Photo 212/3(22)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close-up of a part of the pair of massive carved wooden doors at the base of the gopura of the Subrahmanya Temple at Tiruchendur. 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: '352 - The fine Doors under the Tower, of which one section is shown in the Photograph, are composed of black wood and iron. They are about six inches thick, and nearly twenty feet high. They are kept constantly shut to prevent the wind (the Brahmins say) from driving the sand through and filling up the front of the temple. There is a small porch between the gateway and the entrance to the sanctum, which latter is completely buried in the sand, the flat roof even often being covered. This is all that is now visible of this temple, though from the inequalities in the sand, and a stone corner projecting here and there, there must be at least six more porches completely buried; but the endowments are so small, and the expense so great, not only to uncover them, but to keep them uncovered, that it is not likely it will ever be attempted.' Another copy at Photo 1000 (3001).