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Interior Grand Pooja Hall / Maha Mandap (with Ardh Mandap elements)
Grand Scale and Splendor: The hall is large, with a double-height ceiling and several levels having open galleries or balconies overlooking the central area. This instantly gives a sense of wonder and grandeur, a characteristic of temple architecture.
Central Deity Layout (Principal Mandapa/Sanctum): Along the back of the hall, in the center, are several altars or shrines to different deities. This space serves as the main place of worship, equivalent to the principal sanctum or the garbha griha, which the other half of the hall ascends to. The layout implies it's the final point of the "Ardh Mandap" pilgrimage.
Black and White Checkered Flooring: The main hall's floor has a striking black and white checkered marble design. The bold design creates a visually stimulating pathway and introduces a classical, near-spiritual rhythm to the room.
Ornate Columns and Arches: The hall is characterized by a succession of elegant arches that are propped up by ornamental columns or pilasters. These structures give a feeling of rhythm and procession, leading the eye towards the gods.
Upper Galleries/Jharokhas: The top level has delicately carved galleries or jharokhas (typical Rajasthani balconies) with ornate railings. These features are quite typical of typical Indian palace and temple architecture and provide views of the main hall from above.
Sky-Lit Ceiling / Shikara-inspired Dome: The single most stunning element is the liberal use of glass in the ceiling to produce a large skylight or a series of skylights. It replicates the natural light effects of a shikara (spire) of a temple or of a big dome so that lots of natural light pours into the whole hall and lights up the altars below. The ornate ceiling patterns about the skylights provide additional decoration.
Traditional Wall Decorations and Niches: Walls are decorated with traditional Indian paintings (presumably Pattachitra or other folk painting styles featuring mythological scenes or gods) embedded in arched niches or frames. These are part of the sacred and culturally rich atmosphere.
