Beyond Belur & Halebidu: Lesser-Known Hoysala Monuments of Karnataka

📌 Context

While Belur, Halebidu, and Somanathapura dominate discussions on Hoysala architecture, the rural landscapes of Hassan, Mandya, and Mysuru host several remarkable yet overlooked Hoysala-era temples and basadis.

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, these monuments reflect the dynasty’s:

✔ Architectural innovation

✔ Sculptural excellence

✔ Religious pluralism

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🧭 Relevance for UPSC

GS Paper I

• Indian Art & Culture

• Temple architecture

• Regional architectural styles

Prelims Focus

• Features of Hoysala architecture

• Chronology & patronage

• Jain & Shaiva-Vaishnava traditions

Essay / Interview

• Heritage conservation

• Cultural tourism

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🏛 Distinctive Features of Hoysala Architecture

✔ Building Material

• Soapstone (chloritic schist)

• Soft → allows intricate carvings

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✔ Ground Plan

• Star-shaped (stellate) platforms

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✔ Shrine Types

• Ekakuta → Single sanctum

• Dvikuta → Two sanctums

• Trikuta → Three sanctums

👉 UPSC Tip: Frequently asked in Prelims

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✔ Decorative Elements

✔ Celestial dancers (madanikas)

✔ Dense sculptural friezes

✔ Mythological narratives

✔ Lathe-turned pillars

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🌟 Important Lesser-Known Sites

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1️⃣ Koravangala (Hassan District)

• Once a vibrant Hoysala centre

• Three temples built by three brothers

Key Structures

✔ Nageshwara Temple (1160 CE)

✔ Govindeshwara Temple (1160 CE)

✔ Bucheshwara Temple (1173 CE)

👉 Represents early & mature phases of Hoysala art

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2️⃣ Javagal – Lakshminarasimha Temple

• Built c. 1250 CE

• Trikuta shrine

Highlights

✔ Elegant elephant motifs

✔ Later Vijayanagara-era gateway

👉 Shows architectural continuity across dynasties

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3️⃣ Doddagaddavalli – Lakshmidevi Temple (1114 CE)

• Among earliest surviving Hoysala temples

Unique Features

✔ Four-shrine (chatushkuta) plan

✔ Rare Mahakali shrine

✔ Tantric iconography (betalas)

👉 Built by merchant woman Sahaja Devi

UPSC Value Addition: Role of non-royal patrons & women

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4️⃣ Hulikere Kalyani (Stepwell)

• 12th-century water structure

Importance

✔ Advanced hydraulic architecture

✔ Aesthetic + functional design

👉 Hoysala innovation beyond temples

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5️⃣ Jain Basadi Complex (Near Halebidu)

Key Basadis

✔ Parshvanatha (1133 CE)

✔ Shantinatha (1192 CE)

✔ Adinatha Basadi

Architectural Traits

✔ Simplicity

✔ Restraint

✔ Clarity

👉 Reflect Jain aesthetic philosophy

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🕉 Religious Pluralism Under Hoysalas

Dynasty patronised:

✔ Shaivism

✔ Vaishnavism

✔ Jainism

✔ Shakta traditions

👉 Example: Doddagaddavalli’s Lakshmi–Shiva–Vishnu–Kali shrines

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⚖ Analytical Insights (UPSC Value Addition)

✅ Contributions

✔ Sculptural realism

✔ Stellate plans

✔ Lathe-turned pillars

✔ Soapstone artistry

✔ Syncretic religious landscape

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❗ Contemporary Concerns

✖ Heritage neglect

✖ Environmental weathering

✖ Urban-centric tourism bias

✖ Need for ASI/state conservation

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🔮 Way Forward

1️⃣ Promote heritage mapping beyond famous circuits

2️⃣ Strengthen community-based conservation

3️⃣ Integrate into cultural tourism routes

4️⃣ Digital documentation (3D scanning)

5️⃣ Awareness in academic curricula

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🧾 Conclusion

These lesser-known monuments reveal:

➡ Depth of Hoysala creativity

➡ Rural heritage richness

➡ Architectural experimentation

➡ Religious coexistence

A reminder that India’s cultural history extends far beyond textbook icons.

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✨ UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Q1. Discuss the distinctive features of Hoysala temple architecture.

Q2. Examine the role of regional dynasties in shaping India’s temple traditions.

Q3. Why is conservation of lesser-known heritage sites important?