HASSAN: Authorities of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have felt the need to undertake a trial excavation at a site at Halebeedu in Hassan district to unearth a latent structure believed to be a palace dating back to the Hoysala era (10th-14th century).
This site is at Bastihalli on a hillock at Halebeedu close to Hoysaleshwara Temple.
Mr Arun Raj, Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI, Bengaluru Circle, former director of ASI Dr SVP Hallakatti and others inspected the site on September 8-9, and have arrived at a decision to conduct a trial excavation in the site known as the palace area.
Mr Arun Raj told Deccan Chronicle on Saturday: “We have got clues about the existence of a structure believed to be a palace of Hoysala era at the site identified for trail excavation.” He was confident of commencing the excavation at Halebeedu in December 2015 and carry on with the work for about two-months depending upon the discovery.
ASI officials have also gathered details from local people about the existence of a palace at the site identified by them and have felt the need to conduct a trial excavation of the spot before seeking permission from ASI, New Delhi, for a full-fledged exploration of the site in July, 2016.
A spot inspection revealed that a few stones slabs of ancient times were scattered at the place identified by ASI officials. The site is surrounded by fields, and fort walls built using boulders are also visible.
In the past, ASI excavated Nagareshwara temple comprising five temples in its vicinity in 1987-88 and discovery of Nagareshwara temple led to clues that a palace existed close by, said an ASI official adding that though there were talks of site excavation in the past, nothing happened.
Famous among many temples of Hoysala dynasty are Sri Chennakeshava Temple at Belur, Sri Hoysaleshwara Temple at Halebeedu, while many others are spread in Chikkamagalur, Hassan and Mysuru districts.
