The lofty gates erected in the courtyard of the temples in south India were called ______.

The correct answer is gopuram.Key Points

• Gopuram refers to the ornate and towering gateways that mark the entrance to the temple grounds in South India and Sri Lanka.
• Gopurams are typically made of stone and feature intricate carvings and sculptures of gods, goddesses, and other mythological figures.
• The gopuram's roots are in the early Pallava kings' constructions, which are related to North India's central shikhara towers.
• There are 21 gopurams (tower gateways) at the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, which is the tallest temple tower in Asia, the Rajagopuram (shrine of the main gateway), is a striking 239.5 feet (73.0 m) high.

Additional Information

• Mandap:
  • It refers to a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion used for public gatherings or religious ceremonies.
  • The mandapa, an elaborate gateway that leads to the temple through the gopuram, is a porch-like structure in Hindu temples.
  • It is a part of the main temple compound and is used for religious dancing and music.
• Ardhmandap:
  • It refers to a smaller, semi-open hall or chamber typically found near the entrance of a temple.
  • Typically, Ardhamandapa is an open, four-pillared structure that stands in front of the temple's mandapa entrance door, allowing for natural light and ventilation.
• Vimana:
  • In Hindu temples in South India and Odisha, East India, the structure over the garbhagriha, or inner sanctum, is known as the vimana.
  • Vimana refers to the towering, pyramid-shaped roof structure that sits atop the sanctum sanctorum (innermost shrine) of a South Indian temple.