Halebidu
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Halebidu ಹಳೆಬೀಡು |
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Read view of Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu
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 Halebidu
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| Coordinates: 13°12′57″N 75°59′29″E / 13.2157°N 75.9914°ECoordinates: 13°12′57″N 75°59′29″E / 13.2157°N 75.9914°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Hassan district |
| Elevation | 880 m (2,890 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 8,962 |
| Ethnicity | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Telephone code | 08172 |
| Website | karnataka |
Halebidu (literally "old city") is located in Hassan District, Karnataka, India. Halebidu (which used to be called Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra) was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to some of the best examples of Hoysala architecture. Most notable are the ornate Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara temples. The city got the name "Halebidu" because it was ransacked two times during the invasion of Malik Kafur.
Halebidu was the 12th-13th century capital of the Hoysala empire. The Hoysaleshwara temple was built during this time by Ketamala (around 1121 AD) and attributed to King Vishnuvardhana, the Hoysala ruler. It is believed to have been completed around 1160 AD by Kedaroja, the chief architect of Vishnuvardhana's son and successor Narasimha I (1142 - 1173). It enshrines Hoysaleshwara and Shantaleshwara, named after King Vishnuvardhana Hoysala and his Queen Shantala Devi.
The town was sacked by the armies of Malik Kafur in the early 14th century, after which it fell into a state of disrepair and neglect.
The temple complex comprises two Hindu temples, the Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara temples and two Jain basadi. In front of these temples there is a large lake. The two Nandi images on the sides of the Hoysaleshwara temple are monoliths. Soapstone (chloritic schist) was used for the construction of these temples. There is an archeological museum in the temple complex.
The Hoysaleshwara temple, dating back to the 1121 C.E., is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and shilabalikas or dancing figures. No two sculptures of the temple are the same. This temple, guarded by a Nandi bull, was never completed, despite 86 years of labour. The Jain basadi nearby are equally rich in sculptural detail.
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Wikipedia