Kedareshwara Temple, Halebidu

Wikipedia cites the art historian Adam Hardy for a date before 1219 CE, and the Classical Kannada portal gives 1219 CE. The two sources differ on the queen: Wikipedia names Ketaladevi, while the portal names Shantala. Wikipedia's account, which cites the ASI, is followed here.

Halebidu was the Hoysala capital until the 14th century, when, as Wikipedia records, it was raided twice by forces of the Delhi Sultanate and later deserted; the name Halebidu is usually explained as 'old capital' or 'ruined city'. The images of worship are now missing from all three sanctums of the Kedareshwara temple, and the towers over all three shrines have been lost. The temple is now maintained by the ASI.

Architecture and sacred features

Like other Hoysala temples, Kedareshwara stands on a raised platform (jagati) reached by steps; Wikipedia, citing the historian Suryanath Kamath, notes that the platform both provides a path for walking around the temple and gives visitors a clear view of the wall sculpture. The main shrine has a star-shaped (stellate) plan, and the two side shrines have perforated stone screens (jali). The three sanctums open through vestibules onto a central hall with a staggered-square plan, and a porch leads in from the platform.

The base of the walls is treated as a series of horizontal mouldings, each carved with a frieze of animals or episodes from the Puranas. Inside, lathe-turned pillars support ornate domed ceiling bays. The temple is built of soapstone, a material Wikipedia notes was popularised by the Western Chalukyas before becoming standard for Hoysala builders.