Belur and Halebid City Guide
Belur and Halebid, are more of twin hamlets having many things in common between them. Both together complete the full square of the Hoysala temples along with Hampi and Hassan.
Belur and Halebid, are more of twin hamlets having many things in common between them. Both together complete the full square of the Hoysala temples along with Hampi and Hassan. Both have exquisite ancient temples built by the Hoysala dynasty and have at one point of the time been the capital city of the Hoysala dynasty. Although tiny hamlets today with rich cultural extarvaganza, the two villages once played a major role in the building of the dynasty.
Getting There:
By Air: Bangalore airport is the nearest to Belur (222 kms)
By Rail: Hassan is just 40 kms from Belur. Banavara and Arasikere are also near Belur.
By Road: Regular buses ply from Bangalore (222 kms), Halebid (16 kms), Hassan (40 kms), Hospet (330 kms), Mangalore (124 kms), Mysore (149 kms) to Belur
Tourist Attractions
Chenakeshava
The most outstanding temple in Belur is the Chenakeshava, a monumental edifice that took 103 years to build, possibly because of the intricate details and the myriads of friezes and sculptures that embellish the temple walls. Scenes from the epics, elephants in battle and sensuous dancers come alive in stone. The 42 'madanikas' or celestial dancers were inspired by Queen Shantaladevi, who is said to have epitomized beauty. The Hoysala architects had an eye for detail and such wizardry with their chisels that the earrings on the lobes of the dancers can rotate and beads of perspiration glisten in the hair of some.
Madanikas (Bracket Figures)
The four famous bracket figures on the ornate ceiling have been inspired by Shantala Devi's voluptuous beauty. One sculptured beauty communicates with a pet parrot whose tail is peacock-like while another wrings water from her long hair and one can see the drops collected on hair-ends. The 650 elephants charging on the frieze around the walls outside are all different from each other. The 38 Bracket figures on the walls are beautiful, pensive, playful and amorous women, lifting the temple to unprecedented heights of excellence.
Shantala Devi
On the smooth circular platform in front of the shrine, stands the sculpture of the beautiful Shantala Devi, queen of King Vishnuvardhana. The jewellery is hollow and movable. The delicacy and attention to the tiniest details here are incredible. Each feature, bangle, strand of hair is carved with care.
Halebid
About 16 km away from Belur is Halebid, the other temple town, equally magnificent but not as well preserved. Halebid was the capital of the Hoysalas till it was destroyed in the early 14th century after attacks by the Delhi Sultanate. The Hoysaleshwara temple survived the pillage but it somehow managed to remain incomplete even after 87 years of uninterrupted construction. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and has two enormous Nandi bulls at the entrance.
