Hungul. A temple. [Tarakeshwara Temple, Hangal.]

Photograph of the Tarakeshwara Temple at Hangal, taken by William Henry Pigou, c. 1857, from 'Architecture in Dharwar and Mysore'. Hangal is a small town south of Hubli in Karnataka. It attained significance under the Chalukyas of Kalyana who were the chief powers in the Deccan from the 10th to the 12th century. Prolific temple-builders, the Chalukyas were renowned for their architectural innovations, and left many examples fashioned out of the grey-green chloritic schist of the region at major sites such as Ittagi, Gadag, Hangal and Lakkundi. The open hall of the mid-12th century Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal, dedicated to Shiva, contains, at its centre, a most intricately carved, domical, corbelled lotus ceiling. The temple

consists of a sanctuary with a great adjoining pillared hall and a Nandi pavilion resting on 12 pillars and leaning balcony seating. The columns are lathe-turned or have geometric shapes. Both halls have stepped pyramidal roofs. The outer walls are decorated with carvings of miniature temples. In front of the great hall there are three memorial stones carved with religious and military scenes.