Belur-halebid go together like twin cities. Separated only by a short drive, both were home to the hoysala dynasty for three centuries (mid-11th to mid-14th century). Coming upon one after visiting the other is like recognising a family resemblance. Both look similar being star-shaped. They were founded by a jain, nripa kama, whose kingdom was sandwiched between the cholas of thanjavur in the south, and the chalukyas of badami in the north.
The temples of belur and halebid were made of steatite, a material that is easy to work on, soft initially but hardening after prolonged exposure. The hoysalas promoted temple art to such a degree that the artists actually left their signatures on their work. The sculptures are unparalleled in their beauty; in fact, as a challenge to their art, the sculptors left a small blank space on the revolving narasimha pillar, to be filled in by anyone who has the talent. The space remains blank till today.
The tradition of ivory and sandalwood handwork is reflected in the sculptures of these temples.
Of special interest are the engineering techniques used in `assembling' the temple, particularly the locking systems that used grid locks, interlocks and the pin and socket system! They were used for attaching separately carved panels onto the walls and ceilings, achieving a continuous and inseparable appearance for what are essentially disparate stone structures.
