empire. Located by the
Tungabhadra river, almost all the sites are spread across the sacred
centre (mostly temples) and royal enclosure (palaces). The two most
popular temples here are Virupaksha temple and Vittala temple. While Vittala
temple is known for its famous stone chariot, Virupaksha which is a functional
temple has a majestic entrance tower
(gopura) with intricate works and is dedicated to Shiva. The 166 feet tall
gopuram stands out amidst the boulders and is an elegant structure standing
tall with the ruins scattered all around.
Arunachaleshwar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
Arunachaleshwar temple is dedicated to Shiva, and has a beautiful
setting spread over 10 hectares, making it the second largest temple complex in
India. The temple was first built by the Chola dynasty and later rebuilt and
expanded during the rule of Vijayanagara empire. Though the gopurams are devoid
of colours, they have numerous carvings of various mythological characters. At
a height of 217 feet, the main entrance which faces east direction is the tallest
of the four gopurams that the temple has.
P.S.: This post is in collaboration with Srirangapankajam.
