Belur

Belur is a historic town with beautiful, famous temples, some dating to the times of the Hoysala Dynasty (11th-13th centuries). It sits on the banks of the river Bhadra, that originates close to this place, and forms the junction of the Hassan - Chikmaglur and Arsikere- Mudigere highways, a.k.a Charmadi Ghat, which acts as a substitute road for descending towards the Western Coast of Karnataka.

Kannada is the official state language but English is also widely understood.

The sites are difficult to reach by public transportation.

Karnataka State Tourism Department (KSTDC) runs a Belur, Halebidu, and Sravanabelagola tour from Bengaluru and Mysuru daily April-June and Sept-Nov, and four times a week the rest of the year. There are also tours run by private operators departing almost every day.

KSTDC uses a luxury four-seats-across bus while the private companies use small, bumpy (especially if sitting in the back) minibuses. Both the private company and KSTDC tours pick you up at your hotel. If you want to book the KSTDC tour make sure you book on a weekend as the Volvo buses are only available on Sat and Sun. On all the other days Non AC buses ply to these places.

The following temples are open daily 7:30AM-5:30PM. Inner Sanctum of main deity is closed from 10AM-11AM, 1PM-3PM, 5PM-5:30PM. Many government-approved tour guides can be hired to show around the temple for ₹125-250.

• 🌍 Chenna Kesava Temple (Chennakesava Temple). The temple of Chenna Kesava (literally meaning "Handsome Kesava" in the Kananda language) is dedicated to Lord Vijayanarayana, one of the 24 incarnations of Vishnu. It was built over a century beginning in 1116 CE. The temple is roughly 30 m (100 feet) high and has a magnificent threshold or Gopuram. Its inner walls are adorned with sculptured stories from the Puranas, the Upanishads and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Chenna Kesava Temple is surrounded by Kappe Chennigaraya Temple on the south and Veera Narayana temple on the west and other shrines and mandapas within the main temple complex. Since 2023 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of three Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas. 

• Darpana Sundari (Lady with the mirror). This carving on the walls of Belur temple has several representations of Madanikas (heavenly nymphs) singing and dancing. This elaborate temple complex is enclosed by the high walls; it has a garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), a Sukhanasi (vestibule) and navaranga mandapa. The complex has many small shrines, mandapas and other structures. There are two thresholds or gateways. The one has a gopuram was built in 1935. Poojas have been performed every morning and evening at this temple since the 12th century CE. The temples of Belur and Halibeedu were carved from soapstone (steatite). 
• Kappe Chennigaraya Temple (Frog Temple). This small shrine resembling the main temple is located south of the main sanctum. It is dedicated to Kappe Chennigaraya and was consecrated by Shantala Devi, a queen. The icon of Lord Kappe Chennigaraya is located near the Chennakesava Temple. 
• The Gravity Pillar (Lamp Post). This 23 m tall (42 feet) pillar was constructed in 1414 and is still standing. 
• Veera Narayana Temple. This small shrine, west of Chenna Kesava temple, is dedicated to Veera Narayana or Lakshmi Narayana. Its outer walls are decorated with large images of divinities. 
• Vishnu Samudra (The Big Tank). 

• 🌍 Hoysalesvara Temple (Halebidu village, east of Belur). 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Since 2023 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of three Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas. (updated Sep 2023)

The main thing to see are the temples. No other major activity to do here though. The temple itself takes up most of your time.

Make sure you take a camera along, these historic monuments and sculptures make interesting visual delights and are worth capturing. The guides that you get at Belur and Halibidu are ok. Some part of what they tell you is made up, but the other part is actual history.

As you exit the temple you may be approached by vendors stalking you to try and sell various books, trinkets and other souvenirs.

You get some nice bronze and stone statuettes that you can buy as souvenirs. There is nothing much to shop about in this temple town.

• Ragi mudde (Kannada: ರಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ದೆ)] is a wholesome meal in Karnataka and it is mainly popular with the rural folk of Karnataka.
• Avarekaalina Saaru and raagi mudde are very famous in Hassan. Also, avarekaalina saaru tastes good with all kinds of rotis and chapathis also.
• Puliyogare (Kannada: ಪುಳಿಯೋಗರೆ)] is a south Indian rice preparation usually eaten as a snack. Puli means sour taste and Ogara means rice in Halegannada, thus Puliyogare translates as sour tasting rice. Puliyogare is also known as Huli anna or Tamarind rice in some parts of Karnataka.
• Sakre Pongal- freshly harvested rice and jaggery ('palm sugar') are put to boil in pots the out is bubbly mixture. Served hot-Enjoy Sakre Pongal.

It is customary to serve coffee to visitors. The best coffee beans in India are grown in Karnataka and in Hassan & chikmaglur District.

• Mayura Velapuri, Temple Road, ☏ +91 8177-222209. A very basic hotel run by KSTDC (Karnataka State Tourism Department), within walking distance to the Belur Temple (there is another Mayura hotel close to Halibidu Temple as well). The proximity is the only thing good about this hotel which offers air-con, fan and dormitory rooms. The manager would arrange for water (hot and cold) to be brought to your room when you need it. The rooms themselves are new and clean, but the bedding is modest, although clean. The lodging is therefore not top class, but the proximity to the temple (you can see the temple at the end of the street from the lodge—maybe a 5-minute stroll through the shop lined streets) is its plus. There is a restaurant on-site as well, the food and coffee there are in poor taste, though. A/C rooms ₹600 per night, non-A/C rooms ₹800 per night for double room (₹200 extra for third person), dorms ₹3,000 for min 20 people.. 
• Sudha Lodge. A decent place to stay in the small town, situated opposite to the bus stand and the Chennakesava Temple is 5-min walk from here. Non AC double room cost ₹250.. 
• Sumukha Residency, Temple Road, ☏ +91-08177 222181. Tariff: Non-A/C double rooms ₹600 per night.. 
• Vishnu Lodge, Temple Road. 
• Vishnu Residency. Double fan rooms cost ₹250.. 

Good hotels are also available at Hassan:

• Hotel Amblee Palika, Hassan Tel:66307.
• Hotel Hassan Ashhok, P.B. No. 121, B.M. Road, ☏ +91-08172-268731, fax: +91-8172-267154, enquiries@hassanashok.com. 
• Kotari Hotels, Station Road, Hassan. 
• Hoysala Village Resort, Handinkere, Belur Road, ☏ +91 8172 256764, fax: +91 8172-256 065, hvr@trailsindia.com. Hoysala Village Resort is on Belur - Chikmagalur Highway. The resort has 33 rooms, out of which 29 are standard rooms and 4 suites. The amenities provided are doctor on call, travel desk, laundry service, swimming pool, car parking and conference hall. The resort also has an in-house restaurant and a bar and provides sightseeing packages. ₹6,300-7,500. 
• Hotel Suvarna Arcade, ☏ +91 8172 67422. B.M.Road, Hassan. 

• Dharmasthala - Belur - Halebidu - Shravanabelagola would complete a brief Heritage tour of southern Karnataka. They call Belur, Halebeedu and Shravanabelagola as the triangle eloquence in stone and are nominated to be UNESCO World Heritage Centers.
• You can go north and to Chikmagalur (27 km) (3000–3500 ft ASL) - Coffee plantations and forests combine to give a feel that is a little different to Coorg. The area is less populated and plantations are larger, surrounded with hills, forests and river streams.
• You can go south to Madikeri- also known as Coorg or Mercara, travel via Shimoga. At Medikeri you can go to Talakaveri and Nagarhole National Park, they are both must see places.
• You can go east towards Bangalore (224 km)– Karnataka capital. Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is one of the most hip and happening cities in India and also a major center of the I.T. industry
• Enroute you can visit Halebidu, Hassan and Shravanabelagola.
• You can go west towards Mangalore a port city and the headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district in the coastal region of Karnataka State in India.
• En route to Mangalore you can visit the famous Dharmastala which is 98 km away. Dharmastala is a renowned pilgrimage destination where Manjunatha Swamy temple is situated.