OMG, this temple pillar has been hanging for 1,200 yrs

At the Mallikarjuneswarar temple in Dharmapuri fort stands — or should we say hangs — a sculptural wonder: A pillar suspended for more than 1,200 years. The structure at the ‘Kottai Koil' or fort temple can be traced to the eighth century ‘Nulambar' period of the Pallava dynasty.
"The pillar hangs 2cm above the ground. The space is clearly visible. You can slide a piece of cloth or paper under the pillar," says C Chandrashekaran, archaeologist and professor in the history department at Dharmapuri Govt Arts and Science College."All the other temple pillars weigh 20 tonnes, but the hanging pillar, the only unsupported one, weighs 2.5 tonnes. The hanging pillar is in the ardha mandapam, next to the sanctum sanctorum. "The pillars were erected before the mandapam's roof was built. The pillar is affixed to the roof with a paste, which has held it in place for more than a millennium, showcasing the sculptural brilliance of the Nulambas."
The hexagonal-shaped pillar has relief sculptures on all sides. One side illustrates the story of sacrifice, where a man falls upside down onto a trident, and Goddess Kamakshi reaches out to rescue him. The other three pillars are adorned with headless lion sculptures at their bases. The ceiling features an intricately carved navagraha.
"There are three temples in India that have hanging pillars," says Venkataguru Prasanna, Dharmapuri and Salem officer of the Tamil Nadu archaeology department. "One is the Lepakshi temple at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh that dates to the 16th century, while another is at Pattadakal in Karnataka dating to the 8th century. But in these two temples, the ardha mandapam has several pillars, one being a hanging pillar. In the Dharmapuri temple, the hanging pillar is among the main pillars."