STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
KARNATAKA
Hoysala Architecture
The Hoysala
architectural style is considered an intermediate between the Indo-Aryan
and Dravidian traditions. The Hoysala rulers had erected a number
of shrines around Mysore between 1050 and 1300.
Some of the
distinctive styles:
* The
temples have a star shaped base with the main structure standing on a raised
platform.
* There
are three shrines structured around a central pillared hall, each with
a tower.
* Pillars
with horizontal mouldings, produced by a mechanical process.
* There
are intricate grille windows, an abundance of sculptural details.
* The
sikharas unlike the northern style (parabolic) are constructed in well
defined horizontal tiers.
The temples
are almost entirely covered with intricate sculptural carvings. This
was mainly possible, for the temples were constructed out of a very fine
grained soap stone (chloritic schist). It was much easier to work
on this stone unlike granite or sand stone & hence carving intricate
designs was very much possible on this soft stone. A further great
quality of the stone is its softness when first quarried but turning very
hard on exposure to air.
Some of the
temples of this style
Chennakesava
temple, Belur
Hoysaleswara
temple, Halebid
Kesava
temple, Somnathapura
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