Friday, February 26, 2016

Hoysala Temples 11: Hoysalewara Temple, Halebidu Part 1

Date: 14th Feb 2016

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: Parking Rs50, Guide Rs250.

Timings: Opens at 6:30 AM

Main Deity: Lord Shiva.

Day 2 of the trip started with visiting Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu. Planned to be there early to avoid crowd. We reached around 7:30 and as expected there were not many people. We hired the guide waiting near the temple. He took us around the temple explaining most of the structures outside and inside the temple. The main temple is bigger than the belur temple. This temple is a dvikuta, it has two shrines. Both the shrines are connected and has Shiva Linga. There are two Nandi's infront of the temple facing Lord Shiva. The temple like many Hoysala temples was built on a star shaped platform. The temple was constructed some 900 years ago and makes all its visitors who did they manage to do this so many years ago. The garden around the temple was also well maintained. There is a museum in the complex but was closed when we went there.

Some pics from the temple.

Entrance to the temple.

Second entrance to the temple.

One of the Nandi infront of Lord Shiva.

The path connecting both shrines.

Lord Shiva in one of the temple. Photography allowed here but not in the second.

Another view of Nandi carves out of single stone.

The Nandi hall.

The temple is known for its intricate carvings on the outer walls. Those carvings will be covered in next post.

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