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. They are topped by the kalasham, a bulbous stone finial. They function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.

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. It also dominated the inner sanctum in amount of ornamentation. Often a shrine has more than one gopuram.

A koil may have multiple gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine.

Tallest Gopurams Gopurams are widespread in south Indian temples, predominantly in Tamil Nadu.108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam. Very tall gopurams are a later feature, added from the Middle Ages onwards, typically to much older temples.

Rank Temple Image Heightft Construction Year Notes Location 1Murdeshwara Temple249.52008 ADMurdeshwara Temple is known for its colossal, 40m high statue of Shiva. Its gopuram is the tallest in the world. It is also the only one where one can take a lift to top floor of the gopuram.South India P.271. Sarina SinghMurdeshwar, Karnataka, India 2 Ranganathaswamy Temple, Raja Gopuram 239.501A new Rajagopuram Frontline Magazine, 4–17 April 1987. Started at 1700 AD and completed at 1987 ADChand 1987, p. 36 Ranganathaswamy Temple is the largest temple complex in India, covering an area of .Yatra2Yatra. Sanjay Singh. It is home to twelve gopurams, the largest being the Raja Gopuram, built by the 44th jeeyar of ahobila mutt. Srirangam also known is worlds largest Divyadesam temple (156acres). Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Annamalaiyar TempleEast Gopuram(Raja Gopuram) 216.5Singh 2009, p. 1069 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.South India P. 418. Sarina Singh Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India 4 Srivilliputhur Andal Temple 196Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu 2007, p. 109 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.Architecture and art of southern India: Vijayanagara and Successor States, Volume 1, Issue 6P.112. George Michell The temple is the emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India 5 Ulagalantha Perumal Temple 192 9th century AD Madhavan 2014, p. 140-1 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. Its gopuram is in height. Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu, India 6 Ekambareswarar Temple 190Sajnani 2001, pp. 305 AD Ekambareswarar Temple is the one of largest temple in Kanchipuram, a highly visible symbol of Pallava dynasty. The entire complex covers an area of 10 hectares and has five courtyards.India P.545. Karen Schreitmüller Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India 7 Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Eastern Tower [] 180 AD 24 acres Varadharaja Perumal Temple is located in Kanchi Perarulalan Koyil, and is dedicated to Vishnu/Perumal. This temples Chariot is Biggest Chariot of the City. The entire complex covers an area of 10 hectares and has five courtyards Located in Kanchipuram also its the temple city of Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram, 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.South India P.432. Sarina SinghTemples of South India P.112. V.V. Subba Reddy Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India10 Annamalaiyar TempleNorthern 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, India11 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 high.Sajnani 2001, pp. 307–308 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.India P.586. Karen Schreitmüller 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 TempleSouthern 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.Power of Passion P. 4. S. Manickavasagam 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. Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India 17 Sundaravarada Perumal temple 144 (720–796 CE) 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.Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, India 18Annamalaiyar TempleNorthern 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, India19 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 . Sankarankovil, Tamil Nadu, India

Tallest Vimana Vimanas are structures over the sanctum of temples. In Northern India they are called sikharas. 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.

Rank Temple Image Heightft Year Notes Location 1Chaturbhuj Temple34416th century ADBuilt 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 2Shri Vishwanath Mandir, BHU2501966The Birla family as per wishes of the BHU's founder Madan Mohan Malaviya, completed the construction, the foundation was laid in March 1931. The temple (Shri Vishwanath Mandir) was finally completed in 1966.Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 3 Jagannath Temple, Puri 217The Jagannatha Temple at Puri: its architecture, art, and cult.O. M. Starza 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).Vedic Concepts "An example in Sanskrit is seen with the word Jagat which means universe.] |accessdate=2006-09-12