Basaralu is a small village in the Mandya district of Karnataka 75kms from Mysore and 130kms from Bangalore. This village is known primary for the ornate Mallikarjuna Temple. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 13th Century by Harihara Dannayaka, who was in charge of the armies under the Hoysala King Narasimha II.
The temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture and it stands on a platform. The temple plan is that of a three shrined with only the one shrine having a tower. The three shrines are connected by a common hall. Since the lateral shrines have no tower over them, they do not appear like shrines at all from the outside. Rather, they are absorbed into the walls of hall.
The tower and walls of the temple are highly decorative with intricate carvings of Gods, animals. The tower has a large domed roof over it and the kalasa on top of it.
By the side of tower is the Hoysala emblem of the Hoysala warrior fighting a lion. The base of the temple has six layers of intricate pattikas starting with war elephants at the bottom, horse riders above it, the Hoysala emblem, scenes from episodes like the Mahabarata, Bhagavata and Ramayana, crocodiles and the last layer has swans.
The exterior walls of the temple are carved beautifully. Some of the sculptures on the walls are Ganesha, Narsimha, Shanmuga.
How to Reach: Traveling from Bangalore to Mysore at Mandya turn right to Nagmangala. It is around 25kms from Nagmangala.
The temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture and it stands on a platform. The temple plan is that of a three shrined with only the one shrine having a tower. The three shrines are connected by a common hall. Since the lateral shrines have no tower over them, they do not appear like shrines at all from the outside. Rather, they are absorbed into the walls of hall.
The tower and walls of the temple are highly decorative with intricate carvings of Gods, animals. The tower has a large domed roof over it and the kalasa on top of it.
By the side of tower is the Hoysala emblem of the Hoysala warrior fighting a lion. The base of the temple has six layers of intricate pattikas starting with war elephants at the bottom, horse riders above it, the Hoysala emblem, scenes from episodes like the Mahabarata, Bhagavata and Ramayana, crocodiles and the last layer has swans.
The exterior walls of the temple are carved beautifully. Some of the sculptures on the walls are Ganesha, Narsimha, Shanmuga.
How to Reach: Traveling from Bangalore to Mysore at Mandya turn right to Nagmangala. It is around 25kms from Nagmangala.
32 comments:
The temple is stunning. Such intricate carvings. I've not heard of Hoysala architecture before.
Beautiful temple! Such intricate carvings at the base of the temple!
Amazing sculptures...
always loved to see these beautifully carved walls :)
Nice pictures.. Informative too..
Nice sculptures and glad to know about this temple.
Wow! The exterior walls are really intricate!
Great perspective and detail on the temple! Awesome carvings all over the temple
Marvellous and so full of history.
Beautiful temple and wonderful captures as always, Rajesh!! A great visit to your world!!
Beautiful temple. I love the carvings.
Wow! The building is so ornate and beautiful. Nice shots!
I enlarged you photos for a better persecutive on the stone carvings. You visit such amazing antiquity, Rajesh.
I never stop being amazed by this intricate stonework. Nice captures!
Great framing Rajesh!
The one against the sky is fantastic!
oh c'est superbe
So much history
Wonderful capture...beautiful temple and sculpture.
Great pic!
some of these are quite ornate! lovely.
ROG, ABC Wednesday
Marvelous! Thanks for sharing all this wonderful architecture.
It is hard to imagine how such a temple could be built. The time and effort it would take plus the artisanship. In our modern age we don't have the patience to accomplish this kind of beauty. Beautiful Temple and thank you for sharing so much information.
Andrea @ From The Sol
Great sculptures, hats off for capturing those vividly and thanks for sharing it widely :)
What a stunning artwork !
Gattina
ABC Team
Deep history to that building...makes me realize how young the USA is♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/bumblebee-5/
Such an intricately carved temple. Beautiful architecture!
Such an intricate architecture. I just wonder how will the lack of tools back then they would have done all this.
Beautiful pictures!
Exquisite! Beautiful shots Rajesh.
Splendid captures!
Beautiful temple. Amazing architecture. My visit here -
http://aruntravelpics.blogspot.in/2014/11/hoysala-temples-2-basaralu.html
Wonderfully detailed commentary on architecture of temple. Felt i was there. Great!
stunning pics :)
Post a Comment