Photo 212/2(33)

Genre: Architectural Photography

View across the Teppakulam tank, looking towards the central island, on which stands a temple, with pavilions at each corner. 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: '323 - represents the Sacred Tank about two miles outside the town to the east, and is the next object that should be visited. It is about 300 yards square, and was built by Trimul Nayak. at an expense, it is said, of £10,000. The Rajah is said to have given lands yielding a rental of £1,000 for the expenses of the annual festival. The tank is constructed throughout of hewn stone, with flights of steps on each side; in the centre is a highly ornamental pavilion, in which the god and goddess rest after the fatigue of their aquatic excursion. The pavilion stands in the midst of a garden, filled with shrubs, and containing some excellent fruit-trees. The sides of the tank, and the garden and pavilion in the centre, are beautifully illuminated at the annual Festival.' Another copy at Photo 1000/29(2973).