Belur
Belur is a city famous for its magnificent Hoysala Temple Complex. A small town located on the banks of River Yagachi, it is very popular for its marvelous temples which are among the best studies in temple architecture. They are a visual delight and one can spend days drinking in their beauty. The major attraction, Chennakesava Temple, was built by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his religious conversion, as legend has it. The facade of the temple is a succession of intricately carved sculptures from bottom to top. Nearby is Halebidu, home to the Hoysaleswara Temple, a sculptural extravaganza in architecture whose walls are covered with an endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and Shilabalikas, or dancing figures. Also well worth visiting is an archeological museum in the Temple Complex. A short distance from Belur is Shravanabelagola, a Jain pilgrim center, which is as much a town of ponds as of temples. The foundation of this holy centre was laid around 'bili-gola' (white pond) apparently a natural pond either on the Small Hill or in the valley. It is here that Asia's largest statue resides, that of Lord Gomateswara, towering some 58 feet high upon the Vindyagiri Hill.
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Latest Shout Out for Belur
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