Architecture
The Chennakesava temple is made of soapstone and has a very intricate finish based on a Hoysala style plan. The temple's size sets it apart from many other Hoysala temples, and it is regarded one of the dynasty's first works. The temple is 37 metres tall at its tallest point. Its exterior walls are covered in wonderfully detailed artwork depicting dancing females in various poses.
Main temple: Kesava
The temple has a 10.5 m by 10.5 m ekakuta vimana (single shrine) design. Its architecture is a mix of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Karnata styles. The temple is built on a large, open platform that serves as a circumambulatory walkway around the shrine. The temple and platform had no walls, and the platform was ringed by an open mantapa that followed the temple's shape. From the platform, visitors would have been able to observe the elaborate pillars of the open mantapa. Later, walls and stone screens were erected to create an enclosed vestibule and mantapa, which provided security but made the artwork within too dark to enjoy. The vestibule is the link between the circumambulatory and the circumambulatory. On the façade and within the temple, there is complex and plentiful artwork.
The temple is designed in the Hoysala style and has only one sanctuary. Chloritic schist, often known as soapstone, was utilised in the construction of the Chennakesava temple. When quarried, it is soft, allowing artists to chisel features more readily. The substance hardens over time. According to art critic and historian Settar, this Hoysala temple used Western Chalukyan painters and their tradition, which originated in Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal. It is more straightforward than subsequent Hoysala temples (including the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu and the Keshava temple at Somanathapura).
Bands of carvings on one side of the circumambulatory platform.
Platform
The temple is constructed on a jagati (literally, "worldly"), a symbolic worldly platform with ample circumambulation area (pradakshina-patha). The jagati is reached through one flight of stairs, while the mantapa is reached by another flight of stairs. Before entering the temple, the devotee can make a pradakshina around it thanks to the jagati. The jagati closely follows the mantapa's staggered square pattern and the shrine's star form.
Exterior walls
During the circumambulation of the temple over the jagati platform in horizontal bands, the visitor witnesses a variety of artwork. Elephants with various emotions make up the bottom band, which serves as a symbolic supporter of the entire construction. Above it is an empty layer, which is followed by cornice work with a lion face on a regular basis. Except towards the back of the temple, where a row of horsemen in various riding postures is shown, there is another band of scrolls above it and then a cornice band.
The fifth carved band is made up of miniature figures, usually girls with varying emotions facing the spectator, with Yakshas who face the temple's interior on occasion.
There are also a lot of dancers and musicians on this stratum, as well as pros with their gear. Between several of the pillars in the band above are carved secular figures, usually females and couples. Above the pilaster band, a nature and creeper band wraps the temple, with images from the Ramayana mythology featured. Scenes from everyday life showing kama, artha, and dharma are layered above this layer. Couples in courting, sexuality, and sexual situations are among the subjects, followed by couples with children, economic, and celebratory activities. Friezes depicting incidents from the Mahabharata may be seen on the north exterior wall.
In the Kesava temple, there are two types of light screens: geometric artwork (left) and Puranic tales artwork (right).
Later building added 10 perforated stone windows and screens to the north side and 10 to the south side of the temple above these bands. Ten of the later additions feature Purana scenes carved on them, while the other ten have geometric flower motifs. The perforated displays with characters display the following information:
•
Hoysala court scene, with the king, queen, officers, attendants and two gurus with their students
•
Kesava with Hanuman and Garuda,
•
the Vamana dwarf, Bali and Trivikrama legend,
•
the Krishna Kaliyamardana legend, Shiva on Nandi with Ganesha and Kartikeya,
•
the Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu and Narasimha legend (notable for Thenkalai namam style Urdhava pundra symbols on Prahlada's forehead),
•
Yoga-Narasimha with Hanuman and Garuda,
•
the Samudra manthan legend,
•
the Krishna killing Kamsa legend,
•
Ranganatha reclining on Sesha,
•
the Hanuman and Garuda fighting over Shiva linga legend.
The temple eaves are supported by statues on the capital. In Belur, 38 of the original 40 have survived.
Madanakai (Salabhanjika) figures adorn the capitals of the supporting pillars above the perforated screens. There were initially 40 madanakai, with 38 surviving in excellent or damaged condition. Two are Durga, three huntresses (with bow), and others are dancers in Natya Shastra abhinaya mudra (acting stance), musicians, ladies dressing or applying make-up, a lady with a pet parrot, and men playing music. The sixth band of the outside wall encircling the pradakshina patha contains a majority of these madanakai figures carved into miniatures.
Around the temple, there are additional 80 big reliefs on the wall.
9 of Vishnu's avatars (Narasimha, Varaha, Vamana, Ranganatha, Balarama); 4 of Shiva in various forms, including Nataraja (with or without Parvati); 2 of Bhairava (Shiva); 2 of Harihara (half Shiva, half Vishnu); 4 of Surya (Sun god); 5 of Durga and Mahishasuramardini; 1 of Ganesha, Brahma, Arjuna launching an arrow to win Draupadi; Ravana hoisting the Kailasha; Daksha, Bali, and Sukracharya are among the other significant reliefs.
Some of the sculptures have intricate detailing. One madanakai image, for example, is depicted with a fruit tree canopy, a little fly sitting on the fruit, and a lizard nearby waiting to pounce on the fly. In another, an eagle is seen fighting a sarabha, which is then fighting a lion, which is then pouncing on an elephant, which is then snatching a snake, which is then depicted consuming a rat – all while a contemplating sage looks on. These photographs depict secular life, such as an artist working on a sketch or musicians engrossed in their music. The representation of 12th century Rudra-vina and a Lasya dancing position is a noteworthy photograph. The photograph is also provided.
Bhairava and Durga are shown on the exterior wall on the side of the temple's eastern entrance. Tandavesvara and Brahmani are shown on the exterior wall of the temple's southern entrance. The outer walls of the temple's northern entryway depict Vishnu and Mahishasuramardini.
Interior
On either side of the Chennakesava temple's three entrances are ornate statues known as dvarapalaka (doorkeepers). The centre hall (navaranga) was originally open on all sides save the west, where the sanctum is located, but perforated screens were installed on all sides later. This substantially limited the quantity of light available, making it impossible to appreciate the delicate art work without additional illumination. The artwork begins as soon as you enter one of the hall's three entrances. On both sides, each leads to an elevated veranda. A massive domed roof in the centre of the hall is surrounded by carved pillars. There are 60 "bays" in the mandapa (compartments).
The navaranga at Belur's Kesava temple is the biggest of them all.
Ornate lathe turned pillars in mantapa.
Pillars and ceiling
There are 48 pillars in the navaranga hall. Except for the middle four, each one is carved differently. The centre four are later extensions, built in 1381 CE under the Vijayanagara Empire to reinforce a damaged temple's internal construction. The pillars come in three different sizes. Two pillars stand out in particular. One is the so-called Narasimha pillar, which is carved from top to bottom with smaller sculptures such as a little bull (kadale basava). According to local mythology, this pillar could formerly rotate due to the way it was supported, but it no longer can. The Mohini pillar is the other one. The pillar has eight bands of carvings, including those of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, then ten avatars of Vishnu, the eight direction deities, mythical animals with the body of a lion but the face of other wildlife, and then ten avatars of Vishnu, the eight direction deities, mythical animals with the body of a lion but the face of other wildlife. The four centre pillars stand out because they were hand carved while the others were made on a lathe.
The temple is known for its depiction of Mohini, Vishnu's female incarnation.
A big open square in the hall's centre is surrounded by a domed ceiling that is roughly 10 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. A lotus blossom with Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva engraved on it sits atop the structure. A sequence of friezes depicting the Ramayana narrative may be seen towards the bottom of the dome. Madanikas adorn the capitals of the four pillars (Salabhanjika). One depicts Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of education, art, and music, as she dances. The others are ordinary dancers, but their emotions are distinct.
One of four ceiling dome madanikas, with an inscription on pedestal.
Other reliefs inside the hall include large images of Vishnu avatars, friezes of the Vedic and Puranic histories, and more scenes of the Ramayana.
Sanctum
Past the pillars and a gateway, the mandapa leads to the garbha griya. Dvarapala, Jaya, and Vijaya stand on either side of the entryway. Lakshminarayana is shown at the middle of the pediment. Below it, musicians perform on instruments from the 12th century. Two makaras are parked over to the side, and Varuna and Varuni are riding them together. The figure of Keshava, or "Vijayanarayana," may be found inside the square sanctuary. It is around 6 feet tall with a halo and stands on a 3 foot high pedestal. It has four hands, with chakra and shankha in the upper hands and gada and lotus in the bottom. The ten incarnations of Vishnu — Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, and Kri – are carved in a cyclical pattern on the halo.
Superstructure
A tower stood on the temple grounds, which was often damaged, destroyed, rebuilt, and restored. The temple was left without a tower during 19th-century repairs. According to Foekema, the tower would have been built in the Bhumija style, rather than the typical star-shaped tower that matched the vimana's design. The Bhumija towers, which are still intact atop the small shrines at the hall's entry, are a curvilinear kind of nagara (North Indian) tower. In pure dravidian architecture, this type of tower is unusual.
Art of Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
The temple's pillars include some of the greatest sculpture and art work details and finishes in the whole complex. One of the most well-known of these temple pillars is the Narasimha pillar. There are 48 pillars in all, each with its own carvings and decorations. The four centre pillars, which portray madanikas or celestial damsels, were hand chiselled by artists. The madanikas appear in a variety of attitudes, with the woman with a parrot and the huntress being two of the most popular among tourists and art enthusiasts.
Visitors who are interested in studying the minutiae of the Temple's wall sculptures will uncover several references and renderings of key events from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. In the middle of the elaborate representations, a close examination would show subtle sexiness. Horses, elephants, and lions are among the animals that frequently appear in wall sculptures.
The temple's mantapa portrays a Hoysala ruler slaying either a tiger or a lion, according to historians. This might also be a symbolic image of the Cholas' downfall, considering the Cholas' regal insignia is a tiger. Many more significant sculptures may be seen throughout the Temple's huge compound. The Gajasurasamhara (sculpture of Lord Shiva), a Ravana sculpture, Durga slaying Mahishasura, and many others are among them. At the temple's entrance, there are also several smaller shrines. The autographs left by the painters of the time, which provide us further insight into the life and culture of the Hoysala era, are another intriguing characteristic of these numerous sculptures.
Architecture
The Chennakesava temple is made of soapstone and has a very
intricate finish based on a Hoysala style plan. The temple's size sets it apart
from many other Hoysala temples, and it is regarded one of the dynasty's first
works. The temple is 37 metres tall at its tallest point. Its exterior walls
are covered in wonderfully detailed artwork depicting dancing females in
various poses.
Main
temple: Kesava
The temple
has a 10.5 m by 10.5 m ekakuta vimana (single shrine) design. Its architecture
is a mix of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Karnata styles. The temple is
built on a large, open platform that serves as a circumambulatory walkway
around the shrine. The temple and platform had no walls, and the platform was
ringed by an open mantapa that followed the temple's shape. From the platform,
visitors would have been able to observe the elaborate pillars of the open
mantapa. Later, walls and stone screens were erected to create an enclosed
vestibule and mantapa, which provided security but made the artwork within too
dark to enjoy. The vestibule is the link between the circumambulatory and the
circumambulatory.On the façade and within the temple, there is complex and
plentiful artwork.
The temple
is designed in the Hoysala style and has only one sanctuary. Chloritic schist,
often known as soapstone, was utilised in the construction of the Chennakesava
temple. When quarried, it is soft, allowing artists to chisel features more
readily. The substance hardens over time. According to art critic and historian
Settar, this Hoysala temple used Western Chalukyan painters and their
tradition, which originated in Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal. It is more
straightforward than subsequent Hoysala temples (including the Hoysaleswara
temple at Halebidu and the Keshava temple at Somanathapura).
Bands of
carvings on one side of the circumambulatory platform.
Platform
The temple
is constructed on a jagati (literally, "worldly"), a symbolic worldly
platform with ample circumambulation area (pradakshina-patha). The jagati is
reached through one flight of stairs, while the mantapa is reached by another
flight of stairs. Before entering the temple, the devotee can make a
pradakshina around it thanks to the jagati. The jagati closely follows the
mantapa's staggered square pattern and the shrine's star form.
Exterior
walls
During the
circumambulation of the temple over the jagati platform in horizontal bands,
the visitor witnesses a variety of artwork. Elephants with various emotions
make up the bottom band, which serves as a symbolic supporter of the entire
construction. Above it is an empty layer, which is followed by cornice work
with a lion face on a regular basis. Except towards the back of the temple,
where a row of horsemen in various riding postures is shown, there is another
band of scrolls above it and then a cornice band.
The fifth
carved band is made up of miniature figures, usually girls with varying
emotions facing the spectator, with Yakshas who face the temple's interior on
occasion.
There are
also a lot of dancers and musicians on this stratum, as well as pros with their
gear. Between several of the pillars in the band above are carved secular
figures, usually females and couples. Above the pilaster band, a nature and
creeper band wraps the temple, with images from the Ramayana mythology
featured. Scenes from everyday life showing kama, artha, and dharma are layered
above this layer. Couples in courting, sexuality, and sexual situations are
among the subjects, followed by couples with children, economic, and celebratory
activities. Friezes depicting incidents from the Mahabharata may be seen on the
north exterior wall.
In the
Kesava temple, there are two types of light screens: geometric artwork (left)
and Puranic tales artwork (right).
Later building
added 10 perforated stone windows and screens to the north side and 10 to the
south side of the temple above these bands. Ten of the later additions feature
Purana scenes carved on them, while the other ten have geometric flower motifs.
The perforated displays with characters display the following information:- Hoysala court scene, with the
king, queen, officers, attendants and two gurus with their students
- the Vamana dwarf, Bali and Trivikrama legend,
- the Krishna Kaliyamardana
legend, Shiva on Nandi with Ganesha and Kartikeya,
- the Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu
and Narasimha legend (notable for Thenkalainamam style Urdhavapundra
symbols on Prahlada's forehead),
- Yoga-Narasimha with Hanuman and
Garuda,
- the Samudra manthan legend,
- the Krishna killing Kamsa
legend,
- Ranganatha reclining on Sesha,
- the Hanuman and Garuda fighting
over Shiva linga legend.The temple
eaves are supported by statues on the capital. In Belur, 38 of the original 40
have survived.
Madanakai
(Salabhanjika) figures adorn the capitals of the supporting pillars above the
perforated screens. There were initially 40 madanakai, with 38 surviving in
excellent or damaged condition. Two are Durga, three huntresses (with bow), and
others are dancers in Natya Shastra abhinaya mudra (acting stance), musicians,
ladies dressing or applying make-up, a lady with a pet parrot, and men playing
music. The sixth band of the outside wall encircling the pradakshina patha
contains a majority of these madanakai figures carved into miniatures.
Around the
temple, there are additional 80 big reliefs on the wall.
9 of
Vishnu's avatars (Narasimha, Varaha, Vamana, Ranganatha, Balarama); 4 of Shiva
in various forms, including Nataraja (with or without Parvati); 2 of Bhairava
(Shiva); 2 of Harihara (half Shiva, half Vishnu); 4 of Surya (Sun god); 5 of
Durga and Mahishasuramardini; 1 of Ganesha, Brahma, Arjuna launching an arrow
to win Draupadi; Ravana hoisting the Kailasha; Daksha, Bali, and Sukracharya
are among the other significant reliefs.
Some of the
sculptures have intricate detailing. One madanakai image, for example, is
depicted with a fruit tree canopy, a little fly sitting on the fruit, and a
lizard nearby waiting to pounce on the fly. In another, an eagle is seen
fighting a sarabha, which is then fighting a lion, which is then pouncing on an
elephant, which is then snatching a snake, which is then depicted consuming a
rat – all while a contemplating sage looks on. These photographs depict secular
life, such as an artist working on a sketch or musicians engrossed in their
music. The representation of 12th century Rudra-vina and a Lasya dancing
position is a noteworthy photograph. The photograph is also provided.
Bhairava
and Durga are shown on the exterior wall on the side of the temple's eastern
entrance. Tandavesvara and Brahmani are shown on the exterior wall of the
temple's southern entrance. The outer walls of the temple's northern entryway
depict Vishnu and Mahishasuramardini.
Interior
On either
side of the Chennakesava temple's three entrances are ornate statues known as
dvarapalaka (doorkeepers). The centre hall (navaranga) was originally open on
all sides save the west, where the sanctum is located, but perforated screens
were installed on all sides later. This substantially limited the quantity of
light available, making it impossible to appreciate the delicate art work
without additional illumination. The artwork begins as soon as you enter one of
the hall's three entrances. On both sides, each leads to an elevated veranda. A
massive domed roof in the centre of the hall is surrounded by carved pillars.
There are 60 "bays" in the mandapa (compartments).- The navaranga at Belur'sKesava temple is the
biggest of them all.
Ornate
lathe turned pillars in mantapa.Pillars
and ceiling
There are 48 pillars in the navaranga hall.
Except for the middle four, each one is carved differently. The centre four are
later extensions, built in 1381 CE under the Vijayanagara Empire to reinforce a
damaged temple's internal construction. The pillars come in three different
sizes. Two pillars stand out in particular. One is the so-called Narasimha
pillar, which is carved from top to bottom with smaller sculptures such as a
little bull (kadalebasava). According to local mythology, this pillar could
formerly rotate due to the way it was supported, but it no longer can.The
Mohini pillar is the other one. The pillar has eight bands of carvings,
including those of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, then ten avatars of Vishnu, the eight
direction deities, mythical animals with the body of a lion but the face of
other wildlife, and then ten avatars of Vishnu, the eight direction deities,
mythical animals with the body of a lion but the face of other wildlife. The
four centre pillars stand out because they were hand carved while the others
were made on a lathe.
The temple
is known for its depiction of Mohini, Vishnu's female incarnation.
A big open
square in the hall's centre is surrounded by a domed ceiling that is roughly 10
feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. A lotus blossom with Brahma, Vishnu, and
Shiva engraved on it sits atop the structure. A sequence of friezes depicting
the Ramayana narrative may be seen towards the bottom of the dome. Madanikas
adorn the capitals of the four pillars (Salabhanjika). One depicts Saraswati,
the Hindu goddess of education, art, and music, as she dances. The others are
ordinary dancers, but their emotions are distinct.
One of four
ceiling dome madanikas, with an inscription on pedestal.
Other
reliefs inside the hall include large images of Vishnu avatars, friezes of the
Vedic and Puranic histories, and more scenes of the Ramayana.
Sanctum
Past the
pillars and a gateway, the mandapa leads to the garbhagriya. Dvarapala, Jaya,
and Vijaya stand on either side of the entryway. Lakshminarayana is shown at
the middle of the pediment. Below it, musicians perform on instruments from the
12th century. Two makaras are parked over to the side, and Varuna and Varuni
are riding them together. The figure of Keshava, or "Vijayanarayana,"
may be found inside the square sanctuary. It is around 6 feet tall with a halo
and stands on a 3 foot high pedestal. It has four hands, with chakra and
shankha in the upper hands and gada and lotus in the bottom. The ten
incarnations of Vishnu — Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama,
Rama, and Kri – are carved in a cyclical pattern on the halo.
Superstructure
A tower stood on the temple grounds, which was often
damaged, destroyed, rebuilt, and restored. The temple was left without a tower
during 19th-century repairs. According to Foekema, the tower would have been
built in the Bhumija style, rather than the typical star-shaped tower that
matched the vimana's design. The Bhumija towers, which are still intact atop
the small shrines at the hall's entry, are a curvilinear kind of nagara (North
Indian) tower. In pure dravidian architecture, this type of tower is unusual.
Art
of Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
The
temple's pillars include some of the greatest sculpture and art work details
and finishes in the whole complex. One of the most well-known of these temple
pillars is the Narasimha pillar. There are 48 pillars in all, each with its own
carvings and decorations. The four centre pillars, which portray madanikas or
celestial damsels, were hand chiselled by artists. The madanikas appear in a
variety of attitudes, with the woman with a parrot and the huntress being two
of the most popular among tourists and art enthusiasts.
Visitors
who are interested in studying the minutiae of the Temple's wall sculptures
will uncover several references and renderings of key events from the
Mahabharata and Ramayana. In the middle of the elaborate representations, a
close examination would show subtle sexiness. Horses, elephants, and lions are
among the animals that frequently appear in wall sculptures.
The temple's mantapa portrays a Hoysala ruler
slaying either a tiger or a lion, according to historians. This might also be a
symbolic image of the Cholas' downfall, considering the Cholas' regal insignia
is a tiger. Many more significant sculptures may be seen throughout the
Temple's huge compound.The Gajasurasamhara (sculpture of Lord Shiva), a Ravana
sculpture, Durga slaying Mahishasura, and many others are among them. At the
temple's entrance, there are also several smaller shrines. The autographs left
by the painters of the time, which provide us further insight into the life and
culture of the Hoysala era, are another intriguing characteristic of these
numerous sculptures.
Lathe
turned pillars.
Deity
Chennakeshava
(Vishnu)
Religious
Activities
Daily
Routine
·
Morning 7:30 AM to afternoon 1:00 PM
·
Afternoon 2.30 PM to 7.30 PM
Celebration/Festivals
Annual
Rathotsava is the major festival celebrated in Belur in the month of
March-April, 12 days after Ugadi or Kannadiga New Year. The festival is
celebrated for two days when the Utsava Murti is drawn on a huge wooden
chariot. Covering the eastern part of the temple on the first day. And other
parts of the temple are covered on the second day. A fair or Jaatre is held
during the annual festival that lasts for ten days.
Visitor
Guide
Belur is
where Chennakesava Temple is located so all transit routes need to go via the
town. The other major urban areas around the temple include Hassan city.
By Air
The
Mangalore Airport is around 130 kilometres from Belur, while Bangalore
International Airport is around 222 kilometres away. From the airports, the
most ideal choice of travel is by road.
By Rail
The nearest
railway station to the town of Belur is in Chikmagalur, which is 22 kilometres away. Hassan railway
station is around 32 kilometres away from Belur town. There are many buses that
ply between these towns.
.By Road
Bangalore
city is 220 kilometres away from Belur via the NH75. If one is travelling
from Mysore, the journey is 155 kilometres long via the SH 57. The coastal city
of Mangalore is 153 kilometres away via the NH73.
There are regular buses that ply to Belur from Hassan, Chikmagalur, Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore.
Nearby
Temples
Nearby
Tourist Places
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his
five manifestations. It is 15 kilometres from the Chennakeshava Temple. The
Pathaleshwara Shivalinga, which changes colours, is the most prominent feature
of this temple. In the morning, it turns red, then goes black in the afternoon,
and finally
turns white in the evening.
Vaidyeshvara
temple, Talakad.
Mysore
Somnathpura is 35 kilometres from
Mysore. Zoological gardens, historical sites, and temples are all well-known in
Mysore. The fort and palace of Mysore are popular tourist destinations. Almost
everyone who travels to Somnathpur does so via Mysore, thus a brief visit to
Mysore is a must.
Somnathpur
is 26 kilometres away from this temple. Here, Lord Malikarjuna is revered.
Every year in the months of January or February, a festival is held for a week
during which cattle and other agriculturally beneficial items are traded.
Mysore
Palace during Dasara.Shivanasamudra
is the name of the settlement that is home to two waterfalls, Gaganachukki and
Barachukki, both of which originate from the Kaveri River. The waterfalls are
27 kilometres from Somnathpur. This location's beautiful splendour is enhanced
by the lush green vegetation.
Yagachi
Dam – See The Majestic Architecture
Yagachi Dam, surrounded by lush
greenery and graced with a nice breeze in the evening, is a popular weekend
destination for both residents and visitors. It's also one of the best spots to
visit in Belur if you want to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit. The dam
spans the Yagachi River, a tributary of the River Kaveri.
It's only 10 kilometres from the
city centre and 2.5 kilometres from the Belur Bus Station. Yagachi Dam is an earthen
gravity dam that stands 965 feet above sea level and has huge proportions of 26
metres in height and 1280 metres in length. It was built in 2001.Yagachi Water
Adventure Sports Centre was recently created in the backwaters of the dam to
attract more tourists in big numbers. Cruise boats, banana boat rides,
kayaking, jet skiing, and speed boats are just a few of the thrilling and
exciting water sports activities available at this tempting tourist attraction.
Halebidu-Land Of History
Because the
distance between Belur and Halebidu is just 17 kilometres, they are considered
as twin cities. Halebidu was originally the royal capital of the ancient
Hoysala Dynasty during the 12th century, and is now considered one of the top
locations to visit in Belur, Karnataka. The region is known for its beautiful
Hoysala architecture, minute and exquisite carvings, elaborate temples,
stunning sculptures with metal polishing, and much more.
The
principal attractions of Halebidu, also known as Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra,
are two Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, two Jain basadis, and an
archaeological museum in the temple complex. The Hoysaleswara Temple was built
on a star-shaped pedestal.
Doddagaddavalli
– Ancient Gem
Another
renowned resort, Doddagaddavalli, is about 25 kilometres from Belur. The
beautiful temple of Lakshmi Devi is a popular tourist attraction. This temple
was established during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana in the 12th century and
is a rare architectural jewel. The temple is in immaculate shape and can be
seen from the route leading from Belur to Doddagaddavalli.
The Lakshmi
Devi Temple is surrounded by beautiful greenery and is complemented by a
beautiful water body, making it a must-see on any tourist's agenda. Tall idols
of Hindu deities Lakshmi, Shiva, Vishnu, and Kali may be found in the inner
sanctuary.
Belavadi
– 13th Century MarvelBelavadi,
located only 27 kilometres from Belur, is an excellent Karnataka escape. It is
most known for the magnificent Sri Veera Narayana Temple, which is a popular
pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The temple was constructed in the Hoslaya
style in the 13th century. It's evidenced by the elaborate engravings on the
wall. This is where, according to mythology, Bheema killed Bakasura to defend
the villagers from the monster.
Kedareswara
Temple – Chalukyan Temple
This is one
of the most well-known temples in Belur, dedicated to Lord Shiva and fashioned
of black stone. The temple's architecture is in the Chalukyan style, and it was
constructed in 1319 AD. A basement of the temple contains sculpted friezes
illustrating the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita stories. Its stunning
architecture makes it one of Belur's most popular tourist destinations.
Archaeological
Museum – Learn The Past
This is an
open-air museum in Halebid that has a variety of sculptures, displays,
inscriptions, and other items. All of them show Indian art at international
shows. A statue of Dancing Shiva, Nataraja, and Veena Saraswati may be found
inside the museum. A lovely bronze statue of Tirthankara stands next it.
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