Indian Columbus

About 13 kilometers from Tirunelveli lies the historically resonant village of Krishnapuram , home to the awe-inspiring Venkatachalapati Temple . For those unable to journey to Tirupati, this 16th-century shrine offers a sacred alternative. But beyond spiritual fulfilment, Krishnapuram offers a breathtaking artistic experience—a sculptural gallery carved in stone, unmatched in narrative and finesse. Unlike typical temple narratives that begin with the presiding deity or architectural layout, Krishnapuram demands a different approach. Here, it is the sculptural brilliance of the Nayaka period that commands attention. With photography strictly prohibited inside, every visit becomes a fresh discovery. This is the tenth article in my series. The first six episodes detailed the remarkable pillars of the Veerappa Nayakka Mandapa , while the seventh through ninth episodes explored the north-facing row of the Mukha Mandapa . In this episode, we turn to the opposite row of pillars that face...

About 13 kilometers from Tirunelveli lies the historically resonant village of Krishnapuram , home to the awe-inspiring Venkatachalapati Temple . For those unable to journey to Tirupati, this 16th-century shrine offers a sacred alternative. But beyond spiritual fulfilment, Krishnapuram offers a breathtaking artistic experience—a sculptural gallery carved in stone, unmatched in narrative and finesse. Unlike typical temple narratives that begin with the presiding deity or architectural layout, Krishnapuram demands a different approach. Here, it is the sculptural brilliance of the Nayaka period that commands attention. With photography strictly prohibited inside, every visit becomes a fresh discovery. This is the ninth article in my series. In the first six, I covered the sculpted pillars of the Veerappa Nayakka Mandapa . The seventh and eighth episodes focused on the easternmost pillars of the Mukha Mandapa , facing north. In this episode, we explore the fifth, sixth, and seventh pil...