Belur, once the capital of the powerful Hoysala rulers, is renowned for the stunning Chennakeshava Temple (also called Vijaya Narayana Temple). The temple complex in Belur in the Hassan district of present-day Karnataka was built by Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas in 1116 AD.

1. Chennakeshava Temple: A 900-
year-old Hoysala marvel in
soapstone
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2. Belur, once the capital of the powerful Hoysala rulers, is renowned for the
stunning Chennakeshava Temple (also called Vijaya Narayana Temple). The
temple complex in Belur in the Hassan district of present-day Karnataka was
built by Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the
Cholas in 1116 AD.
The 12th-century Chennakeshava
temple has been on the tentative list of
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites for
several years.
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4. Along with the Chennakeshava temple, the union government has proposed the
Somanathapura temple in Mysuru district and Hoysaleshwara temples in
Halebid as India’s nominations for the UNESCO World Heritage list for 2022-
23. A site visit for technical evaluation is proposed in September or October
2022 and India’s dossier will be taken up for consideration in July or August
2023.
The Chennakeshava temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala
workmanship. The temple is built using soapstone which is soft and suitable for
intricate carvings. The workmanship and skill in the carvings are breathtaking.
Situated on the banks of the Yagachi River, the majestic temple is believed to
have been constructed by father-son duo Dasoja and Chavana.
Also See: Maluti: Jharkhand’s 17th-century terracotta temples built by royal women to
outdo each other

6. The grand temple complex was built
over three generations and took 103
years to complete.
The temple was destroyed by the Muslim invaders who attacked the Hoysala kingdom.
Malik Kafur, a commander of Alauddin Khilji, demolished the temple in 1311 and in
1326, Mohammed Bin Tughlak brought down the remaining structures. Some parts of
the temple were restored by later rulers.
Though a Vaishnava temple, the complex has many sculptures taken from Shaivism,
Shaktism, Jainism and Buddhism.
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8. The structure is built in the Vijayanagar style and has a Prakara with a
Gopura. At the entrance, there is a towering Gopura and a magnificent
sculpture of Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s carrier.
The structure stands on a platform and its outer walls are adorned with
exquisite artwork depicting stories from religious texts such as the
Mahabharat, Ramayana and the Puranas. The lower parts of the walls have
carvings of charging elephants and horses.
The temple has an interesting sculpture, called the anti-
gravity pillar which is carved out of a single rock and
stands on its weight. People can actually swipe a piece
of paper across it.

10. The temples of Kappe Chennigaraya, Soumyanayaki, Andal and other Vaishnava
deities surround this main temple. There are many well-crafted sculptures in the
temple complex. Among them are the Gajasurasamhara (a sculpture of Lord Shiva),
a sculpture of Ravana and a sculpture of Durga killing Mahishasura.
Inside the temple, the sanctum has a magnificent 3.7 m tall image of Lord Vijaya
Narayana in black stone. The doorway has elegantly
carved dwarapalakas (gatekeepers). The sanctum is star-shaped and the zigzag walls
make the carved figures of Lord Vishnu look different throughout the day due to the
play of light.
Also Read: Gagron: Rajasthan’s unique hill & water fort that is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site

12. The temple has 48 pillars, all uniquely
carved and decorated.
The pillars have some of the finest artwork. The lathe-turned pillars are highly polished
and have intricate carvings. The four central pillars were made by hand and
depict madanikas or celestial damsels. There are more than 80 madanika sculptures in
different poses such as dancing, hunting, standing under trees and so on.

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