The art and sculptures of Perur temple: Coffee table book ‘Perura Pateesa’ presents an immersive experience of Coimbatore’s iconic Perur temple

The iconic Perur Pateeswarar temple stands tall where Noyyal, the lifeline of Coimbatore, once flourished. While archaeological evidence traces the earliest structural presence of the temple to 2nd century BCE, the first clear developments appeared during the reign of the Kongu Cholas, around the 10 CE. A newly-released coffee table book titled Perura Pateesa by photographer and film maker Amar Ramesh, documents the temple in great depth with stunning visuals backed with nuggets on history, legend and myths.

“I have been to the temple many times, but I’ll see it very differently the next time after going through the details and history you’ve captured,” I say, beginning my phone conversation with the Chennai-based Amar. He replies, “That’s the beauty of our temples. They are all grand and amazing, but often we leave without truly experiencing them. My goal is to create books that are as magnificent as the temples themselves, while also showcasing intricate details. I want the next generation to engage with these books.” Amar is the founder of Studio A and Mara Labs, a Chennai-based publishing house that documents Indian heritage through coffee table books.