Thread by @rajeshnaik111

Temples of Karnataka 107
Tarakeshwara @ Hooli
This temple consisting of open navaranga, antarala and garbhagruha is located on an elevated place at the base of a hill and is of early Chalukya times.

The open navaranga had entrances from 3 sides and had kakshasana all around. The kakshasana is gone for good with only 4 half pillars at the front remaining as a testimony.

There is no trace of other 2 side entrances except for decorated pillars standing alone.

There are 4 different types of pillars in the mukhamantapa with the 4 well polished central pillars of concave-convex style.

Two pillars have elephant and makara depictions whereas two more pillars have kalashas.

Garbhagruha has a decorated Panchashakha door with Gajalakshmi on the lalata. Daily pooja is offered to Tarakeshwara.

Diamond design, musicians, dual dancers and pillar design are depicted in the first 4 shakhas. The fifth shakha is whitewashed.

In the shakha with dual dancers, male is shown dancing with musical instrument and the female is shown dancing without any musical instrument.

Ashtadikpalakas are seen with 4 on either side of Gajalakshmi on the lalata.

At the base of the shakhas Manmatha, Rati, Daksha and their attendants are shown.

Shikhara looks like of three taalas. Outer cover has collapsed. One by one the stones of the outer walls are collapsing. Parapet that existed once all along the roof is lost as well.

Of all the temples in Hooli, Yajnakunda is seen in front of this temple only!

Temple looks attractive and in good shape at a distance from the village due to its picturesque location. Only when one nears the temple its bad state becomes visible.

This is how the temple looked in 1874. It was dilapidated then and even now remains in the same state, as of 2011.