3. BELUR,KARANATAKA
• Belur, is a Town Municipal Council and taluka in Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. The town is
renowned for its Chennakeshava Temple, one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture.
• Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. Belur along with Halebidu about 16 km away are one of the
major tourist destinations in Karnataka. Belur is located in Hassan district. According to inscriptions discovered
here, it was also referred to as Velur or Velapuri. It was the early capital of the Hoysala kings in 11th-century
and remained a second capital through the 14th-century. The city was so esteemed by the Hoysalas that it is
referred to as "earthly Vaikuntha" (Vishnu's abode) and "dakshina Varanasi" (southern holy city of Hindus) in
later inscriptions.[2].So many workers worked for building Belur.It took 190 years to complete.
• Its name might be related to the name of the mineral beryl and the element beryllium
4. LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION
• Belur is in Hassan district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is about 35 kilometers (22 mi) northwest of
Hassan. The town is about 200 kilometers (124 mi) west of Bengaluru (IATA Code: BLR), about 3.5
hours drive accessible with a four lane NH75 highway through Hassan. Hassan and Chikmagalur are
the closest cities near Belur that are connected by railway network to major cities of Karnataka. Belur
has an elevation of 979 meters (3,212 ft) above sea level.
• There are regular buses to Belur from Bengaluru (222 km), Chikmagalur (22 km), Halebidu (16 km),
Kadur (62 km), Hassan (32 km), Hospet (330 km), Mangalore (124 km), Mysore (149 km) to Belur.
Belur is a small town and most hotels are outside Hassan city on the Belur road (State Highway 54),
Halebidu road (State Highway 21), in Hassan or Chikmagalur. The temple is about 16 kilometers (9.9
mi) from Halebidu temples.
5. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Belur is home to a Vishnu-related Hoysala Hindu temple complex from the 12th century called the Kesava Temple at Belur. This
temple along with Hoysaleshwara Temple and Jain temples in Halebidu have been proposed as UNESCO world heritage sites.
Nearby sites
• Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu: it is 16 km from Belur, was capital of Hoysala and it was formerly called as Dwarasamudra. It
has another famed collection of Hindu and Jain temples showing 12th century Hoysala architecture and artwork.
• Kesava Temple, Somanathapura: it is about 180 kilometer's (110 mi) southeast from Belur, another site of a major 13th century
Hoysala temple and arts dedicated to Krishna and other forms of Vishnu.
• Shravanabelagola, Channarayapatna: it is about 75 kilometres (47 mi) southeast from Belur on National Highway 75, one of
the most important Jainism pilgrimage site in South India. It is the site of a colossal Gommateshwara statue and the place
where Chandragupta Maurya is believed to have committed Sallekhana in the Digambara tradition.
6. HOYSALESWARA
TEMPLE, HALEBIDU
• FEBRUARY 14, 2017 BY RAGGI MUDDE
• Hoysaleswara Temple is a temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva and is located in Halebidu (Halebeedu
or Halebid), Hassan. The Hoysaleswara temple is
located at a distance of 150 kms from Mysore.
The construction of the temple began in the 12th
century by the King of Hoysala. This temple was
then looted in the 14th century and it fell into
ruins after that. Halebidu is easy to reach and is
located at a distance of 16 kms from Belur and 31
kms from Hassan.
GALLERY
7. HISTORY OF HOYSALESWARA TEMPLE,
HALEBID
• It is known that the famous temple derived its name from the King Vishnuvardhana
Hoysaleswara, who built the temple. A large amount of contribution was received from
the Shaivas for the construction of the temple. It was built to compete with the
Chennakesava temple which was under construction as a Vaishnava temple. The
Hoysaleswara Temple is surrounded by ponds, mantapas and lakes. It is well known for
the sculptures and architecture of Hoysala period.
• The best time to visit this temple is in February for the festival of Shivratri.
8. ARCHITECTURE OF
HOYSALESWARA
TEMPLE, HALEBIDU
• The temple has exclusive carvings and has a plan with two
shrines, one for the King and one for the queen. It has about
thousand figures on the walls which depict scenes of
Mahabharata and Ramayana. It reflects the Hoysala
architecture and was built in soapstone. The outer walls of this
temple have intricate carvings and the temple has been
described as an outstanding example of Hindu architecture.
• The temple has four porches for entry and the main shrine
faces on the east. There are exquisite sculptures and paintings
inside the temple. There is an image of a dancing Ganesha at
the entrance of the temple. There are more than 240 images in
the temple and no other temple has these many intricate
sculptures.
• The most interesting part of the temple is the Garuda Sthamba,
which is a rare pillar that depicts the history of the bodyguards
that lived with the Kings in olden days. These bodyguards
committed suicide on the death of their master and this pillar
pays homage to a bodyguard named Kuruva Lakshma who
killed himself after the death of his master. The event is
narrated in detail on the pillar. This temple has been listed as a
heritage site by the UNESCO.
GALLERY
9. HOW TO REACH HOYSALESWARA TEMPLE,
HALEBEEDU
• By Air
• The nearest airport is Bangalore and Mysore, from
there one will have to reach the temple by road.
• By Rail
• The nearest railway station is located at Bangalore and
Mysore and there are various trains running from
Hassan to Mysore and Bangalore.
• By Road
• The temple is very close to Halebid and there are
regular buses plying from Halebid to Hassan. One can
easily take a bus or train to Hassan from Bangalore.
Quick Facts about Hoysaleswara Temple
• Timing : 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
• Entry Fee: NA
• Important Festival: Shivratri
10. KESHAVA TEMPLE
• The Keshava Temple is located in
Somanathapura town in Mysore district,
Karnataka.
• The Keshava temple at Somanathapura is
another magnificent Hoysala monument, perhaps
the last. This is a breathtakingly beautiful Trikuta
Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in three forms
– Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala.
Unfortunately, the main Keshava idol is missing,
and the Janardhana and Venugopala idols are
damaged. Still this temple is worth a visit just to
soak in the artistry and sheer talent of the
sculptors who created this magnificent monument
to the Divine.
GALLERY
11. KESHAVA TEMPLE, SOMANATHAPURA –
HISTORY
• The Keshava Temple at Somanathapura was constructed by a commander of
the Hoysala Army, Somanatha. This general had just established a small town
here named after himself – Somanathapura. Obviously enjoying the favor of his
overlord, the Hoysala King Narasimha III, he appealed to the king for permission
and resources to undertake the project of building the magnificent temple. With
the blessing of the king, the construction was started.
• The construction of the temple was completed and consecrated in 1268 AD.
There is an Old Kannada inscription on a stone slab in the temple which gives
all these details.
12. KESHAVA TEMPLE,
SOMANATHAPURA –
ARCHITECTURE
• The Keshava temple is built on a raised platform with an
outer Pradakshina pathway. The temple has a stellar plan
with three shrines and Vimanas. The walls are covered in
beautiful friezes of scenes from the epics, figures of
elephants and battle scenes depicting cavalry. The section
above this is covered with carvings of various deities.
• The stellar plan creates several corners and niches that
provide different canvases for the sculptor and each row
carries a different pattern. The exquisite carvings are like a
jeweler’s work. The ceilings also carry beautiful
decorations.
• There are three shrines in this temple with three Vimanas,
so this is a Trikuta Temple.
13. KESHAVA TEMPLE, SOMANATHAPURA –
FACTS
• This Hoysala temple is stunningly
beautiful. Unfortunately, this
temple is no longer used as a
place of worship because the
idols here have been broken and
the temple was desecrated by the
invading armies of the Muslim
Sultanate. But the beautiful
temple still charms visitors and
reminds people of the magnificent
artistic and engineering
achievements of the era.
How to Get to Keshava Temple,
Somanathapura
• Somanathapura is 38 km from
Mysore. You can get bus
service from Mysore and
Srirangapatna to
Somanathapura.
• There is also a Railway Station
in Somanathapura.
• You can visit this temple
throughout the year, as there is
no particular time.
14. SHRAVANABELAGOLA –
THE LAND OF LORD
GOMATHEESWARA
• The Hassan district in Karnataka is famous for its
innumerable temples that attract tourists from all over the
world. The Shravanabelagola temple is a holy place for
the Jains and is world renowned for the majesty of Lord
Gomatheeswara towering over everything around. It is
one of the holiest places for the Jain community
attracting millions of devotees annually.
• The word Shravanabelagola literally means ‘the white
pond of Sravana’ as ‘bel’ means white and ‘kola’ means
pond in Kannada. There is a beautiful pond in the town,
true to its name. Another legend has it that the name was
due to an old woman who poured the milk she had
carried in a ‘gullakayi’ over the deity anointing him every
day. Now the image of Lord Gomatheeswara being
anointed with milk is a world-famous sight.
15. SHRAVANABELAGOLA – HISTORY
• There are two hills Chandragiri and Vindyagiri making up the area. Chandragupta
Maurya is reputed to have stayed there with his mentor and the temple there dedicated
to him was built by Emperor Ashoka in the third century B.C. There are plenty of
monuments and shrines dedicated to other sanyasis and saints in Chandragiri.
• The statue of Lord Gomatheeswara, built by Chandrayana of the Gangas is in
Vindyagiri. The verdant greenery and calm crystal clear waters of the ponds that have
attracted hundreds of monks to seek this sanctuary to meditate have helped to make
this place truly a ‘tapobhumi’ where people come to get deliverance.
16. SHRAVANABELAGOLA
– ARCHITECTURE
• The Shravanabelagola Gomatheeswara statue is
the largest monolithic idol in the world. It spans
centuries with different ruling dynasties and kings
adding their own contributions and so is a living
historical evidence of the last millennia. Historians
describe the idol of the Lord as both magnificent
and munificent – both beautiful and graceful,
breathtaking yet serene.
• It is this impossible combination of beauty and
serenity that gives the Shravanabelagola its
unique appeal. Standing 57 feet tall, the Lord is a
beacon for the world-weary who flock here to shed
their worldly burdens and to embrace a life of
peace and ahimsa, meaning non-violence.
17. SHRAVANABELAGOLA – RELIGIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE
• Bahubali, as the Jains call Lord Gomatheeswara, offers the path to eternal happiness by
helping man live a life attuned to the natural world around him and not causing any harm
to any living being. The Jains believe that Bahubali is endowed with great qualities that
inspire renunciation, enlightenment and to attain salvation.
• Every twelve years Jains from all over the world converge for the
Mahamastakabhisekha in which the Lord is adorned with thousands of litres of milk,
curds, and ghee, saffron and gold coins. The last one was in 2006 and so the next will
be held in 2018.
18. HOW TO GET TO SHRAVANABELAGOLA
• Shravanabelagola is situated in the
beautiful district of Hassan amidst
verdant greenery and surrounded by
serene ponds. It is about 12
kilometers from the Bangalore –
Mangalore highway, NH 48 and at a
distance of almost 160 kilometers
from Bangalore. It is very well
connected by rail and road and offers
a pleasant drive from the city on a
weekend. You can visit this spot
throughout the year.
Shravanabelagola – Facts
• Recently in a nation-wide poll,
Shravanabelagola was voted as
the first of the Seven Wonders of
India.
