Art & Culture · 22 Jul 2026

Kerala temple architecture Sreekovil

With reference to Kerala's temple architecture and its governance, consider the following statements:

  1. The sanctum sanctorum in Kerala temples, called the Sreekovil, is typically topped with sloped copper or gold roofing suited to heavy monsoon rainfall.
  2. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which administers the Sabarimala temple, was constituted under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act,
  3. 3. Dravidian-style towering gopurams, rather than a circular or square Sreekovil, are the defining architectural feature distinguishing Kerala's temple grammar from that of Tamil Nadu.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Tests the ability to distinguish regional temple-architecture styles from each other while simultaneously verifying a precise statutory detail - a layered discrimination task rather than single-fact recall.

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This question is based on: A Temple Built for Devotion, Now Facing an Audit
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 22 Jul 2026
About this question

Why in news

An SIT investigating alleged gold theft from Sabarimala's sanctum door frames told the Kerala High Court its final report is due within 30 days, drawing attention to the temple's architecture and Devaswom Board governance.

Why for UPSC

UPSC often tests regional temple architecture styles against each other (Dravidian, Nagara, Kerala) and pairs this with the statutory governance framework - a classic art-and-culture-meets-polity crossover.

Prelims summary

Kerala temple architecture features a circular/square Sreekovil with sloped gold/copper roofing, distinct from Dravidian gopurams. The Travancore Devaswom Board, under the 1950 Act, administers temples like Sabarimala.

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