Belur and Halebid are two tiny but beautiful temple towns in the southern state of Karnataka. Once at the center of a great empire ruled by Hoysalas in the 12th century, Belur and Halebid are heritage towns and are home to several exquisite temples which reveal the artistry of Indian sculptors and the mastery of the temple builders of yore.
No less exquisite than the famous temples of Khajuraho, the temples of Belur and Halebid will leave you wanting to come back for a second look.
The temples of Belur & Halebid are magnificently done up with intricate carvings and fine architecture. One must not miss out on the exquisite Hoyasala architecture which is worth a notice in all the temples.
Belur is about 223 kms from Bangalore, a drive of about 4 hours. It is located on the banks of river Yagachi. According to inscriptions discovered here, Belur was also referred to as 'Velapuri'. Belur is known as Dakshina Varanasi or South Banaras for its temples. Though Belur and Halebidu and just 16 kms away, they are always referred to as Belur and Halebidu as if they are one. But indeed they are one in their grandeur of erstwhile era. The temples of Belur and Halebid are best known for their south Indian architecture.
This temples of Belur and Halebid along with Jain monuments at Shravanabelagola in Hassan district are being proposed as UNESCO world heritage site. Halebid is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM Closed on Fridays.
Best time to visit: October to February.
Distance from Halebid:
Hassan: 27 Kms
Bangalore: 216 Kms
Belur: 16 Kms
Mysore: 149 Kms
Distance from Belur:
Hassan: 38 Kms
Bangalore: 223 Kms
Halebid: 16 Kms
How to reach Belur and Halebid:
Air: Hassan does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Bangalore.
Rail: Hassan is connected to Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore by regular trains. The railway station is around 2 km east of town.
Road: One can reach Belur and Halebid via Hassan. Hassan is linked with Bangalore, Mangalore, Chikmagalur and Mysore by road.
There are plenty of buses ply to Hassan from Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore. Frequent bus facility is provided by Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
Road map to reach Belur:
From Bangalore to Belur via Nelamangala - Kunigal - Channarayapattana - Hassan - Belur.
Road map to reach Halebid:
From Bangalore to Belur via Nelamangala - Kunigal - Channarayapattana - Hassan - Halebid.
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