Chennakesava Swamy Temple, Belur

The Chennakeshava temple, about 220 kms from Bangalore, is a 12th-century temple from the Hoysala period, The Chennakesava Temple (also called Chennakeshava) is an architectural wonder in itself.

The temple was built in the early 12th century by the Hoysala ruler, Vishnuvardhana, when the town of Belur was the site for the capital of the Hoysala kingdom.

The out-of-the-world art, sculpture and spiritual charm can only be seen and experienced to appreciate, so mere words and pictures would not suffice. The land’s best architects and artists were recruited to produce new designs and styles that would be the hallmark of the complex. Chennakeshava Temple, Belur is considered one of the peaks of architectural achievements during the Hoysala period.

There are different temples dedicated to different deities in the temple complex.

Visitors who are keen to study the details of the wall sculptures at the Temple will find many references and depictions of important events from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. A visit to this vibrant state is incomplete without witnessing the scale of architecture, details and innovative styles that the Chennakeshava temple is famous for.

While it’s mentioned that people can visit the heritage temple for about 3 hours, one can spend a day or more to experience and understand the intricate details, appreciate the skillful beauty, the amazing sculptures and dedication that went into it.

Since Chennakesava Temple is located in Belur, the nearest major town being Hassan, at about 38 kms. The distance from Bangalore is 220 km.

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