Arch Marvel 2 - Sripuram Golden Temple, Vellore

Arch Marvel : The Golden Temple

Location: Malaikodi, Vellore, TamilNadu, India

A grand golden temple - Mahalakshmi temple - has been constructed on a sprawling 20 acres of land @ Sripuram near Vellore in Tamilnadu.

The temple covers about 55000 sq.ft. and has intricate carvings and sculptures made of solid gold.

Except for the pathway, the entire structure has been made of gold and copper.

Hundreds of goldsmiths and coppersmiths were involved in this awesome worship place and they were able to complete this architectural marvel in just six years.
 
The temple construction costed round about INR 600 crores .
 
The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and mountains which notonly offer scenic beauty but also a great backdrop.
 
The pathway to the temple is laid out in the shape of a star which has verses from the Gita, Bible and the Quran and Guru Granth Sahib.
 
 

This temple is the biggest structure made of gold and has awesome lighting in the dark to keep you captivated to its glittering glory.

Anybody who believes in God by any name is allowed in the temple.

It has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in TamilNadu since it was inaugurated in August 2007!!

Make sure you too catch a glimpse of the glorious golden structure when you travel down south to the enchanting Tamilnadu!!

Arch Marvel 1 - Valluvar Kottam

Get set go!! First post on the Architecture Marvel series!!!

I am starting with my own city.. Chennai...

And the marvel is : VALLUVAR KOTTAM, CHENNAI, INDIA

Valluvar kottam is a modern architecture landmark in Chennai dedicated to the yesteryears classical poet and philosopher - Tiruvalluvar.

This monument was built in 1976 in memory of the poet who wrote the famous literary work - Tirukkural which is a collection of 1330 verses over 133 chapters, nearly 2000 years before.

This monument is like a temple chariot which is the exact replica of the famous chariot in the Tiruvaarur temple in Tamilnadu.

The construction is 39 metre high and has a life-size statue of the saint poet installed in it. The statue can be viewed from the roof of the main hall in the same campus.

As a tribute to the great poet, verses from Tirukkural are inscribed on the chariot. The chariot is made to look like it is pulled by two elephants each seven feet tall.

The main hall in the campus can accomodate 4000 people at a time and also houses numerous painting explaining the verses in Tirukkural.

A must visit place in Chennai!!!

New Series - Coming up soon!!!

Pals... thinking of writing a series on various architecture marvels around India and the world!!!

This would help me know better about places and people and also might help you in knowing famous landmarks of the world!!1

Coming soon.. in a computer near you...
A series on ....... "Architecture Marvels of the World"

Watch out this space for more!!! :)