The dravida temple is enclosed within a compound wall. The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as a gopuram.
The shape of the main temple tower known as vimana in Tamil Nadu is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically.
The word ‘shikhara’ is used only for the crowning element at the top of the temple which is usually shaped like a small stupika or an octagonal cupola-this is equivalent to the amlak and kalasha of North Indian temples.
It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower, or located as distinct, separate small shrines beside the main temple.
Shapes of Dravida Architecture
These are basically of five different shapes:
Square, usually called kuta, and also caturasra;
Rectangular or shala or ayatasra;
Elliptical, called gaja-prishta or elephant- backed, or also called vrittayata, deriving from wagon- vaulted shapes of apsidal chaityas with a horse-shoe shaped entrance facade usually called a nasi;
