Raya Gopura is an ancient pillar of Melukota in Pandavapur taluk of Mandya district of Karnataka state. The Raya Gopura is a semi-built pillar-like gateway to the temple complex on Melukote Hill. Raya Gopura is probably a famous unfinished temple built during the reign of Hoysala king Vishnuvardha of the 12th century Vijayanagara Empire.
Raya Gopuram is about 137 km from Bangalore. It is about 39 km from Mandya city and 47 km from Mysore city. It is 88 km from Hassan. Pandavapur is the nearest railway station which is only 29 km away.
Raya Gopura A half-built gopuram with beautiful carvings with Hoysala architecture is magnificent to behold. It stands on the west side of the temple. It has four tall pillars but no gopura, “gopura” specifically means “temple entrance”. But the massive pillars and stones used for construction. There are stairs. But adventurers can reach the top of the tower, from where you can get a view of the entire fort. It is built of granite stone on a hill 3,589 feet above sea level.
Raya Gopura is located near Akka Thangi Kola of Melukote and in a lush green and scenic spot called Cheluvanarayan Swamy Temple Hill. Raya Gopura has some intricate carvings. Images of a beautifully decorated elephant, with bells on its side. Statue of Yoga Narasimha on granite pillars. Thus given by several films. Raya gopura is a magnificent stone mandapam. Many popular films have also been shot here at Raya Gopuram.
Suffering from the Muslim invasion of the 14th century, the temple and the surrounding historical artefacts have fallen into disrepair. The Raya Gopuram is a lush green and scenic location of the “Melukote”.
