Places to visit in the city Hassan
BELUR - Hassan  Situated on the
banks of the Yagachi River, Belur was the first capital
of the Hoysala dynasty. The Channekeshava Temple here
is one of the three major Hoysala sites still in daily
use. One of the earliest structures of its type, the
construction of the temple was started in 1116 and
took almost a century to complete. The Hoysalas built
it to commemorate their victory over the Cholas. The
temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Built on a star-shaped
platform, the temple stands in a courtyard surrounded
by a rectangular wall. The winged figure of Garuda,
Vishnu/’s carrier, stands at the entrance facing the
temple.
The temple doesn/’t seem to impress one at the first
glance as much of the superstructure has been lost.
However, as one moves towards the temple, the work
of excellent craftsmanship is revealed. Exquisite
sculptures cover the exteriors. The base is surrounded
by a line of 650 elephants with rows of figure and
foliage above. Young musicians and dancers adorn either
side of the main door. At the centre of the hall stands
the Narasimha Pillar whose astonishing details are
worth a look.
To the west of the Channekeshava Temple lies the Viranarayana
Temple. You can have look at the fine sculpture of
the temple and also visit some of the smaller temples
around it.
HALEBID - Hassan  Founded in the
early 11th century as Dvarasamudra, this ancient capital
of the Hoysala empire was destroyed by the armies
of the Delhi Sultanate in 1311 and 1327. The famous
Hoysaleswara temple, which today is the centre of
attraction, however survived the destruction. The
town was later renamed as Halebidu or Halebid.
The history of the Hoysaleswara temple dates back
to around AD 1121. Though its construction spanned
over 80 years, it was never completed. In structure,
the temple is similar to the one at Belur. The temple
is set in a well-tendered garden and has two shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva. A Nandi bull faces the each
shrine. All around the temple one can find big statues
of Hindu deities with minute details on them displaying
the excellent craftsmanship.
The Jain bastis nearby form another major attraction
in Halebid. These 12th-century temples stand in a
garden enclosure where you can walk around and have
a look at the dark interiors with carved ceilings.
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