HOSA HOLALU
Think Hoysala Art and Architecture, the immediate recall is of the gloriously ornamented soapstone sundaris and the star shaped plinth of the temples of Belur and Halebid. M ysoreans would throw in a Somanathapur and a Talakkad , perhaps. But it comes as a surprise to learn that at the height of Hoysala temple building frenzy, between 11th and 14th. century, close to 1500 temples with the signature style (of lathe turned pillars, star shaped plinth, multi tiered friezes, profusely ornamented human forms and stellate vimanas) were built in the Deccan Plateau. Of which a 100 are reported to survive in various states of repair. A hundred ? ! Thats news ! There I was , totally ignorant of the existence of any beyond five. The above mentioned four were done a dozen times. The only other name, Nuggehalli , has always been in the bucket list, but the distance from home makes it a destination to plan for in advance and being of no urgent value, it keeps...