Belur, town in Hassan District, Karnataka was once early capital of Hoysala Kingdom. Belur along with its twin town Halebidu which is 16 kms away are one of the major tourist attractions in Incredible India. This small town Belur is renowned for Chennakeshava Temple. This temple is known for its finest Hoysala Architecture and is proposed to be listed under UNESCO world heritage sites.
How to get there
Belur is at a distance of 220 Kms (136 Miles) from Bengaluru (Bangalore), Capital city of Karnataka, 39kms (24 Miles) from Hassan, 153 kms,(95 miles) from Mangalore and 148kms (91 miles) from Mysore. Belur does not have an airport. Either opt to go to Bangalore, Mangalore or Mysore and then take a bus or a car to Belur. There are many Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) and private buses plying to and fro to Belur from Mysore/ Bangalore. Nearest Train station is Hassan.
Seven wonders at Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
1. Pushkarni – Ancient Step Well
We are greeted by this beautiful step well as we enter Chennakeshava temple to the right. These stepwells were generally constructed for storing water mainly to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability.
2. Deepa Stambha
This Deepa Stambha ( Lamp Pillar ) dates back to the Hoysala dynasty. This can be authenticated because of the star foundation on which the Pillar is standing. The astonishing fact of this pillar is that it is standing on its own weight without any support. Kerchief or a piece of paper can easily be passed through the gap between the pillar and the platform. This small gap between the pillar and the platform is because the pillar is little raised on one side.
3. Garuda Stambha
Pillar at the entrance of the temple is known as the Garuda stambha. Since this pillar stands on square platform, historians believe that this pillar dates back to Vijayanagara Dynasty.
4. Removable ceilings inside temple
Architectural Marvels are best to be seen inside temple at Belur and outer temple walls at Halebidu. This particular ceiling just astonished me as the entire ceiling can be dismantled by turning the circular structure at the center. These are carved on a single stone with interlocking system.
5. Pillars inside temple
Every Pillar inside the temple has unique 3D carvings. Narasimha pillar is the best among all. It has Lord Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva carved on the soap stone. It has very intricate designs and salbhanjika( Madanika or shilabalike) carved at the top of the stone. Daily pooja is performed every morning and evening to this pillar.
6. Salbhajika/Madanika/Shilabalike
Madanika is the sculpture of a woman, displaying feminine features. There are 42 Madanika’s carved on soap stone and are placed at several parts of the Chennakeshava Temple. Every madanika is carved to a minute detail in different Bharatanatya postures. All these figures are said to be inspired by the beauty of Shantadevi, Queen of king Vishnuvardhana. The famous ones are DarpanaSundari (Lady with mirror), The lady with parrot, Bhasmasura Mohini and the huntress. Ornaments worn by each of these shilabalike’s can actually be rotated (3D structures).
7. Chennakeshava – Diety of Belur
Chenna in Kannada Language means Beautiful and Keshava in Kannada language means Lord Vishnu. This temple work was started by King Vishnuvardhana and was completed by his grandson. It is said that it took more that 100 years for the completion of this temple. Every inch of this temple is carved with a story( Mahabharata, Ramayana) with minute details.
Travel Tips
- It is highly advised to carry cap, water bottle, sunscreen as it gets extremely hot during the day. It is best to visit during early morning or late evening to avoid hot sun.
- September to March is the best time to visit. It is extremely hot during April/May and rainy from June – August.
- There are many decent restaurants at Belur for breakfast, lunch or evening snack.
- Hiring a guide is a must to understand the intricate designs carved on the walls of the temple. There are many Government trained guides who can speak many languages. They charge a fixed nominal fee. Feel free to give them a tip if you like their service.
- There are a lot of soap stone and brass souvenirs available outside temple complex.
- It is worth carrying a camera to capture man made wonder on the stone.
- Halebidu another Hoysala attraction is 16kms away.
