Vijayanagara:Art and Architecture p1: Gopuram: A Portal To The Divine

Starting with this episode this week, we will embark upon yet another journey into Vijayanagara. This time we will go on a tour of the state of Literature, Art & Architecture in the empire and the legacy it left behind.

All episodes on these aspects will be part of it's own Series similar to how we did the Foundation Series. And the episodes will be released in intervals instead of releasing them in a straight sequence, to allow us to switch gears and look into other aspects of the Empire too.

In this episode we will look at the importance, development and evolution of Gopura or Gopuram in South Indian temples especially the era preceding and during Vijayanagara period.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Follow these image hyperlinks to better follow the episode as i describe the temples and their gopuras.

1. Typical Gopura
2. Virupaksha Temple Complex
3. Meenakshi Amman Temple
4. Mahabalipuram Shore Temple Gopura
5. Kailasanatha Temple Gopura
6. Indra Sabha Gopura - Ellora Cave32
7. Brihadeshwara Temple
8. Gangai-Konda-Cholapuram Temple
9. Ranganatha Swamy Temple Complex
10. Nataraja Temple Gopura - Chidambaram
11. Hazara Rama Temple East Side Gopura - Hampi
12. Hazara Rama Temple Pictures
13. East Gopura - North End of Hemakuta Hill - Hampi
14. Krishna Temple Damaged Gopura - Hampi
15. Achyuta Raya Temple - Damaged Inner Gopura
16. Pattabhirama Temple Damaged Gopura - Hampi
17. Malyavantha Raghunatha Swamy Temple - Hampi
18. Bugga Ramalingeshvara Temple - Tadipatri-Andhra
19. Kodhandarama Swamy Temple Gopura - Vontimitta-Andhra
20. Sri Kalahasthi Temple Gopura - Andhra
21. Madhavaraya Swamy Temple Gopura - Gandikota-Andhra
22. Ahobilam Narasimha Swamy Temple - Andhra
23. Govindaraja Swamy Temple gopura - Tirupati-Andhra