Study of the Hoysala architectural style has revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct.

Study of the Hoysala architectural style has revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct.

The vigorous temple building activity of the Hoysala Empire was due to the social, cultural and political events of the period.

Engrained in the craftsmanship of Hoysala sculptors was their knowledge of the effect of light and shade on carved walls, which they used to maximum effect in their sculptures in the numerous projections and recesses.

Halebidu ( which was previously called Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra ) was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century.

The Hoysaleswara temple was built during this time by Ketamala and attributed to Vishnuvardhana, the Hoysala ruler.

The Vijaya Parsvanath Basadi, a holy Jain shrine was constructed by Punisadandanayaka, the commander of the Hoysala king Gangaraja in the year 1117 A. D.

Inscriptions in the temple record contributions made by several Vijayanagara emperors but the temple was probably built on an earlier Hoysala site as it combines Hoysala and Vijayanagara architectural features.

The Pandya power extended from the Telugu countries on banks of the Godavari river to the northern half of Sri Lanka, which was invaded by Sundara Pandyan I in 1258 and on his behalf by his younger brother Jatavarman Vira Pandyan I from 1262-1264. later Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan appointed his brother to rule KOngu country, Chola nadu and Hoysala country.

This was because other feudatories of the Hoysalas were also growing in power and threatening the Hoysala kingdom itself.

Rajendra III had been counting on Hoysala assistance in case he was challenged by the Pandiyans, keeping in mind the earlier marital alliance of the Cholas with the Hoysalas.

This temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka ( commander ) in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

So one can safely assume that the Kannadiyan canal irrigation system was constructed some time in the second half of the thirteenth century, by the Pandya King with the help from the Hoysala Kingdom.

After about six / eight decades, the Chola region was taken over by Pallava from whom it was Hoysala and then to Vijaya Nagr Rule.

Vaishnavism was very popular in the Tuluva region in the 13th century when it came under the rule of Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty.

Although the most glorious art of these Indian empires was mostly Buddhist in nature, subsequently Hindu Empires like the Pallava, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empires developed their own styles of Hindu art as well.

Ala-ud-din ’ s lieutenant, Malik Kafur ( a Muslim Indian ), was sent on an expedition to the south in 1308 which led to the capture of Warangal, the overthrow of the Hoysala Empire south of the Krishna River and the occupation of Madura in the south.

Several Hoysala generals including Singana were killed and great amount of loot was captured along with many horses, elephants and women.

Kongunadu was ruled over by The Chera, Chola, Pandya, Hoysala, Muslim rulers and finally the British.

Profile of a Hoysala temple at Somanathapura

Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

Other examples of fine Hoysala craftsmanship are the temples at Belavadi, Amruthapura, Hosaholalu, Mosale, Arasikere, Basaralu, Kikkeri and Nuggehalli.

Medieval Kannada language inscriptions displayed prominently at temple locations give details of the temples and offer information about the history of the Hoysala dynasty.

Hoysala stepped temple tank ( Kalyani ) at Hulikere, Karnataka

File: Belur2 retouched. jpg | Soapstone sculpture on the Hoysala temple at Belur, India

Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

Other examples of fine Hoysala craftmanship are the temples at Belavadi, Amrithapura, and Nuggehalli.

Other dynasties of Satavahana, Chalukya, Pallava, Rashtrakuta, Kakatiya and Hoysala were at their peak during various periods of history.

Anekonda: The Eshwara temple at Anekonda is a little one in the Hoysala style.

Rear view of the Rameshvara temple, built in the Hoysala architecture | Hoysala style at the Sanagama

The Chennakesava Temple () located at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture.

While doing so the Pandya had to be wary of the newly risen dynasty of Hoysala in South Karnataka, which were pro Chola in at first and became pro Pandya only later on.

His Meikeerthi praises him as " the conqueror of Kongu Nadu and Eelam ; the conqueror of the Ganges and Kaveri ; Vanquisher of Hoysala ; Subjugator of Kadava Kopperunchingan I ; The one who paid victory tribute and bravery tribute at Chidambaram ; The ruler of three worlds " ()

The Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpura are supreme examples of this style.

It is distinctively Dravidian, and owing to its unique features, Hoysala architecture qualifies as an independent style.

The Hoysala sculpture in all its richness is said to be a challenge to photography.

A feature of Hoysala temple architecture is its attention to detail and skilled craftmanship.

The Kingdom now under Sundara Pandyan revived its infrastructure and military strength to gain autonomy and drive out Hoysala Empire from its political affairs.

Some writers say that towards the end his reign, Kulottunga lost the province of Gangavadi to Hoysala Vishnuvardhana who attacked this major Chola province ( c. 1116 CE ) in Kannada country from the times of and defeated the Chola Viceroy Adigaiman, the controller of Kongu and Kannada country there, but this proposition seems to stand on very fragile ground considering the massive power of chola empire during the period and its domination of Asia during Kulothunga's time.

The Hoysala architecture is noted for its elaborate motifs.

* In India, Hoysala architecture reaches a peak.