Garuda Lenka Kambhas , Agrahara Bachahalli

          'Agrahara Bachahalli', a village located in K R Pete Taluk of Mandya District  was one of  the most prosperous erstwhile towns of the Hoysalas. It is home to numerous temples built during the Hoysala period. The "Huniseshwara Temple" is the most prominent and well maintained temple in the village.  A priest who was passing by the place, on finding a Shiva Linga under a tamarind tree, built a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and thus the name Huniseshwara (Hunise in Kannada means Tamarind). The interiors of the temple has been completely renovated. The Shikara (Gopura) is heavily and intricately carved.

The Huniseshwara Temple

     A unique feature is the Garuda Lenka Kambhas, which is also found in the Malikarjuna  temple at Basaralu, Karnataka apart from the Huniseshwara temple. An interesting and strange fact is that, though the Garuda is associated with Lord Vishnu, both the temples having Garuda Lenka Kambhas are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The pillar at Basaralu has lost  most of its sculptures on the pillar-top unlike the pillars here that are complete and well preserved.

Garuda Lenka Kambhas

Lord Huniseshwara

Lord Ganapathi

Kala Bhairava

Lord Shanmukha

Nandi

Central Ceiling

Natya Mantap

 Shikara

Lovely Pillar

Empty Devakosthas

The Huniseshwara Temple

The caretaker of this place, an elderly person  in his early 80's lives in a small house near-by temple the temple complex . The temple was renovated with the help of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatha Trust .

To be continued .....