The Central Tower of the Great Pagoda
1858
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1858
photographic
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This is a photograph by Linnaeus Tripe. It shows the tallest vimana in India, part of the Brihadisvara temple. The tower rises 62 meters high. Tripe was the Madras government’s official photographer from 1856 to 1860. He spent months documenting Tanjore’s architecture. The text with this photo says none of the temple’s sculptures should shock even modest viewers. See more of his work at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
