Hoysala Temples Karnataka: India's Latest UNESCO Crush

Hoysala Temples Karnataka: India's Latest UNESCO Crush

By Author

Published on September 24, 2023

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has bestowed World Heritage status upon the renowned Hoysala temples in Karnataka, including those in Belur, Halebidu (Halebid), and Somnathapura (Somananthpura). This significant addition brings India's total UNESCO listings to 42, following in the footsteps of Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan in West Bengal. These historic shrines, collectively known as 'The Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas,' are celebrated for their architectural and cultural significance in the districts of Hassan and Mysuru.

The Hoysala temples, with their unique architectural style, blended influences from different parts of India. You could see hints of Central India, the northern and western traditions, and the Karnataka Dravida style, all coming together in these temples.

Belur's Channakesava Temple: A Timeless Marvel

The Channakesava Temple, the oldest among the Belur trio, was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhan in 116 AD, taking 103 years to reach completion. This sprawling complex features multiple smaller shrines surrounding the primary sanctum, dedicated to the 'most beautiful Vishnu' or Channakesava. Its true distinction lies in the exquisite carvings, both on the exterior walls, showcasing detailed scenes from epics and Bharatnatyam mudras, and inside, where mythological figures like nymphs and apsaras spring to life. The famed pillars here have even influenced traditional temple jewellery designs in South India.

Halebidu's Hoysaleswara Temple: Ruins of Remarkable Beauty

About 18km away stands the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu, a dedication to Lord Shiva, built a century later in the 12th century. Although plundered in the 14th century, it remains a stunning ruin, reminiscent of Khajuraho, especially on its exterior walls. The grand Nandi statue in front of the temple is equally striking.

Somnathapura's Keshava Temple: A Trio's Artistic King

Located approximately 30 minutes from the Hoysaleswara Temple is Somnathapura's Keshava Temple, built by King Somanatha Dandanayaka during Narasimha III's reign in 1268. It shares architectural, layout, and stylistic similarities with its counterparts, featuring large star-shaped platforms, intricately carved ceilings, a majestic sanctum and a striking idol of Lord Vishnu.

The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala temples, with their remarkable architecture and intricate carvings, not only stand as magnificent examples of Hindu temple artistry but also hold a significant place in the broader context of India's temple heritage. These temples have left an indelible mark, influencing later temple styles in the region and beyond.

Their listing on the World Heritage List is a testament to their Outstanding Universal Value, signifying their exceptional cultural significance for all of humanity. This recognition brings forth a host of benefits, including international prestige, legal protection, access to funding, and increased tourism revenue.


SpiceJet Expands Festive Connectivity to Bihar with New Flights to Patna and Darbhanga

SpiceJet Expands Festive Connectivity to Bihar with New Flights to Patna and Darbhanga

By Hariharan U

Published on October 22, 2025

SpiceJet has announced a major expansion of its domestic network ahead of Chhath Puja and Diwali, strengthening connectivity to Bihar with new and additional flights to Patna and Darbhanga.

The airline has introduced new flights to Patna from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, along with increased frequencies from Delhi and Mumbai. In addition, Darbhanga has gained extra services from Delhi and Mumbai, further improving accessibility for travellers heading home during the festive season.

These routes build upon SpiceJet’s existing operations to Patna from Delhi, Mumbai, and Guwahati, and to Darbhanga from Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. The new flights commenced in a phased rollout from October 10, 2025, ensuring greater travel flexibility and convenience for passengers amid the festive rush.

Earlier this month, SpiceJet also introduced special daily non-stop Diwali flights to Ayodhya from Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad, enabling devotees and tourists easier access to the Shri Ram Temple during the celebrations.

Commenting on the development, Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “The festive season holds immense significance for millions of our passengers, and we are delighted to make travel home for Chhath Puja and Diwali more convenient and accessible. With enhanced connectivity to Patna, Darbhanga, and Ayodhya, SpiceJet continues to play a key role in bringing people closer to their loved ones for celebrations that matter most.”

The expansion underscores SpiceJet’s commitment to meeting evolving travel demand, particularly during high-traffic festive periods, by offering affordable, direct, and seamless connectivity across India’s key regional hubs.


IndiGo Integrates with Digi Yatra for a Seamless Digital Boarding Experience

IndiGo Integrates with Digi Yatra for a Seamless Digital Boarding Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 20, 2025

IndiGo and Digi Yatra have announced a new app-to-app integration that allows IndiGo flyers to share boarding passes directly with the Digi Yatra app. The collaboration enhances contactless, biometric-enabled travel while ensuring user consent, data privacy, and faster passenger processing at airports.

IndiGo, India’s leading airline, has partnered with Digi Yatra, the Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)-based ecosystem that uses facial biometric technology for contactless passenger processing, to enable this direct integration between their mobile applications. The initiative eliminates the need for passengers to manually scan or upload boarding passes on the Digi Yatra app.

After completing web check-in, IndiGo flyers can now simply click “Share with Digi Yatra” within the IndiGo app to securely transfer their boarding pass. This process ensures that passenger consent is obtained at every step and that only essential data is shared with authorised Digi Yatra verifiers at airports.

Designed with privacy by design principles, the transaction occurs entirely offline through deep linking between the two apps, without involving any cloud or server processing. This ensures data integrity, authenticity, and enhanced security while improving convenience for travellers.

Commenting on the development, Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, said,

“Our mission is to transform air travel into a seamless, secure, and paperless experience for every passenger. This collaboration with IndiGo marks a significant milestone in that journey. By integrating our technology directly with IndiGo’s app, we are enabling travellers to enjoy faster check-ins, smoother boarding, and enhanced convenience. As more airlines and airports embrace our ecosystem, we will continue to innovate and support India’s vision for digital transformation in travel.”

Neetan Chopra, Chief Information and Digital Officer, IndiGo, added,

“Every year, we fly millions of customers who trust us for our promise of safe, on-time, and hassle-free travel. This partnership with Digi Yatra takes our commitment to customer convenience a step further by enabling a smooth, contactless boarding journey. We are thrilled to be among the first airlines to adopt this technology and remain focused on leveraging innovation to make air travel simpler, faster, and more enjoyable.”

This collaboration underscores the aviation industry’s shared commitment to digital innovation and highlights growing confidence in Digi Yatra’s secure, paperless travel ecosystem as India moves closer to a fully digital airport experience.


Etihad Leverages Premium Service and Partnerships to Grow in India

Etihad Leverages Premium Service and Partnerships to Grow in India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 14, 2025

Etihad Airways is focusing on premium travel and customer segmentation to boost its business in India, one of its top three global markets, while operating at full capacity under a bilateral seat agreement with the country.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has been upgrading its services with new aircraft and enhanced cabin experiences to attract high-value travellers. Since relaunching flights to Kolkata in March 2023, Etihad increased its weekly frequency from four to eight flights by 2025. Across India, the airline now operates 185 flights a week to 11 cities.

“We fly all the seats that the bilateral agreement allows us,” said Javier Alija, Etihad Airways Vice President for Global Sales and Distribution. The agreement caps 50,000 weekly seats for Abu Dhabi-based carriers, shared between Etihad and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi. Until the agreement changes, the airline cannot add more frequencies or destinations.

To overcome these capacity constraints, Etihad is building partnerships, including a tie-up with Akasa Air, connecting four Indian cities to Abu Dhabi. The airline is also enhancing the passenger experience for long-haul travellers, especially to the US, with Abu Dhabi’s new terminal and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance. This allows passengers to arrive in the US as domestic travellers, saving time at immigration.

Kolkata is the first Indian city to receive Etihad’s new A321 LR aircraft, featuring a redesigned cabin with just 160 seats, two first-class suites, 14 business, and 144 economy seats, offering a widebody-like experience in a narrow-body aircraft. “This reflects Kolkata’s strong premium travel potential,” Alija said.

Etihad’s focus on yield optimisation and operational efficiency has helped the airline achieve record financial results. For the current year, it expects 21–22% growth in seat capacity, 22–23% increase in revenue, and a 30% rise in absolute profit, supported by expansions in other markets. The airline plans to launch 13 new international routes by year-end, aiming to serve nearly 90 destinations worldwide.

Alija added, “Even if our frequencies and destinations remain static, these customer-focused and operational efforts ensure Etihad continues to be the preferred airline for Indian travellers. We are very conscious that our rapid growth should not compromise the financial gains we have achieved.”

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