Musafirkhana and Honda, Santhebennur

The large pond (Honda) Indo- Arabic architecture was built by Hiriya Hanumappa Nayaka, son of Kengappa Nayaka in 16th century AD. It has its sides, veneered with granite steps. Out of the eight towers at the cardinal points, only six are intact in various stages of preservation.

Mantapa at the centre has square base.
The most striking feature of the pond is its ornate pavilion built on a square plinth with an arched entrance which has a flight of steps leading to the first tier. The first tier is an open pavilion with slender pillars at the periphery and austere railings in between. Towards the cardinal directions are elegant arched pavilions supported by a heavy stone, pushpa potika, corbels. The second tier is a repetition of the first one over which a moderate eaves supports a heavy parapet with slender minarets, the interspaces pierced with arches topped by foliate melons. Two rows of elephants, swans and ganda bherundas (mythical twin-headed bird) adorn the pavilion. The ribbed dome jetting out at the center is topped by a finial and its neck is decorated with lotus petals bordered by guldastas. The Musaffirkhana built on the western side is a spacious structure of granite having a large pillared hall with pointed arches probably used as a prayer hall as well.

Видео Musafirkhana and Honda, Santhebennur канала Manjunath B S