Monday, February 29, 2016

Hoysala Temples 12: Hoysalewara Temple, Halebidu Part 2

Date: 14th Feb 2016

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh.

My previous post on Hoysaleswara temple Halebidu has more details about the temple. This post will cover the relief work on the walls of the temple. The temple was built on the star shaped platform. This temple has eight frieze panels unlike other temples which has only six. The elephants are at the bottom. No two elephant on the panel looks alike. Above that is the lion the Hoysala dynasty emblem. Flower occupy the 3rd row followed by horse and then flower again. Above that is the story of Ramayana and Mahabaratha carved in stone. seventh panel has the mythical creature which is a combination of seven animals. Last panels is decorated with carvings of swan.


The exterior wall also follows the star shape.

Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The guides in Belur and Halebidu call them Generator, Operator and Destroyer thus GOD.

No block left without any carvings.


Entrance to the temple with the door keepers on both sides.

Top of the entrance.

Side view of the temple.

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.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Hoysala Temples 10: Chennakesava Temple, Belur. Part 3

Date: 13th Feb 2016

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

You can read more about the chennakeshava temple in belur in my previous two posts part 1 and part 2.

Few more intricate carvings in Chennakeshava temple.

Elaborate carvings above the main entrance. The mythical creature a fusion of seven animals can be found on both sides. The circular rings depict all the avatars of Lord Vishnu.

The emblem of Hoysala dynasty.

The wall with fine carvings.

Beautiful Lord Narshimha sculpture.

Lord Manmathan and his consort Rathi.

Carving of Lord Vishnu lying on serpent and lord bramha seated on a lotus from Vishnu's navel.

One of the decorative pillar inside the temple. One of the most beautiful pillars.

The design on the roof inside the temple.

Lord Narasimha killing hiranyakashipu carved in the roof.

One of the statue inside the temple. The crown is the most attractive part in this with small openeing between each layer.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Hoysala Temples 9: Chennakesava Temple, Belur. Part 2

Date: 13th Feb 2016

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

This post we will take a closer look and some of the carvings around the temple.

See previous post for more details about the Chennakeshava temple.

The famous darpana sundari pillar bracket. On the right side see a women carrying a monkey in one hand and grapes in another hand.

See a bathrobe around that man? Carved around 900 years ago.

See the donkey face? Message is at the young age even a donkey will look good.

See the lizard trying to eat some fruits?

Eight hand Lord Ganesha.

Lord Shiva dancing inside the elephant stomach. See the head down and legs on top right and left corner.

A lady holding a deer. The feet is not in a standard pose pressed to the ground. Its raised up.

A lady adjusting the toe ring.

42 feet pillar standing without any foundation. The closer look reveals one part of the stone not even touching the platform.

There are many more such detailed carvings in the temple that leaves all the visitors amazed. 

Friday, February 19, 2016

Hoysala Temples 8: Chennakesava Temple, Belur. Part 1

Date: 13th Feb 2016

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh.

Timing: 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM.

Fee: None for entry. Rs300 for Guide. Rs20 for camera inside the temple. Rs10 for shoe keeping.

Main Deity: Lord Vishnu.

After visiting Lakshminarashimha temple in Javagal we drove to Belur. We reached there little after lunch time. We checked in to Hotel Mayura and rested for couple of hours.

We planned the trip in a way that we will be at either Belur or Halebidu during sunset. The temple was just 500m from the hotel so we decided to walk instead of taking the car again. We reached there at 5 PM and took a guide to show us around the temple. The guided tour got over and we were on our own when the sun started setting down behind the temple. The clouds were painted orange and the site was pretty.

I can not cover the temple of this beauty in one post. I tried to break it down into multiple sections. This post will cover mainly the bigger structures in the temple.

Some pics of the temple structures.

The Rajagopuram. This is unlike of the hoysala temples. The structure was not part of the original plan and was added later.

The view of the Rajagopuram and the gravity pillar.

View of Rajagopuram, Flagstaff and the gravity pillar.

The tall pillar that stands without any foundation.

Sunset .

Side view of the Chennakesava temple.

Front view of the temple.

Sunset behind the Andal temple.


Kappe Chennigaraya temple.



Sunset behind Soumyanayaki temple.


They were happy i remembered to click their pic too ;)

A memorable evening at one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.

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