Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu

Built as the twin-shrined royal temple of the Hoysala capital Dorasamudra (Halebidu), this Shiva temple is renowned for having the single richest wall of narrative sculpture in Indian temple architecture -- an unbroken band of friezes depicting the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana alongside thousands of animal and floral motifs, carved in soft soapstone that has weathered to a honey patina. Despite roughly 86 years of continuous labour it was left unfinished when Malik Kafur's invasion sacked the capital in 1311. Twin sanctums, mirrored Nandi pavilions and an absence of a superstructure give it a horizontal, sprawling grandeur distinct from Belur's verticality. It is jointly proposed for UNESCO listing as part of the Hoysala temple group.