A huge kneeling Nandi stands in the front facing the temple and a look at it clearly indicates it must have been painted in gorgeous colours once. In those days, all the sculptures were painted brightly. Now only traces are seen; and they are not inferior to those of Ajanta. At the entrance are eight sub-shrines, of which the third from the right was built by Rangapatakai, queen of Rajasimha. The shrine next in the entrance and opposite to the main shrine is called Mahendresvaram and was built by the king