South Indian Temple Vimana Tower

Timeline

1. 850–1250Thanjavur (Chola country) · Tamil NaduThe Chola dynasty built multi-tiered brick and stone vimanas at Thanjavur and elsewhere, exemplified by the Brihadeeswarara Temple, establishing the classic Dravidian tower form with a square base, gradual tapering of each tier, and a crowning dome (stupi).
2. 1336–1565Hampi (Vijayanagara) · KarnatakaBetween 1381 and 1390, the empire maintained ancient temples such as Virupaksha at Hampi and its dependencies, adding gateway towers and pillared halls, while vimana surfaces were adorned with royal emblems, mythological scenes, and painted stucco, reflecting the close bond between religious architecture and political patronage.
3. 1600Various places in South India · South IndiaThe Nayaka and Maratha periods continued the construction of large gateway towers (gopura), and the vimana tradition persists in modern temple building and heritage restoration, remaining a core visual symbol of the South Indian religious landscape.