History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.13

v1.c19.s5.13

Though much damaged by Moslim violence, the lower part of the entrance to the court shows a considerable advance on anything found at Mâmallapuram, and an approach to what the gopurams afterwards became, in so far at least, as the perpendicular parts are concerned; instead, however, of the tall pyramids which were so universal in later times, the entrance to the Kailâs exhibits only what may be called the germ of such an arrangement. It is the upper member of a gopuram placed on the flat roof of the gateway, and so small as not to be visible except from above.¹