The Hoysaleswara Temple is also known as the Halebid Temple and is located in Belur, Karnataka. This temple was established way back in the 12th century, and it is mainly a temple for the Hindus. The main deity residing in this temple is Lord Shiva, and a lot of religious tourists come to visit this holy place.
The location of the Temple is on Belur as mentioned before, and it is inside the town of Halebid situated in the state of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple is precisely along the western side of Dwarasamudra Lake, and it is one of the prominent signs of the empire of Hoysala. In the whole region of Southern India, the Temple is one of the most dedicated places for Lord Shiva. This temple is among the three famous landmarks representing the Hoysala Empire. It is one of the nice spot to visit during your Chikamagalur tour package.
Hoysaleswara Temple History
The name of the this Temple in Belur comes from the name of one of the Hoysala dynasty era rulers, King Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara. King Hoysaleswara is also believed to have paid for constructing this temple. The construction period of this temple was between 1121 CE to 1160 CE. There are two proper main shrines in the temple, and these shrines are dedicated to King Hoysaleswara, and his wife Shantala Devi, and named as Shantaleswara. There is also an image of Sun God Surya Dev, which is 7 ft in height, and a sculpture of one Lord Shiva’s attendant, Nandi, is also present.
Hoysaleswara Temple Architecture
The decoration and the designs of the temple are fabulous, and Shilpkar Kedoraja was the builder. The walls are painted with pictures, which depict various stories of the soldiers of Hoysala and their heroic journeys along with the Gods. The sculptures are also beautiful.
By the end of the 14th century, Muslim armies attacked the temple and damaged the art and architecture. The loss was minimal, and the Temple has been given a spot among the top 7 wonders in India. The proposal of listing it as a UNESCO recognized world heritage site is also underway. It is one of the top places to visit in Belur.
Hoysaleswara Temple Timings
The temple timings are from 6:30 AM to 9 PM for visitors.