Vijayanagara kings wanted their architecture to reflect all the important imperial build¬ing traditions. They followed the architectural styles of Cholas and Pandyas. This included vimanas and the gopurams y/hich were built on a scale and height. The first floor of the gopuram was built of solid granite and the upper floors were built of brick and sunnam. Other distinctive features include mandapas or pavilions and long pillared corridors that often ran around the shrines within the temple complex. They built secular royal buildings modeled on the style and techniques of the sultanate architecture.
