Top 10 Hoysala Temples

1. Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

The Chennakeshava Temple, originally called Vijayanarayana Temple was built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital, is in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from Bangalore. Chennakesava (lit, "handsome Kesava") is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Belur is well known for its marvelous temples built during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty and has been proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Reason: Chennakeshava Temple, Belur is the largest of all the Hoysala temples. This was the first temple that made Hoysalas famous and brought them to limelight. The architecture and craftsmanship is of the highest quality. 

2. Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu

Hoysaleswara temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It was built in Halebidu (in modern Karnataka state, India) during the rule of King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. The construction was started around 1120 CE and completed in 1150 CE. Previously known as Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra, Halebidu is 16 km from Belur, 31 km from Hassan and 149 km from Mysore, in the state of Karnataka, India.

Reason: Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu is the largest of all the Hoysala temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The detailed carvings and the lathe turned pillars inside the temple complex are astonishing. Halebidu was the capital of the Hoysalas, hence the temple complex received lot of importance. Along with Belur temple, Halebidu is also proposed to be a UNESCO World heritage site.

3. Keshava Temple, Somanathapura

The Chennakesava Temple located at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka (lit, "commander") in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Reason: The temple complex is not as big as Belur or Halebidu but definitely a close competitor. The most extraordinary level of detailed carvings all along the temple walls. A 3 shrine temple architecture with the finest quality of craftsmanship found nowhere else.  

4. Veeranarayana Temple, Belavadi

The Veera Narayana temple is located in Belavadi, a village in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was built during the rule of the Hoysala Empire. Known to legend as Ekachakranagara, Belavadi is said to be the place mentioned in Mahabharatha where Pandava prince Bheema killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people. Belavadi is 29 km southeast of Chikmagalur town on the Chikmagalur-Javagal highway. 

Reason: Another staggering 3 shrined temple architecture with several finely polished lathe turned pillars and amazing vimana super structure. A very well maintained temple complex and very close to Belur and Halebidu.

5. Lakshminarasimha Temple, Nuggehalli

The Lakshmi Narasimha temple was built in 1246 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala Empire during he rule of King Vira Someshwara. It is a good example of 13th century Hoysala architecture. Located a short distance away in Nuggehalli, and built around the same time is the Sadashiva temple. The town was called Vijaya Somanathapura in ancient times and gained importance as an agrahara (place of learning) during the time of Bommanna Dandanayaka. Nuggehalli, is a town in Hassan district of Karnataka, India. It is located on the Tiptur-Channarayapatna state highway and is about 50 km from Hassan city. It is well connected by road with Bangalore, the state capital.

Reason: The Sadasiva and Lakshminarasimha twin temples of Nuggehalli are the finest examples of the great Hoysala architecture. The carvings of various avatars of vishnu around the Laskhminarasimha temple outer walls are really extraordinary.

6. Lakshmidevi Temple, Doddagaddavalli

The Lakshmi Devi temple is located in Doddagaddavalli, a village in Hassan District of Karnataka state, India. It is located 16 km from the district capital Hassan and lies on the Hassan city - Belur highway. The Lakshmi Devi temple, was built by the Hoysala Empire King Vishnuvardhana in 1114 C.E.

Reason: The only Hoysala temple dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi unlike Vishnu or Shiva. The architecture style is not typical of the hoysalas (hints of nagara style). The temple complex is beautiful and truly unique.

7. Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu

The Lakshminarayana Temple is located in Hosaholalu, a small town in the Mandya district of Karnataka state, India. It was built by King Vira Someshwara of the Hoysala Empire in 1250 C.E. The dating of the temple is based on the style of the sculptures and architecture that compares closely with the contemporary Hoysala monuments at Javagal, Nuggehalli and Somanathapura. The town of Hosaholalu is about 60 kilometres from Hassan and 45 kilometres from the heritage city of Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka state.

Reason: The temple is a splendid example of trikuta architecture and is considered as second phase of hoysala architecture. The temple outer walls have carvings of various forms of hindu god Vishnu and his attendants. The stellar vimana superstructure is splendid and looks amazing.

8. Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu

The Mallikarjuna temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is in Basaralu, a small town in the Mandya district, Karnataka state, India. Basaralu is close to Nagamangala and about 65 km from the culturally important city of Mysore. The temple was built by Harihara Dhannayaka around 1234 A.D. during the rule of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Narasimha II.

Reason: The temple is highly ornate and is a 3 shrined structure dedicated to Lord Shiva. The carvings around the temple wall depict stories of various avatars of vishnu from ramayana, mahabharata and other puranas. The carvings are of the highest quality and craftsmanship.

9. Bucesvara Temple, Koravangala

The Bucesvara temple (also spelt Bucheshwara or Bucheshvara) is a simple yet elegant specimen of 12th century of Hoysala architecture. It is located in the village of Korvangla, 10 km from Hassan city, in Hassan district or Karnataka state, India. The temple was built in 1173 A.D. by a rich officer called Buci to celebrate the coronation of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. 

Reason: Another unique temple with a dedicated shrine to the Sun god Surya found nowhere else. The temple complex looks staggering with the finely polished lathe turned pillars and elegant craftsmanship.

10. Ishwara Temple, Arasikere

The Ishwara Temple in Arasikere town of the Hassan district in Karnataka state, India, dates to 1220 CE rule of Hoysala Empire. Arasikere (lit "Queens tank"; Arasi means "queen" or "princess" and kere means "tank" in the Kannada language) is located 140 km north of the historic city of Mysore and 41 km east of Hassan city. The temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, though modest in size and figure sculpture, is considered the most complex one in architecture among surviving Hoysala monuments because of its ground plan: a 16-pointed star shaped mantapa (hall), in addition to an asymmetrical star shaped shrine, whose star points are of three different types.

Reason: Unique architectural features of a 16 star shape pointed superstructure found nowhere else. A simple yet elegant non traditional example of hoysala architecture.