Tallest Gopurams: India is not only the spiritual capital of the world but also home to some of the brilliant architecture in the world. Since ancient times, Indian rulers constructed breath-taking temples throughout the country thanks to their faith in Hinduism.
List of Top 10 Tallest Gopurams Of Temples in India
Temples here are mostly built with massive gopurams, sacred mandapas, and beautiful deity idols representing various Hindu god forms. Even the walls of the temples tell you the story of the Hindu mythology. Often called the land of temples, in this article, we are going to elaborate on details about the top 10 Tallest Gopurams in India.
Raja Gopuram of Shri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam Tamil Nadu
The Raja Gopuram of Shri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, is an
architectural marvel and a testament to ancient Indian craftsmanship. This gopuram
stands at a height of 239.5 feet, making it the tallest gopuram in Asia. The construction
of this temple was completed in 1987. This temple is a perfect example of the ancient
Indian heritage and architecture. Thanks to its significant history and cultural richness,
this temple attracts pilgrims and tourists from all around the world.
Raja Gopuram of Murudeshwara Temple, Murudeshwar, Karnataka
The Raja Gopuram of Murdeshwar Temple in Murudeshwar, Karnataka, stands 2nd in
this list with a height of 237 feet, making it one of the tallest temple gopurams in the
world. This gopuram is filled with detailed carvings of Indian mythology. Adding to the
cultural significance, this temple is located adjacent to the Arabian Sea making the
ambience even more vibrant.
Tourists who visit this temple are left with nothing awestruck due to its cultural and architectural brilliance. One fascinating thing about this temple is its construction was completed in just 2 years. It was built by businessman and philanthropist Rama Nagappa Shetty.
Raja Gopuram (East Gopuram) of Annamalaiyar Temple (Arunachaleswara Temple) Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
The Raja Gopuram, or East Gopuram, of the Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai (arunachalam) , Tamil Nadu, is another example of Indian cultural heritage. It’s gopuram standing at 216.5 feet tall, is one of the tallest temple gopurams in India. It was built by King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. This gopuram is filled
with sculptures and carvings of Hindu deities and stories of mythology.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is in the form of Arunachalesvara. According to the local legends, Lord Shiva merged with Parvati to form Ardhanarishwara which is the half-Man, half-woman form of Shiva here.
Ekambareswarar Temple Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram which is located in Tamil Nadu is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the most important and most sacred temples
to Hindus as it is one of the temples of the Pancha Bhoota Stalam. This temple was built
in the 7th century AD by a Pallava king named Rajasimha known as Narasimhavarman
II. This temple’s gopuram stands at a height of 196 ft making it one of the tallest
gopurams in the world. This temple is spread over a huge 40 acres of land.
This temple has 1000 pillared halls and five prakarams. Another interesting fact is that this temple has a sacred mango tree, which is believed to be over 3,500 years old and has four branches representing the four Vedas of Hinduism. This temple also consists of 1008 Shiva
lingams and the main Shiva lingam inside the temple is 10 feet high.
Srivilliputhur Andal Temple Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu
The Srivilliputhur Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, is a famous Hindu temple
dedicated to the goddess Andal and Lord Vishnu, in the form of Vatapatrasayi. This
beautiful temple was constructed in the 8th century.
Its magnificent Rajagopuram, soaring 193.5 feet, is a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s architectural heritage and serves as the state’s emblem. This temple contains the inscriptions from Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagara Nayakkar Kings. According to the local legends, Andal, known as one of the twelve Alvars, composed the Thiruppavai hymns here.
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, located in Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu, is a famous Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Trivikrama form. This temple is one of the tallest
in the country with 192 ft. In this temple, deity is in the form of the Vamana avatar of
Vishnu. The main deity, Ulagalantha Perumal, is depicted with one leg raised, symbolizing his cosmic form. This ancient temple, filled with mythology and devotion, attracts pilgrims and tourists, reflecting the deep spiritual and cultural heritage of the region. It is also one of the 108 Divya Desams, making it a key pilgrimage site. But unlike other divya desams, this is the only temple with Swayambhu Vishnu Durga.
Kallazhagar Temple Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Kallazhagar Temple, situated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Lord Vishnu,
worshipped as Kallazhagar. This temple is situated among the scenic Alagar Hills with a
height of 187 ft. It is one of the oldest temples in the country built around 1300 years
ago by Pandya rulers. A major highlight is the annual Chithirai Festival, where Kallazhagar is celebrated for his journey to the Vaigai River, symbolizing his visit to his sister Meenakshi’s wedding. This festival draws thousands of devotees every year.
Kasi Viswanathar temple, Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu
The Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, is a Hindu temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva, known here as Kasi Viswanathar. This temple is one of the most important
places of worship for Hindus because it holds the jyotirlinga of Shiva Vishveshwara.
Constructed in the 13th century by Vira Pandyan, the temple is famous for its
magnificent seven-tiered Rajagopuram, standing at 180 feet tall. Another important
significance of this temple is the music pillars and a copper hall known as Thamira
sabhai. According to the local legends, this is the place where Lord Shiva performed the
cosmic dance. Due to it’s cultural richness and mind blowing architecture, it draws
pilgrims and visitors in millions annually.
Sarangapani Temple Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
Sarangapani Temple is located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. It is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Vishnu, worshipped in the form of Sarangapani. This temple consists
of one of the tallest gopurams which is at a height of 173 ft. The main deity here is
shown resting on the divine serpent Adi Sesha. The temple is one of the 108 Divya
Desams is also one of the five temples dedicated to Ranganatha.
Every year Teppam festival is celebrated here in a grand manner. The main belief of the local people here is that Lord Chandra prayed to Lord Shiva here for a long time and got his
blessings.
Meenakshi Amman Temple Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Amman Temple is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest
Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. This temple was built in the
6th century by the Pandya king, Kulasekara Pandya. This temple is one of the oldest
and certainly one of the largest temples in India spreading over an area of 65000 sq m.
The height of the gopuram here is 173 ft. Lord Shiva is seen here in incarnation as
Sundareswarar and Parvati as his fish-eyed spouse, Meenakshi. You’ll be left with no
option but to be awe-struck by the brilliance of architecture of so many paintings and
sculptures here.
Hope you all enjoyed our article about the tallest gopurams in India. Are you planning to
visit any of the temples listed above? If yes, then please comment below in the comment
section.
