A Gopuram or Gopura is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. They are a prominent feature of koils, Hindu temples built in the Dravidian style.[1] They are topped by the kalasham, a bulbous stone finial. They function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.[2]
The gopuram's origins can be traced back to early structures built under the south Indian kings of the vijaynagara, Pallava and Chola dynasties. By the twelfth century, during the Pandya dynasty, these gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance, eventually overshadowing the inner sanctuary which became obscured from view by the gopuram's colossal size.[3] It also dominated the inner sanctum in amount of ornamentation. Often a shrine has more than one gopuram.[4]
A koil may have multiple gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine.
Gopurams are widespread in south Indian temples, predominantly in Tamil Nadu.[5] Very tall gopurams are a later feature, added from the Middle Ages onwards, typically to much older temples.
| Rank | Temple | Image | Height ft | Construction Year | Notes | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranganathaswamy Temple, Raja Gopuram | 239.501[6] | Started at 1700 AD and completed at 1987 AD[7] | Ranganathaswamy Temple is the largest temple complex in India, covering an area of .[8] It is home to twelve gopurams, the largest being the Raja Gopuram. | Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 2 | Murdeshwara Temple | 237[9] | 2008 AD | Murdeshwara Temple is known for its colossal, 40m high statue of Shiva. Its gopuram is the second tallest in India. It is also the only one where one can take a lift to top floor of the gopuram.[10] | Murdeshwar, Karnataka, India | ||
| 3 | Annamalaiyar Temple East Gopuram (Raja Gopuram) | 216.5[11] | 9th century AD; gopuram 16th century | Annamalaiyar Temple covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest temples in India. It is surrounded by four large unpainted gopurams, one facing each cardinal direction. The eastern gopuram rises to 66m, and is called the Raja Gopuram.[12] | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 4 | Srivilliputhur Andal Temple | 193.5[13] | 10th–16th centuries AD | Srivilliputhur Andal Temple's gopuram measures eleven storeys high and 59m tall, making it the tallest of its era. During the Madurai Nayak dynasty, lesser figures sponsored religious projects, including the large scale campus.[14] The temple is the emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu. | Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 5 | Ulagalantha Perumal Temple | 194[15] | 9th century AD [16] | Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is dedicated to Trivikrama, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu.It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ulagalantha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Poongothai.[17] Its gopuram is in height.[18] | Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 6 | Ekambareswarar Temple | 190[19] | AD | Ekambareswarar Temple is the largest temple in Kanchipuram, a highly visible symbol of Pallava dynasty. The entire complex covers an area of 10 hectares and has five courtyards.[20] | Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 7 | Kallazhagar Temple | 187 | AD | Kallazhagar Temple is located in Azhagar Koyil, and is dedicated to Vishnu. In the outer gateway of the temple, there is a massive door that is rarely opened. The inner shrine is dedicated to Karupannaswamy, no image him is present. | Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 8 | Kasi Viswanathar temple, Tenkasi | 180 | 15th century AD | Built by the Pandya kings, the massive gopuram of the temple is the second largest in Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Ulagamman Temple. This temple boasts beautiful sculptures and also has musical stone pillars that produce different sounds when tapped with fingers. The name of the town (Tenkasi) is derived from this temple, meaning "Kasi of the south". The Chittar River nearby is considered sacred, similar to the Ganges. | Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 9 | Sarangapani Temple | 173 | 12th century AD | Sarangapani Temple is the largest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam. The inner shrine is made in the form of a stone chariot, a common feature for temples built under the Chola kings.[21] [22] | Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 10 | Annamalaiyar Temple Northern Gopuram (Ammani Amman Gopuram) | 171 | 9th century AD | Annamalaiyar Temple covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest temples in India. It is surrounded by four large unpainted gopurams, one facing each cardinal direction. The northern gopuram is called the Ammani Amman Gopuram. | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 11 | Meenakshi Amman Temple | 170 | 870 AD | Meenakshi Amman Temple houses 14 gopurams, ranging from 45m to 50m in height, the tallest being the southern tower at 51.9m (170.3feet) high.[23] The temple has some very old sections but the largest part dates back to 17th century. The four gopuram are decorated with many figures from the Hindu pantheon and can be seen from great distances.[24] | Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 12 | Virupaksha Temple, main entrance gopuram | 166 | 15th century AD | Virupaksha Temple was built during the time of Vijayanagara Empire. It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. | Hampi, Karnataka, India | ||
| 13 | Annamalaiyar Temple Southern Gopuram (Tirumanjana Gopuram) | 157 | 9th century AD | Annamalaiyar Temple covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest temples in India. It is surrounded by four large unpainted gopurams, one facing each cardinal direction. The southern gopuram is called the Tirumanjana Gopuram. | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 14 | Rajagopalaswamy Temple | 154 | 1523–1575 AD | Rajagopalaswamy Temple was started by Chola kings. Later, king Vijaya Raghava Nayak of the Vijayanagara Empire added the thousand pillar hall, the outer compound, and the large gopuram. Details of these constructions are recorded on inscriptions inside the temple.[25] | Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 15 | Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Mangalagiri | 153 | 1809 AD | Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. Its gopuram is eleven storeys tall. Mangalagiri means "The Auspicious Hill". This temple is built on one of the eight important Mahakshetrams (sacred sites) in India | Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, India | ||
| 16 | Ranganathaswamy Temple, Vellayi Gopuram | 145 | 13th Century AD | Ranganathaswamy Temple one of the largest temple complexes in India, covering an area of . It is home to twelve gopurams, the second largest being the Vellayi Gopuram.[26] | Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 17 | Sundaravarada Perumal temple | 144[27] | (720–796 CE) [28] | Sundaravarada Perumal Temple in Uthiramerur, a village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple. The temple is glorified by various acharyas and is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethram dedicated to Maha Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped as Sundaravarada Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Anandavalli. [29] | Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 18 | Annamalaiyar Temple Northern Gopuram (Pei Gopuram) | 144 | 9th century AD | Annamalaiyar Temple covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest temples in India. It is surrounded by four large unpainted gopurams, one facing each cardinal direction. The northern gopuram is called the Pei Gopuram. | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 19 | Varadharaja Perumal Temple,Kanchipuram | 130 | 15th century AD | Also known as Perumal koil, dedicated to VishnuThe 7 storied, 130 feet tall temple Gopuram and its extensive exterior was built by Vijayanagara kings and is one of the 108 Divya Desams. | Kanchipuram, Varadharaja Perumal Temple, India. | ||
| 20 | Sankara Narayanasamy Temple, Sankarankovil, Sankaranayinarkoil | 127 | 11th century AD | Sankara Narayanan Temple is located in the town of Sankaranayinarkoil, and is dedicated to both Vishnu and Shiva . |
Vimanas are structures over the sanctum of temples. In Northern India they are called sikharas.[5] In the Nagara style of architecture, the vimana is the sanctum (garbhagriha) of the temple housing the main deities and they are the tallest part of the entire temple. In many cases within South India, the vimanams are confused with gopurams. In Tamil Nadu, vimanams are present above the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum of a Hindu temple and will be relatively smaller in size compared to the gopurams, which are usually present at the entrance of the temple. The fact of these vimana is that, usually these are always made by the shining material and also in practical life we believe that the good thing always rises up, so as per the sanatan dharma also, the positivity of God rises up to the shining vimana when sunlight falls on shining vimana it reflects all the postivity/blessing from the particular temple to the people.
| Rank | Temple | Image | Height ft | Year | Notes | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaturbhuj Temple | 344 | 16th century AD | Built by the Bundela Rajputs of the Orchha State in Central India, the temple blends styles of both ancient Nagara architecture and new Mughal influences. The temple is dedicated to Rama and is the tallest temple structure in India. | Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India | ||
| 2 | New Vishwanath Temple | 250[30] | 1966 | The Birla family undertook the construction and foundation was laid in March 1931. The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966. | Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | ||
| 3 | Jagannath Temple, Puri | 217[31] | 1174 AD | The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath (Vishnu) and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. The name Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath (Lord of).[32] | accessdate=2006-09-12The temple was built in the 11th century atop its ruins by the progenitor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. Since medieval times, it is also associated with intense religious fervour.[33] | Puri, Odisha, India | |
| 4 | Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple | 216[34] [35] | 1010 AD | The Peruvudaiyar Koyil, also known as Rajarajeswaram,[36] at Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple[37] and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas kingdom Vishwakarmas in dravidian temple architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron RajaRaja Chola I. It remains as one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture.[38] The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples". | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 5 | Lingaraj Temple | 183.7[39] | 11th century AD | Lingaraja Temple is a temple of the Hindu god Harihara and is one of the oldest temples of the Temple City Bhubaneswar, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa. The temple of Lingaraja, the biggest of all at Bhubaneswar is located within a spacious compound wall of laterite measuring 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping. Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside aggression.[40] | Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India | ||
| 6 | Brihadisvara temple, Gangankonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu | 182[41] | 1035 AD | The Vimana with its recessed corners and upward movement presents a striking contrast to the straight-sided pyramidal tower of Thanjavur but with octagon shape of Dravidian architecture. As it rises to a height of 182feet and is shorter than the Thanjavur tower with larger plinth, it is often described as the feminine counterpart of the Thanjavur temple. The Vimana is flanked on either side by small temples; the one in the north now housing the Goddess is fairly well preserved. The small shrine of Chandikesvara is near the steps in the north. In the north-east are a shire housing Durga, a well called lion-well (simhakeni) with a lion figure guarding its steps and a late mandapa housing the office. Nandi is in the east facing the main shrine. In the same direction is the ruined gopura, the entrance tower. The main tower surrounded by little shrines truly presents the appearance of a great Chakravarti (emperor) surrounded by chieftains and vassals. The Gangaikondacholapuram Vimana is undoubtedly a devalaya chakravarti, an emperor among temples of South India.[42] | Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| 7 | Somnath Temple | 155 | 1951 | Somnath temple, also called Somanātha temple or Deo Patan, is a Hindu temple located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval in Gujarat, India. The present Somnath temple was reconstructed in the Māru-Gurjara style of Hindu temple architecture in 1951. | Veraval, Gujarat, India | ||
| 8 | Konark Sun Temple | 130[43] 230 before ruin[44] | 13th century AD | Konark Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), was built in black granite by King Narasimhadeva I (1236 C.E-1264 C.E.) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 13th century, the temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with 24 wheels (3.3 m dia diameter each) drawn by seven horses and, carrying the Sun god, Surya, across the heavens. It is a stunning monument of religious (Brahmanical) Kalinga architecture. The large structure seen today is actually the mantapa (mandap). Of the main tower, which once stood in the front, only the remains can be seen. This tower (deul) was perhaps 230abbr=offNaNabbr=off tall, higher than any other temple in India at that time. | Konark, Odisha, India |
| Planned height metres (feet) | Name | Completion | City | Country | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m (721 ft)[45] [46] | Perth Ram Temple | It will be the tallest Ram Temple in the world once completed. At its potential cost of ₹600 crore (US$75 million) it is likely to be one of the most expensive temples in the world. | ||||
| m (700 ft)[47] | est. 2024 | It will be the 2nd tallest religious monument in the world once completed. At its potential cost of ₹300 crore (US$42 million) it is likely to be one of the most expensive temples in the world. | ||||
| m (405 ft)[48] | est. 2022 | When completed, it will be the largest religious monument in the world. The Virat Ramayan Mandir will be almost double the height of the world-famous 12th century Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia. | ||||
| m (161 ft)[49] | est. 2022 | A Hindu temple that is being built at the pilgrimage site of Ram Janmabhoomi. | ||||
| m (380 ft) | 2022 | After completion, the temple will be the 3rd biggest in the world, second to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.[50] |