India nominates Hoysala Temples for inscription in the World Heritage List

• 02 Feb 2022

On 31st January 2022 three Hoysala temples - Chennakeshava Temple (Belur), Hoysaleswara Temple (Halebidu), and the Keshava Temple (Somanathapura) in Karnataka were nominated by India for consideration as World Heritage for the year 2022-2023.

• The 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala' are on UNESCO's Tentative list since 15th April, 2014 and represent one of the highest points of human creative genius and stand testimony to the rich historical and cultural heritage of our country.

Hoysala Empire

• The Hoysala Empire ruled most of what is now Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu.
• The Hoysala era was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. The empire is remembered today primarily for Hoysala architecture.

Few Distinguished Features of Hoysala Architecture

• Hoysala temples are hybrid or vesara in nature as their unique style seems neither completely Dravida nor Nagara, but somewhere in between.
• Vimana (shikara) in pyramidal shape.
• They are made out of soapstone which is a relatively soft stone that gives artists room for intricate design.
• The temples come with star-like ground-plans and a profusion of decorative carvings.
• The jagati around the temple is the open pradakshinapatha.