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.

Temples built prior to Hoysala independence in the mid-12th century reflect significant Western Chalukya influences, while later temples retain some features salient to Chalukyan art but have additional inventive decoration and ornamentation, features unique to Hoysala artisans.

About one hundred temples have survived in present-day Karnataka state, mostly in the Malnad ( hill ) districts, the native home of the Hoysala kings.

As popular tourist destinations in Karnataka, Hoysala temples offer an opportunity for pilgrims and students of architecture to examine medieval Hindu architecture in the Karnata Dravida tradition.

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 temples were not limited to any specific organised tradition of Hinduism and encouraged pilgrims of different Hindu devotional movements.

Hoysala temples have distinct parts that are merged to form a unified organic whole, in contrast to the temples of Tamil country where different parts of a temple stand independently.

Although superficially unique, Hoysala temples resemble each other structurally.

Most Hoysala temples have a plain covered entrance porch supported by lathe turned ( circular or bell-shaped ) pillars which were sometimes further carved with deep fluting and moulded with decorative motifs.

These features were the use of chloritic schist or soapstone as a basic building material, pierced stone window screens which were very popular in Hoysala temples, and the vimana which follows a stellate pattern.

It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples.

The Hoysala Empire temples were made from soapstone.

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.

About a 100 Hoysala temples survive today.

The Place has a historic value, with temples of near Hoysala time.

Turuvekere boasts of many fine Hoysala temples.

Among several styles of Sikharas that obtain in Hindu temple architecture, the three most common ones are the " Dravidian " style prevalent in southern India and the " Nagar " style prevalent almost everywhere else and the third style born from the synthesis of the other two called the Vesara style, seen mostly in Karnataka and most commonly in Hoysala and later Chalukya temples.

Profile of a Hoysala temple at Somanathapura

Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th century, when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region.

Hoysala stepped temple tank ( Kalyani ) at Hulikere, Karnataka

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

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 " ()

File: India, tre dee, salabhanjika, periodo hoysala 1150-1200 da Karnataka. JPG | Salabhanjika or " sal tree maiden ", Hoysala sculpture, Belur, Karnataka

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

* Kamat's potpurri on Hoysala Architecture and Halebidu

Naga Figure Gasa Dzong, Bhutan Hoysala sculpture of a Naga couple, Halebidu.

A Hoysala sculpture of Chamunda, Halebidu.

Other dynasties that are considered imperial by historians are the Kushanas, Guptas, Vijayanagara, Hoysala and the Cholas.

The two main deities found in Hoysala temple sculpture are Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in their various forms and avatars ( incarnations ).

These are further subdivided into the following castes: Babbur Kamme Brahmins, Badaganadu Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmin, Hale naadu Karnataka Brahmins, Havyaka Brahmin, Hasan Iyengars, Hebbar Iyengars, Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins, Jangam Brahmins, Karhade Brahmin, Koota Brahmins, Madhva Brahmins, Mandyam Iyengars, Mysore Iyengars, Vishwabrahmin, Niyogi Brahmins, Panchagrama Brahmins, Sankethi Brahmins, Sattada vaishnava Brahmins, Shukla Yajurveda Brahmins, Smartha Brahmins, Srivaishnava Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins, Ulucha Kamme Brahmins

Hoysala architecture () is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India.

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

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

Amba Vilas palace exhibits an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture on the outside, but a distinctly Hoysala style in the interior.

The Vijayanagara style is a combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles which evolved earlier in the centuries when these empires ruled and is characterised by a return to the simplistic and serene art of the past.

Hoysala architecture is the distinctive building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire in the region historically known as Karnata, today's Karnataka, India, between the 11th and the 14th centuries.

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

Vitthala temple with musical pillars, Hoysala style multigonal base Hampi

There is a Chennakeshava temple of the Hoysala style.