Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram – Gopurams
(Towers)
The
skyscraping gopurams (spires) truly dominate the skyline of
Rameshwaram. The temple is 865 feet in length east to west and 675 feet in
breadth north to south. The east tower is 126 feet in height and the west tower
is 78 feet in height. There are unfinished gopurams on the north and south side
entrances which was completed recently.
It is
also most essential to construct the North and South Gopurams. Shri Jagadguru
Sringeri Peetathipathi and Shri Jagadguru Kanchi Kamakoti Peetathipathi have
given their kind blessings for the constructions of the North and South
Gopurams of the Temple.
Besides
a five-tier 91-foot-tall Rajagopuram at the southern entrance, the Sharada
Peetham has also constructed full granite Mangala gopuram in front of Amman
Sannadhi. The Rajagopuram at the northern entrance was built by Karpagam
College of Engineering.
For
several centuries, the temple had only two towers – the 126-foot-tall nine-tier
Rajagopuram on the eastern side, and the 76-foot-tall five-tier gopuram at the
western entrance.
The main
entrance of the temple tower has many storeys and stands tall. Encompassing
nine levels, the eastern Rajagopuram (spire) soars to the height of 126 feet.
However, the western 'gopuram' is not as high as the eastern 'gopuram', still
it is equally captivating.
The
Temple Gopurams are coated with Alkaline resistant paint to prevent from saline
and humid air. Height of the West Gopuram is 78 Feet and has 5 tiers. Height of
the east Gopuram is 126 feet and has 9 tiers.