Belur – The Hallmark of Hoysala Heritage

Beluru, also known as Belur, is a small town in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is famous for its magnificent temples and monuments that showcase the artistic and architectural excellence of the Hoysala dynasty. Beluru was once the capital of the Hoysala empire, and back then it was known as Velapuri. The Hoysalas ruled over most of South India from the 10th to the 14th century with two different capital cities at different times – Beluru (Velapuri) and Halebeedu (Dwarasamudra).

The main attraction of Beluru is the Chennakeshava temple, also known as the Keshava Temple or Belur Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the supreme deities in Hinduism. The temple was built by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE to commemorate his victory over the Cholas. It took over a century to complete this masterpiece, which is considered one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. The temple is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures made of soapstone, depicting scenes from Hindu Epics, and Puranas. The temple also features a 100-feet high tower, a grand entrance gate, and a six-feet tall idol of Lord Vishnu inside the sanctum.

It is absolutely unimaginable that material as hard as stone could be used for such fine filigree. The caliber of the artisans of bygone Hoysala era is definitely beyond words.

The Kappe Chennigaraya temple is a smaller temple within the same compound, adjacent to the main temple. According to the local lore, the deity present in this temple was carved to be the main statue to be worshipped inside the Keshava Temple. It has an interesting tale on how it came to be worshipped at a nearby smaller shrine.

The Sowmyanayaki temple is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. It is situated to the south-western of Keshava Temple within the same complex. Historians believe the temple was built during Hoysala period and underwent renovation during Vijayanagara Kings rule in the year 1387.

The Andal temple also known as Ranganayaki temple is dedicated to Andal Amma – believed to be an incarnation of Bhudevi, the consort of Lord Vishnu according to Alvar traditions. The temple is on the north-western end of the complex. According to the Archaeological Survey of India plaque displayed outside the temple, this was constructed by the Vijayanagara Kings using material from ruined nearby Hoysala period temples.

Situated at a distance of about half kilometer from the Chennakeshava Temple, this is a smaller temple with an intricately carved thorana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and does not boast of the same grandeur found in other Hoysala temples.

The old capital of Velapuri was established on the banks of river Yagachi and the Dam, built on the river Yagachi is at a distance of ~3km from Chennakeshava Temple. Yagachi dam’s backwater also has adventure water sports including kayaking, banana boat and other amenities. Please check with them for holidays and seasonality.

Beluru is a destination that offers a glimpse into the rich heritage and culture of Karnataka. It is a place where history meets art and spirituality. It is a place that will leave you spellbound with its beauty and charm.

The best time to visit Beluru is between October and March, when the weather is pleasant and conducive for sightseeing. You can reach Beluru by road, train or air from various cities in India.

Belur By Road: Belur is well connected by road with major and nearby cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Madikeri, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Hassan via several private and state buses. You can also hire taxis or drive your own vehicle to reach Belur. Belur is about 220km from the state capital Bengaluru by road and most of it through National Highway 75 making the drive a pleasant one. Hassan, the district headquarters is about 38km away and is well connected by state transport so if you do not get a direct bus to Belur, you can always take a bus to Hassan and switch over to buses for Belur at Hassan as state buses ply almost every half hour during the day.

Belur By Train: The nearest railway station to Belur is Hassan railway station, which is about 38 km away. Hassan railway station is well connected to major Indian cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, Dharwad and Karwar via direct trains. You can hire taxis or take buses to reach Belur from Hassan.

Belur By Air: The nearest airport to Belur is Bengaluru airport (BLR), which is about 220 km away. Bengaluru airport (BLR) is well connected to Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL) and other Indian cities via direct flights. You can hire taxis or take buses to reach Belur from the airport. Though Hassan has an airport under construction, as of today, it is not operational.

There are a few lodges available at Belur including one from Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation – Mayura Velapuri. However, more luxurious accommodation would be available in Hassan – the district headquarters.

Hassan City has several temples and tourist attractions. Other prominent Hoysala Temple towns near Beluru include Halebeedu (17km), Doddagaddavalli Laxmi Temple (24km from Belur on Hassan-Belur highway), Belavadi Veera Narayana Swamy Temple (28km from Belur, 12km from Halebeedu), Javagal Narasimha Temple (28km from Belur, 12km from Halebeedu and 8.7km from Belavadi).