In South India, the equivalent term is "vimana"; unlike the "shikhara", this refers to the whole building, including the sanctum beneath. In the south, "shikhara" is a term for the top stage of the vimana only, which is usually a dome capped with a finial; this article is concerned with the northern form. The southern "vimana" is not to be confused with the elaborate gateway-towers of south Indian temples, called "gopuram", which are often taller and more prominent features in large temples.