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Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
UNESCO World Heritage Site / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas is a group of three Hoysala-style temples in South India recognized as a World Heritage Site. These temples at Somanathapura, Belur and Halebidu, were built between the 12th and 13th centuries under the Hoysala Empire.[1] The three temples under the title of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, for their outstanding architecture, hyper-realistic sculptures and stone carvings.[2]
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Location | Karnataka, India |
Includes | |
Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iv |
Reference | 1670 |
Inscription | 2023 (45th Session) |
The architectural style of the three temples was developed by the early Hoysala rulers – who established their new kingdoms and regimes in South India – as a distinctive and innovative sacred architecture, which distinguishes the temples from contemporary kingdoms and dynasties.[3][4] These temples are as follows:
- Chennakeshava Temple in Belur (built by King Vishnuvardhana).
- Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu (built by King Vishnuvardhana).
- Keshav Temple in Somanathapura (built by Somanatha under King Narasimha III).