This is a view of the matha (monastic or residential), in the Suhaveshwar temple complex, from the eastern side. It is comprised of two long rectangular blocks, with the block on the back side slightly offset from the front. The upper storey of the matha has windows and balconies. The side walls of the upper storey have been restored.
The upper floor of the matha (monastic or residential) in the Suhaveshwar temple complex has a balcony that is right above the mukhamandapa (front porch) on the ground floor. This balcony is made up of four pillars that support a flat ceiling. The base of the balcony has an opening that leads to a small room. The layout and style of this balcony is similar to the transepts in the mandapas (pillared halls) of the Suhaveshwar and Mahanaleshwar temples.
This is a view of the south lateral transept inside the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Suhaveshwar Temple. The dwarf wall of the transept has an opening at the centre which leads to a small room. This style of the lateral wing or transept is similar to the mandapa of the Mahanaleshwar temple. The lower shafts of the pilasters embedded in these walls have elephant sculptures.
This is the south-facing elevation of the mulaprasada (main shrine) of the Suhaveshwar Temple. The juncture where the mandapa (pillared hall) meets the main shrine has a plain wall with only one band of ornamentation at the centre. This forms the kapili that corresponds to the antarala (vestibule or antechamber) of the temple. The jangha (wall) of the temple is plain, divided into two parts by a plain band.
The Nandi mandapa (pillared hall), or the vahana mandapa, stands in front of the main entrance of the Suhaveshwar Temple. It has a flight of stairs to its east. It must have had four pillars supporting a shikhara (superstructure) at one point. This Nandi mandapa’s remains are similar to the one in front of the Mahanaleshwar Temple.
View of the mukhamandapa (front porch) and mandapa (pillared hall) of the Suhaveshwar Temple from the east and the southeast sides. The semi-open mandapa is entered from the eastern side. The mandapa has dwarf walls running all along its north and south sides. There are kakshasanas (seat backs) on the dwarf walls. The temple exterior is austere and minimal in ornamentation.
The Mahanaleshwar temple matha consists of a central open-air courtyard with colonnades on all sides on the ground floor and a row of cells for the ascetics to rest, meditate or reside in the southern part of the upper storey. The pillars surrounding the open courtyard on the ground floor have been reused from some earlier construction at the site. Michael Meister has suggested that the pillars have been reused form the ruinous Triple-shrine Templewhich is in front of the Mahanaleshwar Temple.
This is a broken sculpture of Surya with two lotuses in his upper hands. There are several loose sculptures placed on pedestals, on the ground floor of the matha (monastic or residential building) of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. These fragments were collected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) within the Mahanaleshwar temple complex.
The east-facing elevation and principal entrance of the Suhaveshwar Temple. Suhveshwar Temple is fronted by a Nandi sculpture on a pedestal, but the superstructure of the mandapa (pillared hall) has fallen.
The group of temples in Menal consists of two temple complexes, of which the Suhaveshwar temple complex is situated to the west of the Menali stream, a little away from the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. It is smaller in comparison to the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. It consists of a matha or monastic establishment, the Suhaveshwar Temple, and a Nandi mandapa (pillared hall). All these structures are enclosed by a prakara (compound) which has survived partially.