Tourism in South Indial Tourism in South Indial Tourism in South Indial
South India
Best Tours in South India
Kerala Tours
Goa Tours
Sun-n-Sand Vacations
Beaches with South India
Ayurveda Tours
Incredible India Tours
Wildife in South India
Rail Tours South India


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Guide » Karnataka » Belur

 

Belur Tourist Destinations South India | Belur Tourism Info


Belur

This city is connected with the rest of the cities of the country and especially the south Indian cities with railways, roadways and airways. Roadways are the best and cheapest means for traveling to this city of pilgrimage. There is a proper National Highway linked with almost all the northern parts of India.

The Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation is providing excellent bus services to the tourist of this place. Deluxe buses are also available for luxurious traveling. Hassan is the nearest train station from where the visitors could get railway transportation. Bangalore and Mangalore provides air transportation.

The main temple, surrounded by a group of subsidiary shrines, stands in the center of a rectangular, paved courtyard along the perimeter of which are ranges of cells fronted by a pillared veranda.

The temple has lost its super structure but looks very imposing. It has a pillared hypostyle hall (navaranga), a square vestibule (antale ), and a solid, stellate vimana. Three entrances lead into the hall, each being flanked by a shrine. The doorways are guarded on either side by the gorgeously decorated doorkeepers.

The extensive hall is supported by forty-six pillars, each of a different design. The Narasimha pillar could be rotated at will.

The unique pillars were manufactured by rough-finishing a monolithic block of stone and then mounting it in upright position on a wheel. This was rotated against a chisel, set as a turning tool.

Each pillar has a bell-shaped member towards the lower half of the shaft. A sloping bracket has been fixed to the capital by means of sockets. The brackets were carved from single slabs into

images, enshrined with leafy aureoles of beautiful maidens known as 'shilabalakis'.

The seductive, voluptuary emphasis is remarkable. The subjects are all secular and mostly represented are voluptuous maidens. All are graceful, charming and fascinatingly chiseled out. Each damsel is celestial, with exuberant serene beauty, exhibiting the virtuosity of the sculptors.

They all are in conformity with the art of dance and sculpture ( 'Natya' and 'Shilpa' shastras). Hence, their breasts remind of the moon, the waist resembles that of a swan, and their hips remind those of an elephant.

Belur is 222 Kms from Bangalore, 34 Kms from Hassan and 149 Kms from Mysore. This place is famous for its exquisite temples. Belur is known as Dakshina Varanasi or South Banaras for its temples.

The serenity of Belur is attributed to the celebrated temple of Channakeshava, built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana in 117 A. D. to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism.

HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Bangalore is the nearest airport.

Rail: Hassan is the nearest rail head.

Road: The place is connected with Hassan (34 kms), Mysore (149 kms), Bangalore (222 kms).

Contact us for Prior Booking at our 24 Hours desk on the following mobile Nos: +91-99428 99555 , 98424 30308 , 99425 87000 . Email Id : info@tourisminsouthindia.com, Fax No: 0422 - 2331605.

Major attractions Excursions Shopping General info
Travel Guide Travel Info Near by cities Photogallery


Cities


Bangalore Mangalore Mysore Hassan
Badami Bijapur Hospet Coorg
Belur      

Belur, Travel Guide, Tourism in South India Reservation Form