Rājarāja Cōḷa built the outer gopuram in 1010 AD It was called Keralāntakan vasal after one of his titles. It is a five storeyed structure; the first three storeys are built of granite stones and the upper storeys are built of brick and mortar. The first floor carries niches for housing stone images of various gods originally but the south and northern faces house some sculptures like Dakṣiṇāmūrti and Brahmā while the other are empty. An insight into the engineering skill and the technique of constructing multi stored buildings under the Cōḷas could be had, by climbing, the first storey.
The stucco figures on the upper tiers of the gopuram were added in the 17th century, by the Nāyaka rulers of Tanjavur. On the Eastern face are Kālī, Urdhva Tāṇḍava and aspects of Śiva and his family. Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu and his manifestations are figured inside, on the western face.
