Shikhara (mound)

A Shikhara is the tapering, tower-like structure that crowns a Hindu temple, often resembling a mountain or mound. It is an architectural feature symbolizing the sacred mountain, Mount Meru, which is considered the spiritual center of the universe in Hindu cosmology. The Shikhara serves both an aesthetic and symbolic purpose, drawing the eye upward towards the divine and representing the connection between the earthly realm and the heavens. Constructed with intricate carvings and rising above the sanctum, it plays a central role in the visual and spiritual identity of the temple.