A Gallery of sandstone art at Kailasanathar Temple:
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| The entrance wall of the Kailasanathar temple with independent small shrines |
Kailasanathar temple is the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built between 685-705 AD by the Pallava kings in the Dravidian style of architecture. Unlike the Pallava temples at Mahabalipuram, here the Kailasanathar temple is functional. The temple is visited mostly by the tourists mainly for its architectural significance rather than its religious importance.
The entire temple complex including the sculptures is built using sandstone, while the temple's foundations are made of local granite, to withstand the weight of the temple.
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| Garbhagriha Mantapa and Vimana of Kailasanathar temple |
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| Passage around main shrine |
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| Inner court with sub-shrines |
The entrance wall has eight small shrines and a Gopura. The main shrine rises up in a pyramidal shaped vimana (tower).
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| Pyramidal shaped vimana of the main shrine with supporting pillars having lions in standing pose |
The main temple is surrounded by a wall enclosure with 58 small shrines on to its inner wall which are dedicated to various forms of Lord Shiva. These shrines along with other large shrines around the main shrine all have one thing in common, which are the pillars with statues of lions standing on their hind legs and sculptures of Shiva inside, giving a sense of a Gallery or a museum.
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| Amazing craftsmanship of the 58 small-shrines |
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| Close up of the lions on the pillars of 58 small-shrines |
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| A sculpture in one of the niches of the 58 small sub-shrines |
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| Panels of sculptures on the exteriors of the main-shrine |
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| Another exquisitely carved Shiva panel on the exteriors of the main-shrine |
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| Some more panels of sandstone sculptures |
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| Typical design of pillar with multi-directional mythical lions with panel of Shiva at the center |
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| One of the many sculptures on the exteriors of the main Shrine |
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| Large plastered sculpture of Shiva in one of the sub-shrine adjoining the main-shrine |
The wall enclosure contains a large number of carvings, including many half-animal deities in interiors as well as exteriors.
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| Sculptures on the exteriors of the temple complex |
The Sandstone exhibition at the Kailsanathar temple is truly a marvel of art taking us 1300 years back into the sands of time.
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| Kailsanathar temple complex with the entrance shrines |
Entry ticket and Parking fee: Entry is free for temple; car parking is on the road and there is no parking fee.
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