The ceiling is organized as a complex grid with a sculpted decoration in the center.  It was too big for one picture, so I've put together this snazzy image map.

Looking at it in detail, the pictures start to look a lot more like 17th century or later pictures.  For me, that's particularly the look of the faces, the way the eyes are drawn has a look I've always thought of as "out of period".  I can't say whether or not seeing the images up close and personal helped, or whether I'm just justifying the Vijayanagara Research Project.

The images are of select scenes from the Ramayana, the incarnations of Vishnu and other prominent stories.

One thing I didn't appreciate before was the beautiful patterns in between pictures.

Around the base of the ceiling, a set of bas relief sculptures line the walls.  I have no doubt that these are not historical - they were being fixed and reconstructed and repainted while I was there.

To see all ceiling pictures - click here.