Halebidu Sculptures
Compiled by London Swaminathan
Date: 25 August 2017
Time uploaded in London- 16-07
Post No. 4161
Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google, Wikipedia and newspapers; thanks.
Bijapur district
17.BIJAPUR
Treasure house of Islamic architecture; a city of domes and minarets. Chalukyan rulers of kalyana founded this city called Vijayapura, corrupted as Bijapur. Adil shah dynasty ruled from here. There are 50 mosques, 20 Tombs and several palaces.
18.Gol Gumbaz: Its an astounding engineering feat built between 1626 and 1656 by Mohammed Adil Shah. The dome measures 44 meters in diameter. It has a circular whispering gallery, known for its amazing acoustics qualities. A faintest whisper will echo nine times!
Halebidu
Chamrajnagar District
19.BANDIPUR
It is a famous Tiger reserve. It adjoins Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad Sancturay in Kerala. Famous for pythons,tigers, elephants, leopard, panther and crocodiles. several types of birds are also seen here.
20.BILLIGIRI RANGANA HILLS
famous for trekking and adventure sports. It has hill top temples. Billigiri Rangana Temple dedicated to Vishnu is famous. 2000 year old giant tree Dodda sampige Mara is a natural wonder.
Chikamagaluru District
21.CHIKAMAGALURU
Ishwara Temple here has a 4 ft high statue of Jademuni and a Yupa Stambha supposed to be installed by Janamejaya during the Serpent sacrifice.
22.BABA BUDAN RANGE
Baba Budan Giri peak named after a Muslim saint is one of the highest peaks. Dattatreya Peetha here is another example of communal harmony. A laterite cave here is held sacred as it is believed to that Dattatreya Swami and Hazarat Dada mir Khalander stayed here.
23.KEMMANAGUNDI
two water falls – Kalahasti and Hebbe are popular picnic spots. This hill station is known as KR hills and a peak of 4732 ft.
24.KUDREMUKH
It means Horse Head. It has iron rich deposits. With 6250 ft peaks it has scenic splendour.
25.SRINGERI
Famous Hindu pilgrim centre on the banks of River Tungabadra. Adi Shankara founded a Mutt here. The 12th century Sharadamba temple is a holy place. The 12 zodiac pillars in the mantapa are noteworthy, these are placed perfectly so that the sun rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.
Chitradurga District
26.CHITRADURGA
Since this historical town has a landscape with different sized, different shaped rocks ir is known as Stone Fort (kalline Kotte). Chitradura is actually Chitra Kal Durga – umbrella shaped lofty hill. Ancient temples, Forts of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and Palegars are here. Hidimbeswara temple and many other temples are situated here.
Dakshin Kannada
27.Mangaluru
Important sea port, exporting coffee and cashewnuts, place of ship building industry. Ullal, Panambul and Sutrakal are other beaches with scenic spots.
28.KATIL
Durga Parameswari temple is famous.
29.DHARMASTALA
Manjunaha Temple has Vaishnavite priests and a Jain trustee 14-metre-tall Gomateswara is another attraction
30.GHATISUBRAMANYA
Ancient shrine of Lord Subramanya
31.MUDABIDRI
This is known as Varanasi of Jains with 18 bastis. Of them the Chandranatha basti has 1000 pillars built in 1429. Jain temples have exquisite sculptures.
Davanagare District
32.DAVANAGARE
Famous for textile mills; a commercial, educational and industrial town.
33.HARIHAR
On the bank of Tungabadra river. Since the demon Gulhasura got a boon not to be killed by either Shiva or Vishnu, both f them went in the form of Harihara and killed the demon.
Harihara image (half Shiva, Half Vishnu) is here in the Harihara temple
Gadag District
34.GADAG
Gadag has a famous temple of Viranarayana built by the Hoysala King vishnuvardhan.
35.LAKKUNDI
Relics of old temples are in this town Image of God Surya (Sun) is here.
Kalburgi (Gulbarga) District
36.KALBURGI
First capital of Bahmani sultans. Hindu King Raja Gulchand’s fort has been converted into a Muslim fort. Magnificent mosque Jami Masjid was built by a North African Moorish architect. It resembles Spanish Mosque of Cordoba. This town has a library in the Dargah with rare Urdu, Persian and Arabic books.
Hassan District
37.HASAN
Hasanamba temple’s presiding deity is represented only by an ant hill. It is open only for a week every year.
38.BELUR
Hoysala sculptures are in famous Chennakesa va temple. They are 800 year old. 65 elephants on the frieze are carved beautifully and each one is different! Volouptuous beauties known as Mandakinis are also found in the brackets.
39.HALABIDU
Ancient capital of the Hoysalas was founded in the 11th Century. It was ravaged by the Muslim invaders. Hoysaleswara temple was fortunate enough to survive the attack. Thousands of sculptures are on the walls of the temple. It is a great architectural wonder.
40.SHRAVANA BELAGOLA
Important Jain Pilgrim centre with a 57 ft high monolith of Gomateswara (bahubali). It is on top of the Vindhyagiri This 1000 year old monolith is one of the largest monoliths in the world. Every 12 yeas millions of devotees to see the Mahamastakabisheka
to be continued………………….
Tamil and Vedas 