Imagine being transported back in time to witness the grandeur and magnificence of temple architecture in the region of Karnataka, India. This is the essence of the Hoysala Art temples in Chikkamagaluru.
Let us explore a few examples of Hoysala architecture in the region of chikkamagaluru.
4 Hoysala Art Temples In Chikkamagaluru
Veernarayana Temple
Belavadi is 29 km from Chikmagalur and 10 km from Halebidu. Since the temple was built before 1206, an inscription available at the site mentions the donation of land to facilitate the worship of Veeranarayana. This is a trikuta mandir. Situated in the heart of Malnad, this temple is in good condition as it was not attacked by anyone. The reason for the crumbling of the idols on the outer wall and some degree of deformity in some places can be attributed to the apathy of the locals. There are a total of 7 gates to this temple. Since they are in the same straight line, after sunrise on January 27 every year, the rays of the sun reach the sanctum sanctorum.
Veeranarayana Temple has a huge magnificent architectural beauty along with sculptural beauty. It is eye-catching with its size and extent. Though constructed at different times, it is a small mantapa with a sloping roof at the beginning in a straight line, followed by a hall with a wide courtyard and three sanctum sanctorums, which illustrates the architecture of the day. Though the temples at Nuggehalli, Hosaholalu, Vighnasanthe, Somanathapura and Hirenallur are trikutas, none of them are as big as the Veeranarayana Temple here. The sloping mandapa constructed initially has been constructed keeping in mind the atmosphere of Malnad. Now many ancient sculptures are arranged here.
Hoysala temples are not as tall as Dravidian temples. Only this mandapa is tall. The elephant sculptures at its entrances are reminiscent of the elephants in the Madhukeshwara temple in Banavasi. After this, there are 46 pillars in the same straight hall at a distance of about 60 feet. These are reminiscent of the pillars of Amritapura. The 9 vithanas on the roof between these pillars are attractive, with intricate designs. There is kakshasana all around. There is a sit-down verandah. At the bottom of the verandah are sculptures of various postures of elephants. Mahouts are depicted taking them to battle. The decorations made for them and their movement postures are attractive.
Each elephant is different and does not look like one. On the left and right sides of the Navaranga are the sanctum sanctorums of Venugopala and Yoga Narasimha. If you pass through Sukanasi, the veeranarayana temple is in the middle. These three idols made of black stones are magnificent. The three temples have separate peaks. Just like the sculptural beauty inside the templeThe wall is also made up of beautiful sculptures. The leelamurtis of Lord Vishnu seen on the peak are beautiful.
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Keshava And Siddheshwara Temple
It is located near Chikkamagaluru. The twin temples at Mosalehosahalli village near Hassan have already been mentioned. They are both identical structures. Siddheshwara and Keshava temples are another pair of temples at Marale near Chikkamagaluru in Malnad. There is a difference in the size of the two. In front of the Keshava temple is a pair of beautiful elephants holding lotus flowers in their trunks. A huge 12-feet-high inscription is erected next to the temple. It contains a collection of many historical information. The temples of Belur and Halebidu were built in 1117. 17 years earlier, that is, 17 years earlier.
Sand temples were built in 1100. In 2013, idols of 16 stone girls were stolen from the temple. It had been stolen before. The twin temple, which is languishing due to lack of proper maintenance, still needs proper protection. In 1130, Rayanna Dandanatha built the Keshava temple. During its construction, Vishnuvardhana donated money to them. The Keshava temple is slightly larger in size than the Siddheshwar temple. Four tables can be seen in its implementation. There are idols in the devakoshtas. There are idols of Lord Vishnu in the Dakshinatara Koshtas. In which the southern table is decorative. There are beautiful elephants holding lotus flowers on either side of the entrance of the temple which has a new peak.
Two pillars of 32 angles, lakshminarayana, dikpalakas found in vitana, 24 forms of Vishnu are impressive. Looking at the quality and style of the sculptures, it seems that these may have been due to the architects of the sculptures of Belur Halebidu. Idols have also been stolen from this temple. Earlier, there were idols of Madanikas and Yakshas on four pillars. Of the sixteen madanikas, only five are left now. The carvings on the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum have idols of Narayana and Keshava. Siddheshwara, the presiding deity of this temple, is also known as Kalideva. Its taladesign is similar to that of the Keshava temple. But there is only a difference in size. There is a hero stone dating back to 1.
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Channakeshava Temple
The temple was built by Ballala II in 1178. It was a large agrahara of the Hoysala period in the 12th-13th century and has five Shiva temples, Channigaraya and Lokeshwara, Beeralingeshwara, Deveeramma and Veerabhadra temples. Of these, the Veerabhadra temple has been renovated. There are two large inscriptions in front of this temple. The text in these is the same and an inscription may have been prepared to be installed elsewhere. It has to be in one place because it is not being implemented. This is also special. The text of this inscription can be seen in the collection of pictures. It is not known whether the abundance of temples here is the reason for their indifference.
The temple has been defaced with colours. Colors can be washed. But does God appreciate that the temple itself has to be used as a barn? Cattle are tied to the pillars of the inscription. Trees and trees have grown on top of the temple. As a sign of efforts to restore it at one time, a strange peak is seen erected on top of the sanctum sanctorum. The temple would have been in good condition if it had been kept as well as it could. Channakeshavaswamy’s hand is not worshipped as it is different. In fact, that should not be the reason. The temple should be kept clean, a new idol should be installed and worshipped. However, considering the antiquity of the temple and its historical and artistic value.
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Also Read;
Delving Into The History Of Hoysala Temples In Hassan, Karnataka (thearchspace.com)
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