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Hoysala Empire facts for kids

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The Hoysala Empire (Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ) was an Indian empire. It controlled part of southern India from 1000 to 1346 A.D. Belur, Karnataka was the empire's capital. The Hoysala Empire is remembered today mostly because of its architecture. The hundreds of temples found across Karnataka are good examples of temples that were in the cities of Belur, Halebid and Somnathpura. The Hoysala kings were affected by Jainism and Hinduism. King Vishnuvardhana and the kings after him believed in Vaishnavism.

In the beginning, the Hoysalas were a small part of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. However, they began to grow until they made their own empire in Karnataka. The Hoysala period is known as one of the best times in the history of Karnataka, next only to the Vijayanagara Empire. Some famous Hoysala kings were Vishnuvardhana, Veera Ballala II and Veera Ballala III. Kannada was the main language of the Hoysala kings. The Hoysalas helped to increase Kannada and Sanskrit writing.

Kings

Images for kids

  • Hoysala emblem

    Sala fighting the Lion or Tiger, the emblem of the Hoysala Empire at Belur, Karnataka.

  • ಗಜಪತಿ ಪಗೋಡ

    Gajapati pagoda, ca. 10th–13th century CE.

  • Garuda pillar with Old Kannada inscription dated 1220 A.D of Kuvara Lakshma, a body guard of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II

    Garuda pillar hero stone (virgal) at Halebidu with old Kannada inscription of about 1220 CE.

  • Vishnuvardhana

    Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana

  • Somanathapura Keshava temple altered

    Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, built 1268 CE.

  • Standing Vishnu as Keshava, 1st quarter of the 12th century, Hoysala period, Karnataka, probably Belur, India

    Standing Vishnu as Keshava, 1st quarter of the 12th century, Hoysala period, probably Belur, Karnataka, India

  • Old Kannada inscription dated 1182 A.D. at the Akkana Basadi in Shravanebelagola

    Old Kannada inscription dated to 1182 of King Veera Ballala II at Akkana Basadi, Shravanabelagola.

  • Belur Temple Apsara with Mirror

    "Darpanasundari" (lady with a mirror), one of the many madanakai decorating the Chennakeshava Temple, Belur.

  • Shasana (Inscription) at Keshava Temple, Somanathapura

    Old Kannada inscription (1270 CE) of King Narasimha III at Keshava Temple, Somanathapura.

  • View of Akkana Basadi from northeastern side at Shravanabelagola

    Akkana Basadi, Shravanabelagola

  • Vesara style shrine and superstructure in Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli

    Vesara style Vimana of the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli (1246 CE)

  • Rear view of stellate shrine in the Ishvara temple at Arasikere 1

    Stellate Vimana, at Ishvara Temple (Arasikere) built in 1220 CE

  • Jain Temple at Halebidu

    Jain temples, Halebidu

  • Nageshvara (near) and Chennakeshava (far) temples at Mosale

    Twin temples (1200 CE) at Mosale, the Nageshvara (near) and Chennakeshava temple (far)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hoysala para niños

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