Belur's main attraction - the Chennakeshava temple

The Chennakesava Temple  was called Vijayanarayana Temple and was established built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, which was a capital of the Hoysala empire (during the 10th century AD).

Star shaped Channakesava temple at BelurBelur is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from Bangalore, in Hassan district of Karnataka state, India.

Chennakesava translates to "handsome Kesava" and is an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu. Belur is well-known for its architecturally magnificent temples, built during the rule of Hoysala dynasty, making it and nearby Halebidu, a top tourist destination in Karnataka. 

Take a virtual tour of this main temple in Belur and see the unique attractions here:

The temple location and the Hoysala architecture

The main structure of the temple is star-shaped and is a homogeneous architectural unit on a raised platform. Everything is carved in black stone, looking like metal.

At the entrance, stands the figure of Garuda (the sacred eagle), facing the temple. The 650 charging elephants on the fresco around the walls outside are all different from each other.

(photo credit: tim albany)

Sculptures of Mandrikas or Maidens are seen throughout the temple

The exotic bracket figures (Madanikas) on the walls of this temple are serene, playful and amorous which simply adds up to the architectural wonder that the temple is.

Besides the elephant series, there are the cornices with bead work; scrolls of figures sophistically carved; delicately carved female figurines with rich ornamental display; brief story of Mahabharata and Ramayana. 

Fine Art on the temple Pillars 

The work inside the temple is even finer in several respects than that of outside. The pillars all differ from one another in design. Especially two pillars in the Navaranga deserve special interest.

One of the figures is a tiny bull, which is known as Kadale Basava. A small space is left by the artist who created this pillar as challenge to any artist who may venture to beat him. Another Mohini Pillar is carved proportionately.

Kappe Channigaraya

Kappe Channigaraya is situated to the south of Sri Keshava Temple. The cells have the figures of Ganapathi, Saraswathi, Lakshminarayana, Chamundeshwari and Venugopala.

The Temple of Soumyanayaki and Ranganayaki, beloved of Sri Channakeshava, may also be seen.  

The Gravity Pillar

The pillar is about 42 ft high of single stone and it stands without support. Other small temples are Ramanujacharya, Krishna, Narasimha, Anjaneya and Ramachandra.

In the courtyard near the pond there is a pavilion wherein the statues of Vishnuvardhana and Krishnaraja Wodeyar are kept.  

No two Sculptures are alike

Narasimha Idol at HalebidNo outer or interior walls are without intricate sculptures and it is to be noted that no two sculptures have been repeated on the wall panels in the main temple.

(photo credit: tim albany)

Belur is kind of a living temple in the sense that the silver-plated image of Lord Vishnu within the inner sanctum is still worshipped.

Pooja (prayer) is performed at 9 am and 7 pm every day, and the Garba Gruha (inner sanctum) are closed between 1 pm and 3 pm and between 5 pm and 6 pm.

Learn about the history of Belur or See Halebidu or Start your trip from Hassan district