Skip to main content

A Trip to Belur, South India

After visiting Shravanabelagola, our KSTDC tourist bus headed towards Belur, 90 kms away from there. Belur is well-known for its marvelous temples built during the rule of Hoysala dynasty.





(Gopuram of the Temple)


We reached Belur by 12.30 p.m. and had our lunch at Hotel Mayura Velapuri, a unit of KSTDC, Belur. Then we got back to our bus and after 5 minutes we were at the entrance of the famous Chennakeshava temple. Chennakesava means "handsome Kesava".

Our tourist guide requested us to be together and follow him. He took us inside the temple through the gopuram and reached the main temple. He then explained to us about the history and the architecture of the magnificent temple. For a moment, we stood there mesmerizing the beauty of the temple architecture. It was so much more beautiful than I had read in many travelogues.







(Chenna Keshava Temple)


The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and daily worship still goes on there. This beautiful magnificent temple was commissioned by Hoyasala king Vishnuvardhana during the 12th century, and stands on a star-shaped platform. The facade of the building is intricately carved with sculptures and friezes. Each theme has a story behind it. Some of the striking depictions are Shiva dancing on a demon, dancing Kali, seated Ganesha, and Durga killing the buffalo demon (Mahishasura Mardhini) and many more. The walls of the temple are adorned with friezes of elephants, lions and horses, and sculptures of dancing girls. Inside of the temple is even more richly carved on its panels and pillars. There is a flow to the subject matter, like a story on the stones unveiling before you.The architecture is extremely complex and well maintained in proportion. Any one who has some interest in stone architecture, can enjoy the unusual and amazing beauty of this monument for hours and days together, just by looking at them to understand the imagination of the sculptors what they are trying to say.





(KSTDC Hotel)


By 3.30 p.m. we left there to our next destination Halebid, just 16 kms away, to see another historical monument of Hoysalas.






Labels:

Comments

Cornell said…
Hi, just visited your blog first time, and found it quite interesting. Nice post indeed on Indian Tourism. The Southern part of India makes for a fascinating holiday location. South India Tour Packages usually comprise of visit to Lush hill stations, Sandy beaches, Religious, Heritage & Cultural sights, Ayurveda treatment.
October 26, 2010 at 3:56 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Trip to Palani

Palani Murugan Temple is located on top of the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, South India.  The idol of Palani Andavar is said to have been made of  Navapashanam ( a combination of Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri Pasanam, Vellai Pasanam, Mridharsingh, Silasat) ,  by a siddhar called Bhogar. H e is considered as one of the 18 siddhars born in the world. We left home at 7 a.m planning a long journey, and our first destination was Palani. We had booked an accommodation in a budget hotel, Soundarya, after reading many  reviews by Tripadvisor travellers. It was just okay for a day.  AC was a great relief and it was closer to the Palani Murugan temple. Food was also available. We reached there and had our lunch.  After taking some rest we proceeded towards the temple. We had reached the gate where tickets for winch are booked We wanted to travel in the rope car, but that was in another gate which is quite far, said the autorikshaw driver who took us there. The char
Post a Comment
Read more

Visit to Swananda Loka - Bala Ganapathi Temple in Hoyasala style

I had an opportunity to visit Swananda Loka, an upcoming Ganapathi Temple in Hoyasala style of architecture, housed in the Swananda Ashrama complex located in the Agara village in Tataguni, 3 km off Kanakapura Road. Swananda Loka is believed to be the heavenly abode of Lord Ganesha. The 9-acre temple complex area with lush green gardens is a feast to the eyes and mind. The piolet project was completed successfully and the model called Ganapathi Panchayathana is  open to visitors.  Around the main shrine, the temple would have 4 shrines for the 4 Yuga Ganapathis and idols of 32 manifestations of Lord Ganapathi. In this Swanandashrama  complex, there is also a  temple for Lord Subramanya and another one for  Devi. In this Devi temple, Goddess is sitting on the snake. A goshala is also there where cows are taken care of. The Ashram also promotes education of rural children and organizes socio cultural events. I was blessed to attend a Mangalarthi puja
Post a Comment
Read more

Visit to Sri Sai Old Age Home

Recently I was invited by my neighbours to attend a birthday party of their grandson. I was eager to attend it since it was an unusual type of birthday celebration. It was not celebrated at home in a conventional way, but the celebration was with the inmates of an old age home - Sri Sai Old Age Home Orphanage, Magadi Main Road, Sunkadakatte, Bangalore.   It was an overwhelming experience for everyone.   As we stepped in we saw two aged women walking in the veranda. Seeing our unfamiliar faces they paused and stared at us.    Their eyes looked tired and empty, and greeted us with a faint smile. Sri Sai Old Age Home Orphanage is located in Magadi Main Road, Sunkadakatte, Bangalore.  serving the elderly senior citizens and destitutes. It was started by late K.L. Ravi Kumar, who was in scrap business, 17 years ago and since his death 5 years ago, his sons Pradeep Kumar and Sashi Kumar continue this noble work. These young brothers spend their whole time in taking care of the
Post a Comment
Read more