The 'Vimana' - or the temple tower - is 66 m high, the Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is of monolithic granite weighing 81.25 tons. Thirteen diminishing storeys, each with pilastered walls, an eave and parapet, ascend dramatically to octagonal dome-like roof. Rajaraja's pot finial is still in place at the apex. It sits above a 30.18 metres (99.0 ft) sided square.[34] The tower is elaborately articulated with Pilaster, piers(a raised structure), and attached columns which are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the Vimana. The vimana has not developed even a minor crack in all these years. In order to achieve stability, architects of the 13-tiered vimana had positioned it on another two-tiered double-walled plinth. Each of the lower two tiers of the vimana has a pradakshina pada (corridor) running all round with an inner and outer wall. The inner and outer walls of this corridor have a 1.5-m wide masonry wall, made of brick and mortar, running between them. ... More

The 'Vimana' - or the temple tower - is 66 m high, the Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is of monolithic granite weighing 81.25 tons. Thirteen diminishing storeys, each with pilastered walls, an eave and parapet, ascend dramatically to octagonal dome-like roof. Rajaraja's pot finial is still in place at the apex. It sits above a 30.18 metres (99.0 ft) sided square.[34] The tower is elaborately articulated with Pilaster, piers(a raised structure), and attached columns which are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the Vimana. The vimana has not developed even a minor crack in all these years. In order to achieve stability, architects of the 13-tiered vimana had positioned it on another two-tiered double-walled plinth. Each of the lower two tiers of the vimana has a pradakshina pada (corridor) running all round with an inner and outer wall. The inner and outer walls of this corridor have a 1.5-m wide masonry wall, made of brick and mortar, running between them. The 13 tiers have stones stacked up with perfect balance and equilibrium. No binding material is used, and they are made to stand on their weight.