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The Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas: India’s 42nd Inscription on the World Heritage List
On 18 September 2023, the World Heritage Committee, at its 45th extended session currently taking place in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, inscribed the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, on the List of World Heritage. It is now the 42nd World Heritage Site in India.
The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, situated in Karnataka, is a serial nomination of the three most representative examples of Hoysala-style temple complexes dating from the 12th to 13th centuries in the present State of Karnataka - the Channakeshava temple in Belur, the Hoysalevara temple in Halebidu, and the Keshava temple in Somanathapura, built during the medieval Hoysala kingdom in southern India.
The Hoysala style stellate plans and forms showcase the distinctive layouts and orientations of the temples, while the exquisite hyper-real sculptures, stone carvings that cover the entire architectural surface, and inscriptions bearing the names of the artists are exceptional testimonies to the outstanding creativity and inventive genius of the Hoysala period.
It contributes significantly to the diversity of the temple styles of India and has exerted a lasting influence on temples of later periods, both in the region and beyond. The excellence of the sculptural art of the temple complexes, as well as their architecture, siting, planning and use, underpin the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
