Photo 212/1(3)

Genre: Architectural Photography

General view looking towards the Ranganatha Temple complex at Srirangam, with the gopuras rising above the surrounding rooftops. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '252 - On the left, on entering the Gateway, just described, a stone staircase leads to the top, from which a general view of the whole interior of the pagoda is obtained. The houses seen below are those of the Brahmins, of whom 8,000 are said to live inside the walls. The tall Gateways or Gopuras in the centre, mark entrances into the inner Courts on the south side, while the corresponding Gateways on the north side are seen in the distance on the left; the large Gopura on the right marks the entrance to the Horse Court. This pagoda contains upwards of twenty of these Pyramidal Gateways.' Another copy at Photo 1000/29(2902). For another view, taken from an identical viewpoint a year or so later, see APAC Photo 11(33).