Credit: Raja Gopura by Pvnkmrksk licensed under the terms CC BY-SA 3.0
This week’s crazy building is Raja Gopura in Murudeshwara, India.
A gopura is an ornate monument tower at the entrance to a temple. At 20 stories and a staggering 237 feet, Raja Gopura is one of the tallest on earth. Two life-size elephants guard the steps leading to its gateway.
This is the entrance to Murudeshwara Temple, located high on a peninsula and surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Though the temple is much older, it was constructed in its present form by modern-day Indian entrepreneur R.N. Shetty. The temple officials have installed an elevator within Raja Gopura, which takes visitors to the top for a breathtaking view of the 123-foot Shiva statue that serves as the temple’s other main attraction.
The intricate carvings and enormous height allow this towering structure to dominate the surrounding landscape.
