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Halebid and Belur are twin towns located in the Hassan District in the state of Karnataka. These two towns together form a complete square of Hampi and Hassan towns along with the Hoysala temples. The range of the temples of the Hoysala Dynasty is distributed between both the towns. This is why both the towns together form the capital of the Hoysala Temples. The town of Belur lies on the banks of the River Yagachi and is situated at a distance of 222 km from the state capital Bangalore whereas Halebid is 238 km from Bangalore.
Halebid and Belur formed a part of the Hoysala Empire between the 12th and 13th century. A Jain, named Nripa Kama, discovered these towns and enjoyed a combined rule on both of them. Its successor was his son, Vinayaditya.
The Hoysalas belonged to the tribes of the Western Ghats and also served under the rule of the Chalukyas for a while. They came into prominence for the first time under the rule of Tinayaditya. Belur was the first capital of the Hoysala Empire and was earlier known by the name ‘Velapuri’.
After the rule of the town went under Vishnuvardhana, the capital was shifted to Halebid, which was earlier known as Dwarasamudra. This was also the period during which most of the prominent temples of Halebid and Belur, including the Hoysaleshwara Temple, were constructed.
These twin towns can also be termed as Temple Towns as their culture is rich in ancient and modern temples. The speciality of the temples of these towns is that they are drafted out of the soft stone called Chloritic Schist. The softness of this stone allows fine detailing on the structure that is well depicted in the minutely carved temple walls.
These sculptures of the temples also portray the tradition of ivory and sandalwood handwork. Due to their south Indian style of architecture, these temples are also compared to those of Khajuraho.
The Hoysala temples of these Twin Towns are undoubtedly their main attractions; however, they also offer many other attractions. One of the most popular and significant temples at the place is the Chenakeshava. This temple is a monumental structure, which was built over 103 years.
The temple has complex artistic details along with various decorative bands lining the walls. There are also scenes of fighting elephants and sensuous dancers on these walls along with 42 ‘madanikas’ that were inspired by Queen Shantaladevi.
The historical towns of Belur and Halebid can be reached by both road and rail. They are best accessible by road from Mysore, Mangalore and Bangalore. The nearest airports and railway stations are at Mysore, Bangalore and Mangalore. There is also a railway station at Hassan that is 28 km from Belur. The best season to visit Belur and Halebid are the months of October to February.
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The twin towns of Halebid-and-Belur, erstwhile base of the Hoysala Empire during the 12th and 13th century, have innumerable opportunities for sightseeing. The destination is visited by tourists for its archaeological sites, museums and ancient shrines. Founded by Jains, these towns have been the major religious centres from centuries.
These towns are also referred to as temple towns, due to the fact that there are several religious shrines spread all over the region. Most of the temples are constructed using soft soapstone, called Chloritic Schist with fine carvings. The sculptures and images featured in these temples illustrate the rich tradition of ivory and sandalwood handwork.
Halebid is named after the Hoysaleswara Temple that comprises two shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was commissioned in 1121 on a star-shaped platform, which was abandoned due to Muslim invasions. In spite of it there are detailed depictions of scenes from epics of mythical figures and sculptures.
The temples belonging to the main Hoysala period are the major attractions of Halebid-and-Belur. Chennakesava Temple, an architectural marvel built over 103 years ago, is one of the most prominent shrines of this destination. The walls of the shrine are decorated with carvings and inscriptions on 48 pillars. Kedareshwara Temple and Shantaleswara Temple are the other noteworthy shrines of the region.
A monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola is among the major highlights of Halebid-and-Belur. One of the chief pilgrimages for Jains, the revered centre atop Indragiri hillock is visited by devotees round the year.
Along with 18 metres high figurine, there are several idols of Jain Tirthankaras nearby. The Mahamastakabhisheka festival is hosted once in every 12 years, which is a major attraction of the pilgrim circuit.
The Archaeological Society of India maintains a museum in the destination, housing a wide collection of ancient sculptures, artefacts and several other historic testimonies. Besides, the ancient site of Jain Bastis belonging to the 12th century draws attention of tourists. The site comprises three temples, which include Parswanathaswamy, Adinathaswamy and Shanthinathaswamy.
Nature lovers can visit Yagachi Dam, which is one of the chief picnic spots of Halebid-and-Belur. Apart from being a major water resource for meeting irrigation and drinking water needs of the region, the expansive water body provides shelter to aquatic species.
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