Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple near Chikmagalur, Karnataka. I came across the 12th Century Hoysaleswara Temple en route to Chikmagalur. This part is carved out of a single stone and the architecture is one of the best in India. The Hoysaleswara temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. It was built in Halebeedu (in modern-day Karnataka) during the rule of King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty. The construction was completed in 1121 CE. During the early 14th century, Halebeedu was sacked by Muslim invaders from northern India and the temple fell into a state of ruin. Previously known as Dwarasamudra, Halebeedu is 16 km from Belur, 31 km from Hassan and 149 km from Mysore in Karnataka. This photograph shows the trinity of the Hindu pantheon - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (Shiva).