Photo 212/3(39)

Genre: Architectural Photography

View looking towards the central shrine of the temple, with a nandi pavilion in the foreground. 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: '367 - No one is allowed to enter this Temple; but this view gives a view of its interior courts taken from the entrance gate. The bull under its canopy, and those on the upper storey of the temple, as on the gateway, show at once that it is dedicated to the worship of Shiva. From its style it will also be seen that the temple itself and its pavilion are probably not less than three or four centuries older than the gateways which were attached to it, in the last century. On leaving Calliar Covill it will be better to send the tents and heavy baggage across the country to Avadea Covill, a distance of about forty miles in a north-east direction towards the sea; but the road is so bad, it is generally considered advisable to make a considerable detour, passing by Shevagunga and Tripatoor. At the latter place there is a comfortable bungalow, and there is said to be a handsome temple; but, as no one is even permitted to approach the gates, the truth of the assertion cannot be verified.' Another copy of this print at Photo 1000 (3016).