Cellar found in Srirangam temple in TN

A cellar measuring 200 sq ft was found inside the eighth century Lord Ranganathaswamy temple here during renovation work, a senior official said today.
Workers stumbled upon the cellar, measuring 10 ft by 4 ft by 20 ft during the ongoing renovation works at the sprawling complex of the eighth century AD temple, Executive Officer and Joint Commissioner Jayaraman said today.
A vestibule-like structure, four feet in width and 20 feet in length, was found by the workers when the wall behind the portrait of Sri Dhanvantri (Lord Vishnu) at Sri Venugopalan sub-temple caved in during the work.
At the end of the vestibule there was a two sq ft granite slab which was also removed when the cellar came to light, he said adding that nothing though was found inside the cellar.

According to archaeological experts, several temples in the state had similar cellars, which were mainly used to protect the temple articles during the invasion by kings from other countries.
The Vengopalan temple itself was full of beautiful sculptures, built during the Hoysala period in the 8th century AD.