The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai situated at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several millenia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries.The tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories.”
“The ancient and vast Arunachaleswarar Temple as it stands today is the
result of several centuries of alteration and extension.A Nandi faces
the main shrine in each of its five prakarams. The outermost prakaram
houses the thousand pillared hall and the Shiva Ganga tank and is
pierced on four sides with colossal Gopurams.”
“There are five small gopurams on the inner boundary and four big
gopurams on the outer boundary. The inner gopurams are known as Kitti
gopurams.There are two gopurams in the East and one gopuram each for the
other three directions. The first of the two Eastern gopurams is called
Kili gopuram. There are indications that this was built in the 11th
century. The gopurams built during this period have no more than five
stories. The Kili gopuram was built by Veera Rajendra Chozhan around
1063 A.D. He is referred to as Maharaja Thiribuvana Chakravarthigal in
the inscription.This name was also given to the gopuram. The Kitti
(smaller) gopurams, except the top of the western one, were built by the
Hoysala King Vallala Maharaja III. His name is given to the biggest
Kitti gopuram which is in the East.
