Hoysalesawara Temple, Halebidu
There is a hidden beauty in the architecture of the Halebidu Hoysalesawara Temple. This famous temple was built in the 12th century by kind Hoysala from the Hoysala dynasty; it’s situated at a close distance of around 150km (93 miles) to Mysore. This temple has a tragic history where it was looted in the 14th century and turned into ruins, but rebuilt in the later years. The best part about this temple is that it is located in a good distance to the Belur which is around 16km (9.9 miles) and 31km (19 miles) from Hassan.Important Details
Halebidu Hoysalesawara Temple
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Location: Halebidu
Timings: 6:30 am - 9:00 pm
Entry fee: NA
Important festival: Shivratri
Best time to visit:
Historical Background
This historical background of Hoysaleshawara Temple in Halebidu is quite interesting because this name of this temple comes from King Vishnuvarshana Hoysaleshawara. This temple that was built by the king had the main motive of competing with the Chennakesava Temple which was under construction that time, now known as the Vaishnava Temple. Tourists have a special connection with this temple because it gives a stunning view with a beautiful surrounding adorned with ponds, mandapas, and lakes. The place is famous and frequently visited by tourists due to its brilliant architecture.The Halebidu Hoysaleshwara Temple is exclusively dedicated to Lord Shiva but the surrounding influence of several religions like Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Jainism are also seen in the temple and its rituals. The carvings on the exterior of the temple look incredible that reflects the 12th-century lifestyle.
Architecture
Now that you have plans to visit the Hoysalesawara Temple in Halebid, you can get some idea about its stunning architectures before stepping into this place. The best feature of this temple is its intricate carvings and interior. The structure of the temple was planned with two side by side shrines that are connected, one for the King and the other for the queen. The exterior of the walls has thousands of sculptures and carvings which enhances the beauty of the temple. The sculptures depict scenes from Ramayana, and Mahabharata and beautifully constructed with soapstones.Nothing beats the outer walls of the temple as it is known as an outstanding piece of Hindu architecture. You will come across four porches as the entryways with the main shrine towards the east. To give you a glimpse of the interior of the temple, you will come across dancing Ganesha at the entrance and much intricate painting in the interiors much different from any other surrounding temple.
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Twin Temple
The concept of twin temple came into the picture due to the two different shrines that are present in the temple. The interior of the temple consists of two super spectrums which are connected with Shiv Linga on each of the shrines. The twin temple is said to be dedicated to the masculine and feminine aspects as Hoysaleshawara and Santalesawara Shiva Lingas.The concept of twin temple is quite interesting because the back story of the temple states that while the king worshipped the masculine form, the queen worshipped the feminine one. When you explore the area, you will find a Nandi Shrine outside each twin temple. The order of paying a visit involves the devotee to climb down the stairs of the main temple along with the Shiv Linga and climb up again with the shrine to visit it. The shrines are star-shaped and connected from one end to the other.
Outer Walls
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Carving on Hoysalesawara Temple
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• You will be able to some of the brilliant carvings of animals and mythical creatures in the lowest layer of the wall. The wall is adorned from bottom to top with figures of Lions, elephants, miniature dancers, scrolls, horses, and some scenes from Hindu texts, the beauty of the wall is enhanced with the carvings of beautiful beasts.
• The interesting facts about these carvings are stated by famous historians and researchers that no two creatures carved on the wall will look alike. The events from Hindu mythology have a glimpse of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The outer wall of the temple looks brilliant because it narrates the Hindu epics. The art looks perfect because the entire pantheon of Hindu divinities is present in the carvings.
These carvings don’t just present stories or amazement, but the excellence of the artisans from the past. Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture these magnificently sculpted beauties.
Interior
The interior of the Hoysaleshwara temple is equally beautiful with beautiful shrines at four entrances of the temple; the remaining beauty is fulfilled with the two doorkeeper statue situated on either side. The pillars are plain without any carvings but still radiate the beauty and history of ancient times.
Artists
As compared to the other shrines in India, this temple has a signature ad statement by the artists written usually on a pedestal or underneath the artwork. You will be amazed to see some of the names repeated several times that show the artistry and creativity of the artist. The guilds also had some of the iconic marks of the elements like Indra, Agni, etc. Some of the names that are frequently repeated are Ballana, Mabala, Manibalaki, Bama, etc. How to Travel?
This temple has some of the easiest modes of transportation, and it’s well-connected with most of the famous cities India.
By Air
Bangalore and Mysore have the nearest airport to the temple area, the airport is also connected with convenient road transportation.
By Rail
Bangalore and Mysore have the nearest railway station and many trains run from Hassan to Mysore and Bangalore.
By Road
You will find regular buses from Halebidu to Hassan. You can easily take a bus or train from Bangalore to Hassan.Explore the incredible temple and don’t forget the camera to capture the beauty of this place. The transportation routes are convenient from all the major cities in the surrounding area.