Vesara Style of Temple Architecture | Art and Culture
The Vesara style of temple architecture is a hybrid of the Nagara and Dravida styles that originated in the early medieval period. It is characterized by a bell-shaped superstructure, a pagoda-like Shikhar, and a reduced temple height. Some of its other key features include:
Decorative elements: Richly decorated with sculptures and friezes depicting epics and Puranas
Lathe-turned pillars: Pillars that are intricately carved to resemble lathe work
Star-shaped platforms: Often seen in Vesara-style temples
The Vesara style developed in the Chalukya, Hoyasala, and Kakatiya regions between the 7th and 13th centuries. Some examples of Vesara-style temples include:
The Papanatha temple at Pattadakal
The Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu, and Somnathpura
The Chennakesava Temple at Belur
The Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu
