[paragsachania]

That is some wonderful set of Photographs RJ. Looks amazing and needless to say, perfect explanation to them too.

Originally Posted by procrj

Parag had mentioned that Halebeedu - Javagal had quiet a few broken patches but the road seems to have a relatively new surface and its a bliss to drive on.

It only means the expansion work after it was declared NH is now seeing good progress. I also noticed how the Belur Halebidu road is also ready which otherwise was in real bad shape few months before due to expansion work.

A fresh layer of tarmac between Javagal and Halebidu only means the road is now ready!

Looking forward to your next leg.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Meanwhile, I got in touch with architecture Professor of Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan. Mr. Subhas Basu has been to pretty much all the temples to study the architecture, and he kindly shared this ppt file (20 MB) with useful information

Nice! A true follow-up where an interest takes it up to the next level! My date with History stopped with the Tripartite struggle of the Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas and Palas for the Doab. And also I learnt to a large extent about the major period kingdoms like Bahamani and its broken pieces, Vijaynagar, Chalukyas, Later Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas etc.

Some how I never went to the next level. I guess its time to!

With regards to intricacy, the ones I have seen in Jain temples are also extremely minute (the ones In GJ/RJ for example). But I think they use soft stone as against the rocks which we see here. Will try to dig in more details.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by procrj

Makara A mythical beast with trunk of an elephant, eye of a cat, body of a boar, legs of a bull and tail of a peacock.

If you have taken more close-up shots, do share!

Originally Posted by ampere

Nice! A true follow-up where an interest takes it up to the next level! My date with History stopped with the Tripartite struggle of the Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas and Palas for the Doab. And also I learnt to a large extent about the major period kingdoms like Bahamani and its broken pieces, Vijaynagar, Chalukyas, Later Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas etc.

Aah yes, those names ring a bell. My long term plan is to visit all the standing temples/structures built by these dynasties.

With regards to intricacy, the ones I have seen in Jain temples are also extremely minute (the ones In GJ/RJ for example). But I think they use soft stone as against the rocks which we see here. Will try to dig in more details.

Most old temples built in North India were made out SANDSTONE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone

Most of them have that brownish yellow color.

[SmartCat]

KUDLI

Name: Rameshwara Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rameshvara_Temple,_Koodli
How To Get There: Type 'Sri Chintamani Narasimha Temple' in Google Maps and select 'Sri Chintamani Narasimha Temple, Kudli' from the drop down list.
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/z68nh8rH1ow
Distance from Shimoga: 18 kms




Kudli is just a few kms off the Shimoga Chitradurga state highway. Road to Kudli -



At Rameshwara Temple. Bhadra river on the right, meets Tunga river flowing from the left to become Tungabhadra. Kudli means 'to join'



Bad experience at Kudla because of an irritating guy who claimed to be an ASI employee. No photos, not even of the exteriors because "it's a central government property". I retorted that he did not make any sense (I said something on the lines of 'Taj Mahal too is govt property. Not allowed to take photos of that either?'), went ahead and took some photos. But let's just say the whole experience was ruined because of this guy's plans of extorting money (I guess) from tourists.













I always tip Rs. 100 to priest or ASI employee or local villagers who offer to give a tour of temple complex. Obviously, this guy got nothing from me.

We walked down the road to Chintamani Narasimha Temple at the confluence of Tunga and Bhadra rivers.

[SmartCat]

BALLIGAVI

Name: Kedareshwara Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedare...ple,_Balligavi
How To Get There: Type 'Balligavi Kedareshwar' in Google Maps and select 'Balligavi Kedareshwar Karnataka' from the drop down list.
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/3AHsFWqdsb72
Distance from Shimoga: 75 kms



The route suggested by Google Maps is quite good till 40 or 50 km. After that, the village roads are quite bad and you will struggle to cross 40 kmph. The "8 min slower" route via Shikaripur is a state highway undergoing widening. Take this route only if you enjoy a dust shower.

Excuse the quality of some images (taken from my wife's Samsung phone). Image quality from my Asus Zenfone is excellent (like the one below) but the phone is very fickle! You cannot miss the Kedareshwar Temple. For once, its just off the highway.



Front view of the temple.



Very odd placement of Nandi statue, almost blocking the entrance . Isn't this unusual? Any significance of such placement?





Interesting staggered architecture -



On the left, there is an Archeological Art Gallery with many thousand year old idols (no photography allowed)



View from the back:







View from the side:





There is a small Allama Prabhu temple on the right hand side:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allama_Prabhu

[mazda4life]

Awesome pics Smartcat... just skimmed thru the whole log and guess the Hoysala emblem is common on the front top of the temple. Amazing way to stamp declare under whose patronage the temple was built. surprised to see so many idols on the river bank without any seemingly visible protection.

[procrj]

I had to accompany a friend of mine to Swathi Delicacy for breakfast today and decided to check out the temples at Turuvekere & Aralaguppe.

Turuvekere as a whole was a big letdown as all 3 temples that I visited were locked and I had to satisfy myself with a peek from outside. The Chennakeshava Temple is not really exceptional from the outside and I did wonder if this was built in the same time period as the others at Belavadi or Doddagaddavali as the walls seemed pretty plain when compared to the other temples that I had visited.

Chennakeshava Temple





Moole Shankareshware temple


You can see that the temple premises is not very clean and the stone work on it is again below par when compared to the other hoysala temples

Also visited the Sri Gangadhreshwara temple, which I dont think is a Hoysala temple as only a couple of pillars have some stone work on it. Even the Vimana above the temple seems to be made of mud/stone. The standout feature is the big Nandi which seems to have been carved from a single block of stone

Nandi - Sri Gangadhareshwara Temple


Spoke to smartcat yesterday night and he mentioned that cops at Aralaguppe might throw a spanner in the works by restricting photography. Hence I was in two minds about driving here but decided to take a chance. In my opinion, I should have just skipped Turuvekere and driven straight to Aralaguppe as the temple is a beauty!

The complex is very well maintained and the stone work on the walls of the temple are a treat to the eye. The cop and the ASI person keep butting in/photo bombing and in general its not a great experience but I did not mind it much as the temple is a work of art. The carvings on the ceiling are very unique in this temple and its a pity that I could not take pics inside the temple.

Temple info


Entrance


The photo bomber

Below the eaves two different decorative schemes may be found, depending on whether a temple was built in the early or the later period of the empire. In the early temples built prior to the 13th century, there is one eave and below this are decorative miniature towers. A panel of Hindu deities and their attendants are below these towers, followed by a set of five different mouldings forming the base of the wall. In the later temples there is a second eave running about a metre below the upper eaves with decorative miniature towers placed between them. The wall images of gods are below the lower eaves, followed by six different mouldings of equal size. This is broadly termed "horizontal treatment".The six mouldings at the base are divided in two sections. Going from the very base of the wall, the first horizontal layer contains a procession of elephants, above which are horsemen and then a band of foliage. The second horizontal section has depictions of the Hindu epics and Puranic scenes executed with detail. Above this are two friezes of yallis or makaras (imaginary beasts) and hamsas (swans).

Source: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_architecture

Decorative mini towers


Six layered base


Another variation of the layered base


Star shaped temple platform


Road Condition
Yadiyur to NH150A has a few patches that were being tarred over today and should not pose a problem to any car. Watch out for a couple on unmarked speed breakers as soon as you take the right onto NH150A, after which its a two lane road till Turuvekere and further ahead till the turnoff for Aralaguppe. The road to Aralaguppe is narrow with some broken culverts, bad patches and a few blind curves where local 2 wheelers just blindly zip through. Better off driving slow, using the horn and soaking in the views of coconut plantations.



Thus endeth another good weekend. Planning to take a couple of days off towards the end of the month and cover the other temples and wrap up an eventful year

[SmartCat]

KANNAMBADI

Name: Venugopala Swamy Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venugopala_Swamy_Temple
How To Get There: Type 'Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple' in Google Maps and select 'Sri Venugopala Swamy, Krishna Rajasagara, Kannambadi' from the drop down list.
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/rD2FCpmUtDp
Distance: 135 kms from Bangalore, 30 kms from Mysore, 98 km from Hassan



Kannambadi temple story is quite interesting (see wiki link). When KRS dam was built over River Cauvery in 1930, the temple went underwater. A rich private individual then relocated the temple 1 km away with the help of ASI, Government and local villagers.



Many elements of the temple are being reconstructed with the help of ASI



At the entrance of the main temple complex:



A walk around the temple (outer hall):









View of the inner temple:



A walk around the temple (inner hall):









Note that idols are yet to be placed inside the temple. The relocation/reconstruction is still a WIP. Now every article on Kannambadi says its a "relocation" - but looking at the type of stone used, many parts of the temple looks like a "reconstruction" to me.







BONUS:

Picnic spot a few hundred metres from the temple - the KRS backwaters. It was pleasant even in the afternoon.

[procrj]

HARIHAR

Name: Shri Harihareshwara Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harihareshwara_Temple
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/JXprX65hCVx
Distance: 270 kms from Bangalore, 20 kms from Davanagere

The Harihareshwara temple is a relatively well known temple in Harihar and there was some crowd when we got there. Again another fine example of hoysala art on the outside but the best part of the temple is the intricately carved doorway leading to the sanctum sanctorum. Even the entrance threshold is carved here, which is usually a stone slab in most other temples.

Temple History


Front view


Carvings on the wall


Lathe turned pillars


Intricately carved entrance



Ashta Digpalakas - A reccuring theme across temples

[procrj]

IKKERI

Name: Sri Aghoreshvara Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikkeri
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/tf2cdRbGrqM2
Distance: 5 kms from Sagar in Shimoga district, 32 kms from Jog Falls & 76 kms from Shivamogga

Multiple cultures have influenced the architecture of this temple and its clearly visible from the size of this temple. Its big and made of granite, which means that the art work on its walls was probably a lot harder to make and because of the stone, it was also a lot harder to deform.

The ancient temple which contained the 6 feet , 32 handed figure of Bhairava was demolished by the Sultanate after which the Ikkeri Nayakas rebuilt this temple in a mix of Hoysala + Dravidian style. The temple walls are red in a lot of places and the evening colors only added to the beauty of the place.The nandi is massive, has its own enclosure but has been ravaged over time & is missing most of its tail.

Temple History


Red hued walls




Granite carvings



Nandi


Windows in a Hoysala temple



Leave no stone untouched


Sri Aghoreshavara Idol


This is supposedly a Shakthi peetha - do note the goddess like images carved in the base of the shiva linga. The nandi in front is made of translucent marble and the priest actually shine light through the same to prove the point.

Devi Temple


Very different style of architecture - not able to figure out what is amiss here but the door arch seems to be pointing to a different culture where as the intricate carvings on the door frame leading to the deity are very Hoysala.

[procrj]

KELADI

Name: Rameswara Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keladi
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/bYTH9EMtShz
Distance: 8 kms from Sagar in Shimoga district, 38 kms from Jog Falls & 80 kms from Shivamogga

This temple again is associated with the Nayakas who ruled this area just after the Hoysala period. Temple architecture is again a mix of hoysala + dravidan style and the biggest attraction is the Ganda Berunda - Two headed garuda holding lions in its beak and elephants in its claw. This is the official emblem seen on KSRTC buses.

Temple History


Red hued walls


Dwaja Sthamba


Supposedly erected during the reign of Rani Chennama and the image carved in the base of the pillar depicts Chemmaa giving sanctuary to Chatrapathi Shivaji's son . One of the most ornately carved flag pillars that I have seen in a hoysala temple.

King with Donkey's ears


Local folklore talks about a king who listened to anyone & everyone's advice because of which his ears resembled those of a donkey

Ganda Berunda

Did not manage to get a good pic thanks to the lighting.

Temple interiors




Wooden carvings


The Devi temple next to the rameshvara temple is a relatively smaller structure and does not have a lot on the outside. Walk inside and you get to see this exquisitely carved wooden ceiling. I did spend some time here but was unable to get good pics because of the sunlight streaming into the temple.

Vastu Image


Face of a lion, chest of a tortoise, belly of a fish, elephant trunks for hands, legs of an elephant and tail of a crocodile. This creature was supposedly a vastu figure which was created to ensure that the rulers have all the mythological support required to be successful.

[SmartCat]

BASARALU

Name: Mallikarjuna Temple
Wiki Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallik...mple,_Basaralu
How To Get There: Type 'Shri Mallikarjuna Temple' in Google Maps and select 'Shri Mallikarjuna Temple of Hoysala Dynasty, Basaralu' from the drop down list.
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/PSEUdXHMXqM2
Distance from Bangalore: 113 kms

Basaralu is just off the Mandya Nagamangala state highway. Although Mysore highway route is shorter, Google Maps recommends the Hassan highway route.



Road to Basaralu:



At Mallikarjuna Temple:



Entrance:



History and architecture of the temple:



Same as above but in Halegannada:



The entrance to the inner shrine is on the right hand side:



A walk-around:









Photo-bomber:

[airguitar]

Planning to visit Gandikota, Pushpagiri temple complex at Kotluru and then Gandi Anjaneyaswamy temple.

1) Are there weekly holidays for AP tourism sites ?
2) Does anyone have timings of allowed entry for the above places ( or some of them ) ?

Thank you in advance.

[Dieseltuned]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Drizzly/cloudy weather helped, but your photography is infinitely better than mine! Close-ups of idols and temple exteriors have come out very well too.

Meanwhile, I got in touch with architecture Professor of Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan. Mr. Subhas Basu has been to pretty much all the temples to study the architecture, and he kindly shared this ppt file (20 MB) with useful information -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3h...ew?usp=sharing

Hi Smartcat,

Cannot open this document. Could you please PM this document. Would be interesting to read

Regards
Dieseltuned

[chethan.ram]

On the way back from Chikmagalur, I visited Belavadi yesterday. The temple is so beautiful and it is very peaceful. This was in my wish list for a longtime. I stumbled upon this thread when I did a search with the key word “Belavadi”. What a wonderful thread this is! Hats off, SmartCat. A lot of places have gone into my wish list now. I wonder what our government is doing. Why can’t they promote tourism when you have such gems in our state? Hopefully,

Adding a picture of Belavadi temple.