Halebid—India
This town was the capital of the Hoysalas. It was known then as Dwarasamudra, and was founded in the 11th century. The Delhi Sultanate's armies sacked Halebid in 1311 and 1327. It is now a small village with a population of just over 3,000.
The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and Shilabalikas, or dancing figures. Yet no two sculptures are the same. This magnificent temple was never fully completed, despite 86 years of labour, after Halebid was sacked by the Delhi Sultanate. This star-shaped temple is actually a pair of two identical temples with separate sanctuaries (altars) and mandapams (halls) next to each other. One of the temples has active worship and the other does not. The temple has recently been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo courtesy of Maxine Jeffrey
[Table of Contents]