The Hoysala Temples at Halebid and Belur, along with the one at Somnathpur, east of Mysore, are the cream of the most artistically exuberant periods of Hindu cultural development. Their sculptural decoration rivals that of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Konarka (Orissa), or at the best of European Gothic Art.
Construction of Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid began around 1121. Despite more than 80 years of labour, it was never completed. Nevertheless, it is easily the most outstanding example of Hoysala art. Every inch of the outside walls and much of the interior is covered with an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, stylised animals and birds, and friezes depicting the life of the Hoysala rulers.
The Temple is set in a well-tended garden, and there is a small Museum adjacent to it housing a collection of sculptures. The Temple is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and entry is free. The Museum is open daily except Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Hoysalas, who ruled this part of the Deccan between the 11th and 13th centuries, had their origins in the hill tribes of the Western Ghats and were, for a long time, feudatories of the Chalukyans. They did not become fully independent until about 1190 AD, though they first rose to prominence under their leader Tinayaditya (1047-78 AD), who took advantage of the winning power of the Gangas and Rashtrakutas. Under Baliga (1110-52 AD), better known by his later name of Vishnuvardhana, they began to take off on a course of their own and it was during his reign that the distinctive temples at Belur and Halebid were built.
Typically, these temples are squat and star-shaped structures set on a platform to give them some height. They are more human in scale than the soaring temples found elsewhere in India, but what they lack in size they make up in the sheer intricacy of their sculptures.The arts of music and dancing were highly regarded during the Hoysala period. The Hoysalas converted to Jainism in the 10th century, but then took up Hinduism in the 11th century. This is why images of Shaivite, Vaishnavite and Jain sects co-exist in Hoysala temples.
Halebid is only 16 km from Belur. There is Bus service from various parts of Karnataka. The nearest operational Railhead is Arsekere.
I had visited Halebid once while I was in Mysore during 1960-63. I had gone there with my family. The pictures I had taken of the walls of Halebid decorate our living room and bring me all the memories of those days as well as the glorious past of India.