photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
oochappan | all galleries >> INDIA Tamil Nadu >> INDIA my Tamil Nadu > Thousand Pillar Hall
previous | next
2004-02-24 ¹ ² ³ oochappan ©®

Thousand Pillar Hall

Madurai

Several years I tried to get a good photo from this Hall in the Meenakshi Temple.
The light is very difficult here: a mix of day and aritficial light, this is one of my attempts at ISO-400, the floor as tripod.

The Thousand Pillar Hall should count 999 pillars as the last is the leg of Shiva. In fact there are 985 beautifully decorated columns.
Each pillar is sculptured in the Dravidan style (jumping Lion: Pallava III).
Nowadays the hall is used as a museum where you can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history.
In the corner you find the music-pillars: each has his own sound as you knock on it.
At the end of the Hall you see Nataraja or the famous dancing Shiva.

South to this Hall you will find the Mandapam or hall where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year during the Chitirai Festival in mid- April.


other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
Sam 01-Jun-2008 12:51
its cool! i didnt know its so beautiful!
Guest 16-Sep-2007 13:36
this is a superb shot, Oochappan. I like the perspective and also the fact that you have included the ceiling also within the frame.