A visitor may enter through the elaborate doorframe/architrave of the gateway (pratoli). It has intricate designs on the shakkhas (vertical bands), sculpture at the bottom and an image of a seated Lakuslisa at the centre of the latatabimba (lintel). The Lakuslisa figure is holding a club in hand. The doorframe has depictions of Shaiva dvarapalas (door guardians) on both sides.
This is a view of the interiors of the semi-open pratoli of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The central passage is flanked on both sides by verandahs with ruchaka pillars with square shafts. The pillar bases are carved with divine figures.
The lower portion of the doorframe of the entrance gateway, of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex, is detailed and has three sculptures: one attendant and two river goddess figures. Below these sculptures is the ratnapatta (plinth with diamond motif).
The enclosure wall of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex that starts from the pratoli (entrance gateway) on both sides can be seen here. The two-storeyed gateway is adorned with pyramidical canopy roof.
Different architectural fragments are dispersed next to the pratoli (entrance gateway), in the premises of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. Seen here are fragments of a pillar capital, part of the samvarna shikhara (pyramidical superstructure) of the mandapa (pillared hall), and a pillar fragment. Minute carvings on the round shaft remnant of the pillar.
Pictured here is a view of the two-storeyed entrance gateway to the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The gateway is part of an enclosure wall that demarcates the boundaries of the complex on all four sides. Inside the enclosure walls are several temples, of which the shikhara (superstructure) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple is visible from the outside.
Sculpture of a six-handed Bhairava in a devakoshtha (niche) on the right-side wall of the entrance gateway to the Mahanaleshwar complex. The attributes that Bhairava holds include a kapala (human skull), a khatvanga (staff with a human skull), a damru (hourglass-shaped drum), a khadga (dagger), a dhal (shield), and a talwar (a type of sword). The Bhairava sculpture is flanked by a dog and a skeletal figure.
Pictured here is the north-facing view of the two-storeyed entrance gateway of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. It is a semi-open space with a porch on the ground floor, a plain balcony with dwarf walls on the first floor, and a canopy with a pyramidical spire on the top.