Jalakanteswara Temple, Vellore

This large Jalakanteswara Temple in Vellore (State: Tamil Nadu) is located in the Vellore Fort, near the north wall of the fort. This ancient temple was built around 1566 in the Vijayanagar style. Jalakanteswara means “Lord Shiva residing in the water”.

The temple has a Nataraja Shiva deity on the northern altar, and on the western altar is a Shiva-linga. The temple has 2 court yard, one is inner prakara and the other is outer prakara. The outer prakara has huge Gopuram on the southern side which is 30m (100ft) high, seven-storey made of blue granite. Temple has some beautiful sculptures on the ceiling and some richly, carved pillars and monoliths.

The temple has beautiful Kalayana Mandapam. The carvings in this pillared hall are some of the most impressive in India. The outer pillars have sculptures of rearing horses and dragons. The inner pillars have sculptures of yalis, which are lion-like creatures.