Narthamalai, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu Set amid the rocky landscape of Narthamalai, about 17 kms north-west of Pudukkottai, the Vijayalacholiswaram temple is an important early medieval monument. Although the temple was named after Vijayalaya, the founder of Imperial Cholas, the temple was in fact constructed by Cattan Pudi, who was a Muttaraiyar chieftain during the reign of the Pallava king Nandivarman III (846–889 CE). This is recorded in an inscription beneath the dvarapalas, which also notes the temple’s later damage due to rains and its subsequent renovation by Mallan Viduman alias Tennavan Tamiladi Araiyan. Architecturally, the temple is a sandhara shrine with a circular sanctum enclosed within a square outer structure, preceded by a closed pillared 'ardha-mandapa'. The sanctum rests on a 'padabandha adhisthana', with rhythmically placed paired pilasters and a continuous 'hara' adorned with graceful dancing figures. The 'tritala vimana' rises above, crowned by a circular 'sikhara' and embellished with 'griva-devatas'. There is a pair of dvarapalas images in early chola style, inserted one each on either side of its entrance, possibly added during the renovation phase. Encircling the main shrine are eight subsidiary shrines dedicated to the 'ashta-parivara devatas', a characteristic layout of temples in this region. All these shrines are ekatala-vimanas with circular sikharas, except the one dedicated to Saptamatrikas. Source: Archaeological Survey of India