Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Tarakeshwara Temple is facing in East direction and built in Kalyana Chalukyan style of architecture. There are other lingas as well in the premises apart from that in the sanctum and the sikhara raised over the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) depicts scenes from the Sivapurana. The outer walls of the temple are designed with Shikaras (a type of boat found in the Dal Lake) in the Dravidian and Nagara style. The images on the walls depict scenes from the epic Ramayana. This temple is built with grey Green Chloritic schist.

Mandapams & Pillars : The gathering hall has 8 supporting pillars arranged in octagonal shape and has carvings of various gods. Pillars of the main hall are lathe turned. The bell-shaped sections on the pillars are also work of lathe. The decorations on the pillars include very detailed carvings of elephants and diamond-shaped motifs. Adjacent to the main hall is another hall which goes by the name Nandi Pavilion. This 12-pillared hall is dedicated to Nandi, the bull ridden by Lord Shiva. The Nandi pavilion also has a leaning balcony setting. Both these halls have stepped pyramidal outer roof. In front of the main hall one will also come across the memorial stones with religious and military scenes. Temple consists of Mukhamandapam.The Sabhamandapa with four entrance ways is stellar shaped and Hoysala styled huge pillars therein supports the upper beams.The Kakshasana has polished pillars that are variously styled and shaped runs all along the Mandapa.The subsidiary ceilings (Bhuvanesvaries) found in the Sabhamandapa is plan while the centre one has the depiction of a flower-bud motif. The Mukhamandapa has also Kakshasana.

Inscriptions : Three memorial stones which are sculpted with religious and military scenes and inscribed with text in the Kannada language. An inscription records a grant made to the Tarakesvara temple while another dated 1121 A.D. records the construction of Tailesvara temple and land grants made to it by the Mahaprashana Masana.