gopuram
Sign in to saveA gopuram or gopura is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the Dravidian architecture of South India, and Sri Lanka. In temples in other parts of India, they might be present but are more modest, while they are often the highest parts of the temple in the south. They also appear in architecture outside India such as the Khmer architecture in South East Asia.
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A gopuram or gopura is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the Dravidian architecture of South India, and Sri Lanka. In temples in other parts of India, they might be present but are more modest, while they are often the highest parts of the temple in the south. They also appear in architecture outside India such as the Khmer architecture in South East Asia.
The gopurams often function as gateways to the temple complex. They might be multi-storeyed and the higher levels typically repeat the lower level features on a rhythmic diminishing scale. They may consist of various sculptures and ornamentation. They are topped by one or more kalasams, which are a type of bulbous metal or stone finials. The gopurams are designed and constructed as per rules given in the texts of Vaastu Shastra.