Hulikere Pond is a stunning work of architecture built by the Hoysala Kings. The pond is surrounded by lush greenery and has descending steps made of the stone to reach the water. The beautiful structure is lined by several shrines which are believed to represent the constellations.
Hulikere is 5 kms from Halebeedu temple on, Halebidu – Hagare road off Hassan – Belur road. Hulikere is loated at Channarayapatna Taluk Hassan DIistrict . Hulikere tank or Hulikere bavi or pushkarini or Hulikere step well is constructed like a well under the ground level, there are stone stairs up to the mid height from the bottom on all the four sides. Above that level there are 12 sanctums with pinnacles (Shikhara’s). Amidst them are also 14 sanctums without peaks or pinnacles. In the place of another possible sanctum there are the down taking steps.The 9-tiered tower is about 50m high. It served as a bath for Queens in the first half of the 12th century. “ Huli means tiger and kere refers to a pond,” This is Queen Shantala Devi ‘s private pond, locals say that , the security was so steep that even a tiger could not walk in to see her- that’s why its called Hulikere.”
Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs they are known as pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, etc. in different languages.
Hulikere tank gets filled upto three fourth with water during the rainy season, its full beauty can be enjoyed only during the summer season when the water dries up.
Hulikere was a suburb of Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra (Halebidu), the erstwhile capital of the Hoysalas. The earliest inscription found at this place belongs to the reign of Hoysala Narasimha I (1152-1173 AD). His official, by name Lattayya, built a temple called Bhuvana-bhushana Lattesvara and an ornate Kalyani in 1160 AD at this place. Although no remains of Siva temple are seen in the vicinity, the tank still exists in all its splendour. This unique Kalyani built in stepped order leading to the water source has three prominent landings accommodating as many as twenty-seven ornate miniature shrines some carrying superstructure while others are devoid of it. Most probably the shrines might have been dedicated to twenty seven nakshtras.
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Hulikere tank gets filled upto three fourth with water during the rainy season, its full beauty can be enjoyed only during the summer season when the water dries up.
Hulikere was a suburb of Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra (Halebidu), the erstwhile capital of the Hoysalas. The earliest inscription found at this place belongs to the reign of Hoysala Narasimha I (1152-1173 AD). His official, by name Lattayya, built a temple called Bhuvana-bhushana Lattesvara and an ornate Kalyani in 1160 AD at this place. Although no remains of Siva temple are seen in the vicinity, the tank still exists in all its splendour. This unique Kalyani built in stepped order leading to the water source has three prominent landings accommodating as many as twenty-seven ornate miniature shrines some carrying superstructure while others are devoid of it. Most probably the shrines might have been dedicated to twenty seven nakshtras.
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