... Belur... our next destination is located just 16 kms from Halebidu and at around 4pm we reached to witness yet another masterpiece of Hoyasala Period, the famous ‘Channakesava Temple’... Shoes and Cell phones are strict 'No No' here but thankfully the management allows carrying cameras inside...
As we entered we were taken a hold by a tourist guide, thankfully for us turned out to be a great boon because of his sense of humour and of course knowledge of history... Like Hoyasaleshwara temple is for ‘Shiva’, Channakesava temple at Belur is dedicated to lord Vishnu...
First striking feature of the temple complex is the Gopuram through which we enter the temple complex... what we understand from the guide is that this Gopuram along with the compound wall was added later on in 14th century by Kings of Vijayanagara Empire to protect the temple complex....
... Channakesava temple at Belur is specifically appreciated for its interior beauty and carvings unlike the Hoyasaleshwara Temple at Halebidu which is widely appreciated for its external carvings... Even if I listen to this, the temple surfaces at Belur too were extensively detailed out with Hindu Mythology characters and stories...
... Below is the detail and intact piece of emblem of Hoyasala Empire ... basically indicating a warrior fighting a Tiger ...
... some of the engineering details like surface water discharge well worked out and performing efficiently till date...
.. Inside of temples are equally well detailed out may it be pillars, walls or even ceilings, all depicting and narrating mythological stories... some of these surfaces are amazingly well polished... wonder how they manages to get these mirror polished finishes in 10-12th centuries..
... the Channakesava (Vishnu) deity inside the temple...
... another wonder in the temple complex... this free standing pillar is connected at the base only at 3 corner whereas 4th corner of the pillar at base is not attached to the base... its brilliant engineering with calculated centre of gravity principle and is one of the major attractions for kids and people present in the temple complex...
... it was around 5.30 pm and essentially the end of our heritage day trip ... an all in all worth experience ... and worth visiting again.. may be on my own to spend longer times at these temples....
... now we were on our back to B'lore straight from Belur... tired with day long activities, return journey went off mostly sleeping in the coach except for dinner break at Kamat's on the way back... the coach was all over quiet again as everyone fell asleep again after a dinner break ... 10.30 in night as we reached back B'lore Badami House and everyone dispersed their own ways........ was totally satisfied the way the day went along and had promised myself to get my friends here next time they visit me in B'lore ...
No comments:
Post a Comment