The Hoysala Empire ruled southern India from the 10th to 14th centuries and was a major patron of architecture. They built over 1500 temples during their rule in the Karnataka style, which blended northern and southern Indian architectural styles. Some of their most famous temples include the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, which has had continuous prayers since 1220, and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, which was uniquely funded through public donations rather than the king.

1. HOYSALAN
ARCHITECTURE
The 13th Century Influence
QUESTERRA

2. The Legend:
Hoysala influence was at its peak in the
13th century, when it dominated the
Southern Deccan Plateau region.
HOYSALAN
EMPIRE RULED
FROM 10TH TO 14
TH CENTURY IN
SOUTHERN INDIA,
MODERN DAY
KARNATAKA.
QUESTERRA

3. It is widely believed that the
founder of Hoysalan
dynasty
slew a charging tiger with a
spear and saved a saint. The
emblem of the empire has
its origins here.
The courage and Valour of King:

4. HOYASALAN'S WERE MAJOR
CONTRIBUTORS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITIES AND
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT.
BUILT OVER 1500 TEMPLES DURING
THEIR REIGN
HOYSALAN EMPIRE
QUESTERRA

5. ONE OF THE EARLIEST
EMPIRES TO PROMOTE
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.
MONUMENTS WERE BUILT
FOR DIFFERENT
RELIGIOUS SECTS.
THEIR STYLE OF
ARCHITECTURE WAS A
HYBRID OF “NAGARA” AND
“DRAVIDIAN” STYLES OF
ARCHITECTURE.
REPRESENTING THE
NORTH AND SOUTH OF
INDIA.
QUESTERRA

6. HOYSALAN TOWNS WERE
CONSTRUCTED IN A
COSMIC PATTERN WITH
STREETS ON ALL FOUR
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
AND THE TEMPLE AT THE
CENTER.
THE PRAYERS AT
CHENNAKESHAVA TEMPLE
HAVE BEEN GOING ON
CONTINUOUSLY SINCE
1220 AD.
.
QUESTERRA

7. THE 108 STONE
CARVINGS IN THE
TEMPLE NARRATE
DETAILS ABOUT THE
TEMPLE’S HISTORY FROM
1117 TO 18 TH CENTURY
AD.
HOYSALESHWARA
TEMPLE, 1121 AD WAS
ONE OF A KIND, SINCE IT
WAS BUILT BY
DONATIONS MADE BY
CITIZENS AND
MERCHANTS OF
HALEBIDU.
TRADITIONALLY, THE
KING WAS ALWAYS THE
ONE WHO BUILT MAJOR
TEMPLES.
QUESTERRA

8. MOUNTED ON A STAR
SHAPED PLATFORM IS A
HUGE 42M HIGH PILLAR OR
LAMP POST. THIS IS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF TEMPLE
COURTYARD AND THE MOST
AMAZING THING ABOUT
THIS IS- THE PILLAR
STANDS ON ITS OWN!
IT DOES NOT HAVE A
FOUNDATION BELOW IT
AND SINCE, IT STANDS
ERECT ON ITS OWN
WEIGHT, IT IS CALLED AS
GRAVITY PILLAR.
THE STAR SHAPED
PLATFORM ON WHICH IT
STANDS, IS A TYPICAL
DESIGN OF HOYSALA
DYNASTY.
THE ENTIRE
CHENNAKESHVARA TEMPLE
IS BUILD IN A STAR-SHAPED
MANNER.
QUESTERRA

9. HOYSALESHWARA
TEMPLE, 1121 AD
WAS ONE OF A
KIND, SINCE IT WAS
BUILT BY
DONATIONS MADE
BY CITIZENS AND
MERCHANTS OF
HALEBIDU.
TRADITIONALLY,
THE KING WAS
ALWAYS THE
ONE WHO BUILT
MAJOR TEMPLES.
QUESTERRA