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Belur and Halebid go together like twin cities. Separated only by a short drive, both were home to the Hoysala dynasty for three centuries (mid-11th to mid-14th century). Coming upon one after visiting the other is like recognising a family resemblance. Being star-shaped, both look similar.
They were founded by a Jain, Nripa Kama, whose kingdom was sandwiched between the Cholas of Thanjavur in the south, and the Chalukyas of Badami in the north. Nripa Kama's son and successor was Vinayaditya. He is remembered by later generations that often, incorrectly, consider him to be the founder of the dynasty. But Halebid and Belur tend to defy history. It is rare to find a place that appears so untouched by time.
The Belur and Halebid temples are cut from the soft stone called chloritic schist. It allowed for very fine detailing, evident in the intricately carved temple walls. The tradition of ivory and sandalwood handwork is reflected in the sculptures of these temples. As representations of South Indian styles they are comparable, perhaps, only to the temples at Khajuraho. Of special interest are the engineering techniques used in assembling the temple, particularly the locking systems that used grid locks, interlocks and the pin and socket system They were used for attaching separately carved panels onto the walls and ceilings, achieving a continuous and inseparable appearance for what are essentially disparate stone structures.
After a dusty drive through open land, with fields on either side culminating in a congested township, we enter the Belur Temple Complex. We come here for the sculptures, unlike any you will ever see. Stones don't just speak at Halebid and Belur. They sing.
The temple complex has two entrances, but only one gopura. This present brick tower was built in 1397, in place of the Mahadwara that was burned down during the reign of the mercurial Mohammad bin Tughlak.
Entering the complex, one is stunned by the vision directly ahead. The temple stands on a raised platform and looks like a carved casket made of wood polished to perfection, rather than something made of stone. The temple has a flat roof because its vimana was dismantled in 1879 to protect the sanctum sanctorum. There is a tank (on the right as you enter) and perforated stone screens between the exterior pillars of the main shrine.
Chenna Kesava or Beautiful Kesava must be a happy deity. His abode in Belur is one of the most gorgeous temples in India. Hundreds of devoted artisans worked for nearly a century to build him a home worthy of the gods.
Miniature shrines flank the steps to the temple. It is an ekatachala temple, meaning it has one shrine on a single platform. The temples inside is dark, cool and quiet. Although pujas are performed through the day, most of the visitors are tourists.
Inside the sanctum, the large image of Chenna Kesava is profusely ornamented and has a benevolent smile. His consorts, Bhudevi and Sridevi, stand on either side of him. Shlokas resound in this cavernous space, the deity is awe-inspiring, and intricate carvings hold your attention. Lord Keshava is certainly not lonely in this temple
A tourist guide enters with a group of people. The wonder in their eyes is clearly visible despite the gloom. He points out the navaranga platform on which devadasis performed their dances. It is the largest platform in any Hoysala temple. The shining, curved pillars have square bases. The guide shepherds his flock outside and silence reigns supreme again.
There is a Narasimha Pillar to the south-east of the navaranga, which used to rotate on its own axis. A intricately carved Mohini Pillar stands to the south-west. Dim passages radiate from the centre and open out into the sunlight. One can wander around and watch as each carving comes to life. Look up and youll see the Madanikas, female figures in graceful poses. They seem to be entranced by their own dance. The ceiling forms a kind of octagonal hollow dome, with all the tiers or concentric rings having superbly carved figures. Look down again, and straight ahead is the light at the end of the passage. Coming out into the sunshine is like being blasted onto the sun itself.
Hoysala temples have no interior passages surrounding the sanctum sanctorum. The pradarshan (circumambulation) required of all devotees is effected on the raised platform. The path is lined with splendid sculptures, representing stories from Hindu mythology.
Entry: INR 5 for Indians, INR 100 for foreigners
Timings: 9 am-5.30 pm
To the left, is the smaller, less elaborate shrine dedicated to Kappe Chennigaraya. It was built by Vishnuvardhana's senior queen Shantala Devi, herself a follower of Jainism. At the back of the temple are three important buildings -- a large mandapa, the Andal shrine, and the Soumyanayaki Temple that were built later, using material from ruined Hoysala buildings elsewhere.
The more you look at the temple, the more you feel a deep sympathy for the Beautiful One enclosed in one of the most attractive spaces created by man, He too must escape periodically to wander in the freedom of the hills.
Only a short drive from Belur (16 km) is Halebid. The Hoysaleswara Temple, the main attraction here, was built in 1152. It is a dikutachala temple, meaning it has two shrines on the same platform. They are both dedicated to Shiva. The second temple in Halebid is the Shantaleswara Temple. The two temples took some 100-odd years to build.
The walk to the temple is slightly longer than at Belur, all the better for appreciating its proportions and its fine lawns. People are sprawled on the grass and resting, even scattered among the Nandi mandapas on the left.
A few steps lead you to the starshaped platform. As if that were humanly possible, the sculptures here are even more exquisite than the ones at Belur In addition to providing more surface area for carving, the star-shaped temple walls also provide intermittent recesses for standing in the shade. No matter what functions are met by this design, the romantic reason for the star shape, as our guide said, is because the moon and sun have eclipses but the stars shine continuously.
Just as in Belur, many sculptures here are three-dimensional, with the backs of the figurines carved with as much detail as the front. The figures are very expressive, with emotions such as anger clearly visible. The amount of detailing is incredible. For instance, when Shiva dances, not only is his shoulder slightly lifted, but even the ornaments he wears are shown flying in the air. When a character is being crushed to death, its very eyes bulge. Thus, even though the eyes should be blank, since eyeballs are rarely carved, the sculptures have used body nuances to convey something more significant. The makara torana on the southern entrance is particularly well crafted.
The large Nandi mandapams are open halls, standing next to each other, and were probably added later. One Nandi is slightly larger than the other, and is said to be the third largest in India. They are beautiful, smooth, and above all, asymmetrical difficult to achieve when you're sculpting on this scale.
Built by Veerballala II and his younger queen Abhinava Ketala Devi, in 1219, the temple was never completed. Its more of a ruin than a temple today. Close by is the Sri Ranganatha Temple.
There's nothing to buy except the tiny panchaloha (a precious alloy of gold, silver, zinc, copper and bronze) statues of gods and goddesses, which are nicely done.
Belur and Halebid: The KSTDC Mayura Velapuri (Tel 089706 50026 Tariff INR 1,800-2,000 for a non-AC room) in Belur near Chenna Kesava Temple. Hotel Vishnu Regency (Tel +919448655546, Tariff INR 800-1,200) is a 10-min walk from the Halebid Bus Stand. The hotel organises temple visits and Internet access is available. For more options, head to the town of Hassan (34 km from Belur), which provides a variety of hotels for all budgets.
Food is definitely a bit of a problem in this area. Hassan itself has nothing much to offer except a more conducive atmosphere for eating. And, if you're making a day trip, you've to lunch at Belur or Halebid. Gurudev International, Hassan, has a bar and rooftop restaurant -- try the tandoori here. Hassan gives you an opportunity to try Malnad specialities such as ragi balls with both mutton and veg stews, which taste a trifle different from their Keralite cousins. You can also try the food at the Hoysala Village Resort. Ashok Hassan's Shanthala multicuisine restaurant is popular for its Continental and non-spicy Indian dishes. Its coffee shop and bar are also quite busy. If you don't want to rush back for lunch at Hassan, you could also try the KSTDC Mayura or some of the Udipi-style restaurants. Kamat's Restaurant, 35 km away from Hassan, en route to Bengaluru, is very popular for its vegetarian fare.
