Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.105

c2.105

The temple [Plate XIV (a)] consists of a ground floor and three upper storeys hewn out of the natural rock. (Plates IX to XI). It has a frontage of about 90 feet in length and rises to a height of 50 feet from the ground level. The ground floor is an unfinished excavation representing a low pillared hall and facade with eight square pillars dividing the front into seven openings or doorways of equal size. The excavations have been carried inward to various depths, leaving portions of three rows of massive square monolithic pillars in line with those of the facade. On the outer face of the latter is engraved the Telugu inscription of the 9th century mentioned above.