A prominent feature of the Madurai style was the ornate and heavily sculptured tower or gopuram over the entrance of temple. None of the important religious constructions of this style within the territory that formed the Jaffna kingdom survived the destructive hostility of the Portuguese.
The Madurai architectural style, characterized by its ornate and elaborately sculpted towers known as gopurams, was largely destroyed by the Portuguese during their hostile actions against important religious constructions in the Jaffna kingdom.