Gopuram is an indispensable part of Hindu temples in South India. There is an important symbolism associated with gopuram. The structure of gopuram is found at the entrance or at the anthahara and is always bigger than the rest of the walls.
When the entire temple complex is seen as the body of god, gopuram is the leg portion of god. A Sanskrit shloka says ‘gopuram devapada syath.’
It is believed that seeing the feet of God itself is meritorious (punyam). Thus Gopura darshan is pious and meritorious for a Hindu devotee.
The gopuram in anthahara is also known as dwarashobha.