This list of tallest Gopurams ranks in the world by height.
Gopurams are wide spread in south Indian temples, predominantly in Tamil Nadu.[1]
| Temple | Image | Height ft |
Year | Notes | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | State | Country | |||||
| Murudeshwara Temple | 249 | 2008 A.D. | The temple is popular among travellers for the pretty high Siva temple, which is towered over an immense 40m hight idol of the deity. The gopuram is tallest in the world[2] | Bhatkal | Karnataka | India | |
| Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam | 243 | 1987 A.D. | Srirangam Temple the second tallest gopuram in southasia[3] | Srirangam | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Annamalaiyar Temple | 216.5 | A.D. | The temple covers some 10 hectares, this vast temple is one of the largest of India. Four large unpainted gopurams, one of each cardinal point, front of approaches, with the eastern side rising 13 storeys and an astonishing 66m[4] | Tiruvannamalai | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Srivilliputhur Andal Temple | 193.5 | A.D. | The 11-storied gopuram has a height of 59m, making it the tallest gopuram of the era. During the period of Madurai Nayaks, the lesser figures sponsored religious projects, including large scale campus.[5] | Srivilliputhur Virudhunagar |
Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Ekambareswarar Temple | 190 | A.D. | This is Kanchipuram's largest temple with its tall gopuram, a highly visible symbol of Vijayanagar dynasty. The entire complex covers an area of 10 hecatres and has five courtyards.[6] | Kanchipuram | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Alagar Koyil | 187 | A.D. | Alagar Koyil is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In the outer gateway of the temple, there is a massive door that is rarely opened. Behind the door, Karupannaswamy, the subordinate of Lord Vishnu, although no image of Karuppanaswamy is present. The shrine is dedicated to Karupannaswamy. | Madurai | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Sarangapani Temple | 164 | A.D. | The temple is the largest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam. The temple shrine, in the form of chariot was the work of the Chola kings during the 12th century.[7][8] | Kumbakonam | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Meenakshi Amman Temple | 161 | 17th Century A.D. | The temple has some very old sections but the largest part dates back to 17th century. The four gopurams are decorated with many figures from the Hindu pantheon; they can be seen from great distances.[9] | Madurai | Tamil Nadu | India | |
| Rajagopalaswamy Temple | 154 | 1523-1575 A.D. | King Vijayaragava Naik built the main gopuram, the thousand pillar hall and the big compound encircling the temple. The details of all these are available in the inscriptions within the temple[10] | Mannargudi | Tamil Nadu | India | |
Vimanams are structures over the sanctum of temples, predominantly in Orissa and Tamil Nadu.[1] In many cases the vimanams are confused with gopurams. Vimanams are relatively smaller in size compared to the gopurams.
| Temple | Image | Height ft |
Year | Notes | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | State | Country | ||||||
| Brihadeeswarar Temple | 216[11][12] | 1011 A.D. | The Peruvudaiyar Koyil or Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as Rajarajeswaram,[13] at Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple[14] 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.[15] The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples". | Tanjore | Tamil Nadu | India | ||
| Jagannath Temple, Puri | 216[16] | 1011 A.D. | 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).[17]
The 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.[18] |
Puri | Orissa | India | ||
| Lingaraj Temple | 183.7[19] | 11th Century A.D. | Lingaraj 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 latterite 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.[20] | Bhubaneshwar | Orissa | India | ||
| Konark Sun Temple | 130[21] 230 before ruin[22] | 13th Century A.D. | 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 230 feet (70 meters) tall, higher than any other temple in India. | Konark | Orissa | India | ||