1868-topview Sirirangam

Year: 1868 : LYON EDMUND DAVID : On the left, on entering the Gateway...a stone staircase leads to the top, from which a general view of the whole interior of the pagoda is obtained. The houses seen below are those of the Brahmins, of whom 8,000 are said to live inside the walls.
The tall Gateways or Gopuras in the centre, mark entrances into the inner Courts on the south side, while the corresponding Gateways on the north side are seen in the distance on the left; the large Gopura on the right marks the entrance to the Horse Court. This pagoda contains upwards of twenty of these Pyramidal Gateways - See more at: http://srirangamtoday.com/srirangamtemple_oldrarephotos.html#sthash.emW3LPIm.dpuf