Belur & Halebidu
Among Karnataka's most delightful heritage sites
Set off on an excursion to Belur and Halebid, towns that bear witness to the intricate craftsmanship of the Hoysala dynasty of Jains that ruled Karnataka state from the 10th to the 14th Century. Belur is most renowned for its Chennakesava Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, whereas Halebid has twin temples to Lord Shiva. As with most Indian temples, a plethora of other deities, characters from the epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata, sculpted forms of animals, heavenly beings and curvaceous women can also be found on the walls and pillars that add grist to the storyteller’s yarn.
Image credits: Sandeep Kunnathu CC-BY-2.0