Historical Background of Ulsoor

Historical & Urban Setting

Halasuru, or Ulsoor, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bengaluru. It probably began as a small settlement centered around the Someshwara Temple. In the mid-1500s, Halasuru was one of the 12 hoblis (clusters of villages) granted by Achutaraya, the then ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire, to the local chieftain Kempegowda. The Someshwara Temple here is one of the oldest temples in Bengaluru.

A short distance away from the temple, the Halasuru kere, commonly known today as Ulsoor lake, is also popularly attributed to Kempegowda. The lake was an important source of water, especially for the many fields and farms that would have once surrounded the village of Ulsoor.

In 1807, the British Cantonment of Bangalore was established near Ulsoor lake. Opportunity beckoned and people came here from neighboring regions. New temples, shops, houses and services came up in the area. With the Someshwara Temple at its core, the village of Ulsoor transformed into the bustling, cosmopolitan neighborhood that it is today.

share now

Historical & Urban Setting show all

Historical Background of Ulsoor.

Halasuru, or Ulsoor, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bengaluru

Temple Precinct

The Someshwara temple complex stands amidst a dense network of narrow streets..

Architecture & Planning show all

Temple Layout

The Someshwara Temple stands within a large site that is accessed by a monumental..

Architectural Style and Evolution

Take a walk around the temple and you will find that it bears several different..

Gopura

The entrance to the Someshwara Temple is dominated by the imposing tower..

Mandapa

The mandapa or pillared hall of the temple dates back to the 1500s or 1600s and exhibits..

Pillar typologies

The mandapa is replete with rich carvings and decorations, especially visible..

Adhistana

The adhisthana refers to the plinth or base of a temple, upon which the pada(walls) and other elements of the superstructure rest.

Vimana

According to Dr. SK Aruni of the Indian Council of Historical Research

Other Features show all

Kamakshi Amman Shrine

The Kamakshi Amman shrine lies to the north of the main shrine..

Kalyani

Traditionally, South Indian temples have a kalyani – a stepped tank..

Sacred Trees

The Someshwara Temple complex has a variety of sacred trees..

Materials & Construction show all

Materials

A wide range of materials like stone, brick and wood have gone into..

Wall Construction

The temple walls have been constructed using dressed stone masonry..

Post-and-Lintel Construction

Post-and-lintel is one of the oldest construction systems in the world..

Roofing Systems

A wide range of materials like stone, brick and wood have gone into the construction

Madras terrace

Madras terrace is an innovative method of construction widely used for roofing across South India.

Drawings & Documentation show all

Documenting the Someshwara Temple Complex

A multi-mode approach had been undertaken to document the temple at various levels from developing a site

Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a process by which large number of still photographs of an object or environment

Architectural Drawings

A set of architectural plans, sections and elevations were prepared from the fieldwork.

Architectural Details

Various pillar types, reflected ceiling patterns, plinth details and other elements were recorded to result

Further Reading

Meister, Michael W. and Dhaky, Madhusudan A. 1986. Encyclopedia of Indian Temple Architecture: South India.