mandapas

A mandapa is a pillared hall or pavilion that forms a part of many Indian temples and sacred complexes. The term comes from Sanskrit and is often translated as a meeting place or porch. Mandapas serve as transitional spaces between the outer precincts and the inner sanctum, and they are used for various ritual, ceremonial, and social functions.

Mandapas are typically supported by a series of columns and may be open to the elements or partially enclosed. The roof may be flat or vaulted, and the interior can host sculptural decoration. Sub-types include the ardha-mandapa (half-hall) at the entrance and the maha-mandapa (great hall) used for audience gatherings; some regional traditions also feature the rangamandapa, a dance or performance hall.

In South Indian (Dravidian) temple architecture, mandapas are prominent elements within temple complexes. Notable examples include large expedient halls and the famous thousand-pillared hall, or Aayiram Kal Mandapam, at Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Northern and western Indian temple traditions also incorporate sequences of mandapas leading to the sanctum, with regional variations in plan, ornament, and construction materials such as sandstone and granite.

Beyond temples, mandapas appear in royal and civic architecture as courtyards and pavilions for public events and ceremonies. In modern contexts, they continue to be used as covered outdoor spaces for religious gatherings, rituals, and cultural performances. Across regions, the mandapa remains a flexible and integral component of sacred architecture, shaping spatial experience through architecture, sculpture, and ritual function.