India Travel

Temples in South India- Fascinating Structures Showcasing the Architectural Brilliance of Ancient Times

The temples in South India display a distinct architectural style unique to the region. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are dotted with temples constructed during the reign of the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Vijayanagar rulers and the Pandyas. Each structure reflects the artistic brilliance achieved during the rule of these dynasties.

Most of the temples are build according to the Dravida style of architecture. The Prakara or compound wall encircles the temple complexes. Built on a square base, the temples of South India have towering pyramid shaped structure on top. This feature, known as Vimana, is divided into successive levels. A horizontal casting separates the two levels of the Gopuram.

The complex at Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram houses the beautiful Shore Temples or Seven Pagodas. Known for their architectural excellence, the monumental structures and the exquisite rock carvings are located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

The mathematical precision and engineering skills evident in the structure of the Brahadeeswara Temple at Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, amazes all. Built during the Chola period, the temple is famous for its massive cupola weighing almost 81 tonnes.

Constructed during the phase of 12 th to 18 th century, the Meenakshi Temple of Tamil Nadu comprises two chief shrines, various Mandapas and Gopurams. The splendid architecture of the wonderful temple makes it a major tourist attraction of the region.

Tirupati Temple of Andhra Pradesh is famous as the richest temple in the world. The cupola of the main shrine is gold plated and the interiors of the temple also display the wealth of this temple. Tirupati, the deity worshiped in the temple is known to possess the characteristics of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

The Badami Cave Temple in Karnataka is famous for the sandstone caves cut out from the hills. The numerous caves house temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu as well as Jain caves. The natural surroundings enhance the aesthetic appeal of these cave temples at Badami built during the rule of the Chalukyas.

Comprising the famous Hoyasaleswara Temple, the complex at Halabid and Belur in Karnataka showcase the architectural achievement of the artists of the Hoysala Empire of South India. Other temples of South India include the following:

· Guruvayoor Temple

· Kanchipuram Temple

· Sabarimala Temple

· Murugan Temple

· Rameshwaram

· Somnathpur Temple

· Thousand Pillar Temple

· Kanyakumari

Displaying the unique architectural style of the particular region, the temples of South India are not only important as religious shrines, they also showcase the peak of South Indian art and architecture as well as their culture.

About the Author

Gaurav Chhabra is an enthusiastic travel expert who has traveled almost whole of the world and has shared his experiences in various books, articles and columns written by him. Read more about his experiences of Port Blair Hotels, Pondicherry Hotels and Kerala Hotels

Antiquated Fish Box – South Indian Temple Wood Carving $225.00 Dimensions: 20.0″ X 5.0″ X 2.0″ Buy Wooden Sculptures & Carvings | India Sculptures | ExoticIndiaSouth Indian Temple Wood Carving…

Chaturbhuja Bhagavan Narayana – South Indian Temple Wood Carving $395.00 Dimensions: 23.5″ X 15.0″ X 4.0″ Buy Wooden Sculptures & Carvings | India Sculptures | ExoticIndiaSouth Indian Temple Wood Carving…

Hotel New Temples Town, Varanasi,,India $38.88 Hotel property Hotel New Temples Town, 53, Patel Nagar, Cantonment in Varanasi, India

Karina Hotels – South City 1, Gurgaon,,India $64.31 Hotel property Karina Hotels – South City 1, K – 158, South City 1 in Gurgaon, India

Hummingbird-L & T South City, Kaglipur,,India $51.24 Hotel property Hummingbird-L & T South City, L&T South City,No.1905, Block C2,L&T South City, Arekere Micco L in Kaglipur, India

Fortune South Park Hotel, Trivandrum,,India $53.38 Hotel property Fortune South Park Hotel, M G Raod, Trivandrum 695034 in Trivandrum, India

5000 Designs and Motifs from India $16.95 Incredibly rich treasury of authentic royalty-free designs adapted from artifacts of the Harappa culture, coins and pottery from South India, Ajanta and Bagh murals, Muslim monuments, Buddhist temples, textiles from Gujarat, Punjab, other regions, masks and tribal arts, much more. Immediately usable material or great resource for design inspiration. Introduction. Notes.

Hanuman’s Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey $31.66 Hanuman, the devoted monkey helper of Rama and Sita, has long been recognized as a popular character in India’s ancient Ramayana epic. But more recently he has also become one of the most beloved and worshiped gods in the Hindu pantheon – enshrined in majestic new temples, but equally presentin poster art, advertising, and mass media. Drawing on Sanskrit and vernacular texts, classical iconography and modern TV serials, and extensive fieldwork and interviews, Philip Lutgendorf challenges the academic cliche of Hanuman as a minor or folk deity by exploring his complex and growingrole in South Asian religion and culture. This wide-ranging study examines the historical evolution of Hanuman’s worship, his close association with Shiva and goddesses, his invocation in tantric ritual, his physical immortality and enduring presence in sacred sites, and his appeal to devotees whoinclude scholars, wrestlers, healers, politicians, and middle-class urbanites. Lutgendorf also offers a rich array of entertaining stories not previously available in English: an expanding epic cycle that he christens the Hanumayana. Arguing that Hanuman’s role as cosmic middle man is intimately linked to his embodiment in a charming and provocative simian form, Lutgendorf moves beyond the Indian subcontinent to interrogate the wider human fascination with anthropoid primates as boundary beings and as potent signifiers of both Self and Other.

Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India $97.04 In a cultural history which considers the transformation of south Indian institutions under British colonial rule in the nineteenth century, Pamela Price focuses on the two former ‘little kingdoms’ of Ramnad and Sivagangai which came under colonial governance as revenue estates. She demonstrates how rivalries among the royal families and major zamindari temples, and the disintegration of indigenous institutions of rule, contributed to the development of nationalist ideologies and new political identities among the people of southern Tamil country. The author also shows how religious symbols and practices going back to the seventeenth century were reformulated and acquired a new significance in the colonial context. Arguing for a reappraisal of the relationship of Hinduism to politics, Price finds that these symbols and practices continue to inform popular expectation of political leadership today.