Kedareshwara Temple in Halebidu
Located in the Hassan District of Karnataka State, the Kedareshwara Temple is near the famous Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, The architecture and interior of the temple are quite impressive and countless tourists visit this place every year to explore this historic temple. The temple was built in the year 1219 AD by Hoysala King Veera Ballala II and his queen Ketaladevi. The temple is made with soapstones, and it’s dedicated to the important god of the Hindus known as Lord Shiva. The brilliant architecture of the Halebidu Kedareshwara Temple is protected as national importance by the Archeological Survey of India. Here are some important details about the temple that you must know before visiting.Quick Glance
Location: Halebidu Kedareshwara Temple (Lord Shiva), Watehalla, Halebidu, Karnataka 573121
Temple timings: Morning 9:00 am to evening at 8:00 pm
Built-in: Kedareshwara Temple, 1173 – 1219
Kedareshwara Temple
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Legends
The Kedareshwara Temple in Halebidu is one of the most important archeological legacies of Veera Ballala II. He was a noticeable monarch of his time and his stories and monumental genius is praised even today. He succeeded over the Southern Kalachuris, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the Western Chalukya Empire. Apart from these successes, he also dominated some of the diminishing Cholas of Tanjore.Architecture
The architecture of Kedareshwara Temple in Halebidu is a brilliant example of the Hoysala style of structure of the olden days. Some main additions inside the temple are the Vimana and Mahamandapa which enhance the interior of the temple’s architecture. The main shrine is outlined in a star shape with two smaller shrines. The temple has three shrines in total and the sanctums connected to a central hall.The interior also have a porch that connects the central hall to the platform. The deity of worship is missing from the sanctums, and the superstructure is also lost. You will find the temple on a platform called the jahati which is five to six feet tall, small steps are used to reach to the top.
Surrounding Attractions
Once you are visiting the brilliant Kedareshwara Temple in Halebidu, don’t miss out on some of these places as they deserve a visit.1. Archaeological Museum, Halebidu
This open-air museum houses some of the brilliant pieces of sculptures, inscriptions, and exhibits. The displays in these museums represent Indian Art at various exhibitions. The museum also displays some of the statues and sculptures of Nataraja and Veena Saraswati, dancing Shiva, and it also displays a bronze statue of Tirthankara and many other important sculptures.2. City Shopping
There are many things that you can buy in Halebidu as souvenirs, you can shop for terracotta items, religious items, and statues, there are many close by shops available for shopping in the area.3. Shantaleswara Temple
This temple is another famous attraction in the area and the deity worshipped is Lord Shantaleswara made with soft soapstone; a Shiva Linga is also present inside the temple.4. Basadi Halli
This temple is located in between the Hoysaleswara temple and the Kedareshwara Temple. The Badasi Halli has three Jian temples and is more like a complex with temples like Adinatha Swamy Temple, Parshwanatha Swamy Temple, and Shantinatha Swamy Temple. The entire three temples is a brilliant piece of architecture and have a specialty of their own.5. Hoysaleswara Temple
This is the largest and the famous temple in Halebidu in the surrounding area, and it is known for its remarkable architecture. This temple is close to the bus stand and receives countless attractions due to its brilliant history and architecture. The stunning structure has made it to be one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The temple was built in the 1121 AD, and it’s dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Now that you have all the basic details about this temple you must also know some of the suitable routes to the temple.How to Reach?
This temple is well-connected to all the major surrounding cities and most for the transportation platform. Here are three transport facilities available to the temple easily.
Road:
Bangalore is well-connected to Halebidu via NH 48, and also the state highway till Belur. You can also go for some alternate route that will be a direction that connects Halebidu to Hassan.
Rail:
The Hassan junction is connected to all the major cities, like (Arsikere, Mangalore, and Mysore), the Arsikere junction connecting the Bangalore and Mumbai line along with the Chennai.
Airways:
The temple can easily be reached from most of the roadways via bus, taxi because it is very close to the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli. Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture the stunning view of the architecture. Make sure you keep some essential things handy, like a bottle of water, a headscarf to cover your head, and most importantly, wear comfortable shoes.