ABSTRACT
Every style of building construction reflects a clearly distinctive principle that represents a particular culture and era. In India, the temple and its associated structures evolved with time and the most identifiable difference is in their structure. Specifically in Kerala, a southern state of India, temple architecture is different from that in neighbouring states due to the obvious reason of its geography and various other factors. Gopurams (entrance gateways) are the principal structure of any temple complex. This led to the investigation of the difference in the form of a gopuram in terms of its material and construction. The topic demands a literature study of Dravidian and Kerala gopurams, followed by case studies of different types to support the investigation. In this research, the major reason behind the differences was found to lie in the geography of the state, which itself can be categorised into three different regions within the state such as Malabar, Kochi and Travancore. In addition, an analysis is done on the proportions of the gopurams. This is done by taking into account the dimensions of the temple as well as the structural elements of the gopuram. The conclusion summarises the principles of planning, differences in form, and the scope for future studies.
