Belur
Beautiful Belur, the quaint little town
is set elegantly on the banks of river Yagachi
amidst lush surroundings. It was
chosen as the capital of the Hoysalas, after the sacking and destruction of their
capital at Dwarasamudra (Halebid), by the Delhi Sultans. The Hoysalas ruled
this region between 11th and 13th centuries. They were great patrons of art and
architecture and built a number of magnificent shrines during their 300 years
reign. The temples and monuments at Belur are indeed the best Hoysala
creations, showcasing their amazing architecture and sculptures in full glory.
The Hoysala temples are characterised by typical star shaped ground plan and
are usually set on a platform. Today, this small town basking in the warmth of
its luxurious greenery and glorious past is regarded as 'one of the jewels' of
South Indian architecture.
Tourist Acctration in Belur
- Chenna Keshava Temple
Chenna Keshava Temple : The magnificent shrine dedicated to Lord Vijayanarayan, one of the
twenty four incarnations of Vishnu, was built to commemorate the victory of
Hoysalas over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad. Some also believe
that it was constructed when Vishnuvardhana adopted Vaishnavism under the
influence of the great guru Sri Ramanujacharya. Its construction commenced in
1116 A.D., at the instance of king Vishnuvardhana, later on his son and
grandson completed the work. According to historical records, it took about 103
years to complete this profusely sculpted masterpiece of Hoysala architecture.
The huge temple complex enclosed by high walls has a garbha griha (sanctum
sanctorum), a sukhanasi (vestibule), a navaranga mandapa and many smaller
shrines, mandapams and other structures. The star shaped main sanctum is a
homogenous architectural unit set on a raised platform in the centre of a
spacious paved courtyard surrounded by subsidiary shrines and colonnades.
Virtually every inch of the shrine is intricately carved. The outer walls are
adorned with Jagati or railed platform sculpted with horizontal rows of friezes
with carvings of elephants, simhalatas or lions and scrolls of small female
figures in ornamental niches and intersected here and there by larger vertical
images. The lower friezes are not so extensively carved as in other Hoysala
temples, but the work higher up on the walls is simply outstanding. Singularly
beautiful are the 38 freestanding bracket figures angled between the upper
walls and the over-hanging eaves around the outside ot the temple and navranga
(pillared hall). The brackets are adorned with voluptuous beauties known as
Madanikas in various dancing and ritual postures and depicts an amazing variety
sculpted forms. The main sanctum enshrines a beautifully ornamented 6 ft. >
high image of Chenna Keshava, literally meaning the 'Beautiful' Keshava in
Kannada language. Other important Hoysala shrines at Belur are -Kappe (frog)
Chennigaraya Temple and Veera Narayana Temple.
RE ACHING THERE
Airport: Mangalore (154 kms.).
Railhead : Hassan (37 kms.) is
connected to Bangalore, Mangalore and My sore etc.
Road : Well connected.
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