Belur-Halebidu

Located about 155 km to the northwest of Mysore, these two sights are often clubbed together for their 12th century temples. Separated by a distance of 15 km, both are classic examples of the exquisite temple architecture of the Hoysalas. Especially noteworthy is the fact that lathes were first used here in temple architecture to create beautifully carved pillars. The temple is also constructed using the dynamic square to obtain the star structure. The Channakeshava Temple at Belur is a living temple and is known for its star shape as well as the stunning panels on the outer walls of the temple with stories from Hindu mythology and folklores. However, the most well known figures are the ‘shilabalikes’ or celestial dancers, which are abundantly depicted. The twin temples at Haledibu-Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara are however slightly ruined as central deity is missing, but the structures are equally beautiful.