Feature of Vijayanagara Architecture The rulers of Vijayanagara were the successors of the rich traditions in art and architecture of the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Hoysala. The architecture of this period is generally perceived as a continued and developed form of the Dravida style. The rulers of this reign were interested in renovating and enlarging a lot of falling down temples of the past. The Hemakuta temple at Hampi and the Vishnupada at Viziyanagaram in Andhra Pradesh along with Lakshmi temple at Melukote and the Belur Chennakeshava temple illustrate this point. Some of the salient features of the Vijayanagara style of architecture are as follows: Temple Architecture of Vijayanagara In temple building, the Vijayanagara continued the traditions and styles of the Chalukyas, Cholas and Pandyas. Sculpture was integrally linked with architecture in the creation of Vijayanagara temples. Large life-size figures of men, women, gods, and goddesses decorate the gopuram of many Vijayanagara temples. Some of them are as follows: Harasa Rama Temple: One of the marvellous temples of Vijayanagara time is the famed Harasa Rama Temple at Vijayanagara built in the reign of Krishna Deva Raya. The temple does not have a gopuram. The four middle pillars are finely polished and decorated with stunning sculptures, panels of the whole life of Rama and episodes from the Ramayana are delicately sculptured on the external side of the temple. Temple of Vithala: The temple of Vithala also in Vijayanagara dedicated to Vishnu is one more huge structure. It has axial mandapas and small shrines and gopurams. It has an extremely ornamented key mandapa with complicated picture compositions painted on the ceiling. This shows that the art of sculpture and painting had attained a very high degree of brilliance during that period. The classic high gopuram is covered with excellent sculptures. Temples at Tadipatri: The temples at Tadipatri were built by local chieftains of the Vijayanagara Empire. |