(RST) Ramesh Suma Tharun ☺: BELUR & HALEBIDU & SHRAVANABELAGOLA

I was checking seats availability for Karnataka temple tour from KSTDC, for my parents, and came across this 1 day trip to Belur-Halebidu-Shravabelagola from KSTDC.I asked Ramesh to book this 1 day trip for us while booking 4days tour for my parents...(It was on different week-ends)....

We decided to go on Saturday , so we can take rest on sunday.. Saturday, Dad dropped us to Badami centre(Pick up point of kstdc) around 6:20am..We saw lot of foreigners already seated. (No wonder to see so many foreigners to visit this great historical site..) Bus started around 6:40am to first destination of the day - Shravana Belagola..

On the way he stopped for breakfast in some restaurant, we were hesitant about taste as it looked very small restaurant, but food turned out to be tasty..We had Dosa and Puri and great coffee... I love to have coffee after great breakfast... We then continued our journey to Shravana Belagola....

Destination 1 : SHRAVANABELAGOLA:

Shravana belgola is 142 kms from bangalore, located in Hassan district of karnataka. The statue of Gommateshvara (Bahubali) is important pilgrim for Jainism.Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa has two hills, chandragiri and vindhyagiri.

We reached Shravana belagola around 10:00am.. Guide gave us 1hr time.. I was wondering if 1 hr is sufficient as we have to climb 650steps of vindyagiri hills to reach the Bahubali idol..But we climbed the hills in next 20mins..

650 steps to reach top of Vindya giri hills to see Bahubali idol...

Once you climb certain steps you can see a Pond/kalyani, from which this place is said have got the name..( Bela gola means "White pond" in kannada..) We could see couple of old people who were carried in Dholi. (400rs per person)....

Pond seen, while climbing the steps..

The 57-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara is located on Vindyagiri Hill. It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue.Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka (ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds and stuff)... The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018...

Huge feet of Lord Bahubali idol...

We saw huge monolithic statue of Bahubali, sat for a while, took some snaps and climbed down in next 15mins.. We got Tender coconuts, and it was very sweet... By then all passengers returned, bus started to next destination of the day.

57-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara

Destination 2 : HALEBIDU

Halebidu is around 90kms from Shravanabelgola, around 2hrs of journey... Halebidu dedicated to Hoysaleswara (Lord shiva) is built during Hoysala empire rule ,12th century by king Vishnuvardhana. The construction was completed in 1121 CE.During the early 14th century, Halebidu was sacked and looted by muslim invaders from northern India and the temple fell into a state of ruin and neglect.

We reached Halebidu around 1:00pm. Guide asked to come back by 2:30pm so we can have lunch before visiting Belur... A kstdc designated guide came along (charges 20rs per person) and took us around the complex explaining things in great details..

Us near main entrance of temple....

Halebidu temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva named as Hoysaleshwara here.. Lord Nandi in front of Shiva is made of a monolithic stone, Which is said to be never completed, despite 86 years of labour. This Nandi in Halebidu is 7th Largest in India...

Lord Shiva named as Hoysaleshwara

Monolithic idol of Nandi....

Observe the skulls on throne of shiva. It is hollow, guide showed
us penetrating a stick through ears,nose n mouth..

The legend goes that , a person by name Sala killed a tiger, on the orders of his Guru Vardhamana Siddatamuni.. Later Sala was made a chieftain who found Hoysala kingdom..

King Sala, killing the tiger.. Emblem of Hoysala..

My thirst to Temples, History, Carvings, Architectures,Sculptures is never ending.... But i should really appreciate Ramesh here, to take me to many historical places (Mainly with Carvings theme). Somnathapura, Lepakshi , Hampi, Badami,Aihole,Pattadkal and now Belur,Halebidu...Also now he helps me capture pictures and tries to learn more about them :).. Checkout Avatars of Lord Krishna beautifully carved...

Vishnu Avatar, Lord Krishna .

Vishnu avatar, Varaha

Vishnu avatar, Narasimha

Vishnu avatar, Vamana

Ravana Lifting Kailasam: And playing flute with his Nerves
to please lord shiva.. - Ramayana..

Chakravyuha: Abhimanyu fighting kauravas - Mahabharatha..

Destination 3 : BELUR

Around 2:30pm, we all returned and left to Belur, which is just 16kms away. We had lunch in near by restaurant.. And went to Belur temple around 3:00pm...

Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala empire, according to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri. The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakesava temple complex which is dedicated to Lord vishnu, Chennakeshava (meaning handsome Vishnu...

Lord chanakeshava(From Net)

Narasimha carved on ceiling of main temple..(From net)

The Rayagopuram at the entrance which was a later addition by the vijayanagara kings, who considered this deity as one of their family god.

Other attractions of temple are elephants, lions, horses, episodes from the Indian mythological epics, and sensuous dancers (Shilabalikas). Inside the temple are a number of ornate pillars.

Shilabalika - Darpana Sundari (beauty with mirror), Belur

ShilaBalika - Dancing pose


Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain,

Each row is different themes..

Legend has it that it took 103 years to complete and Vishnuvardhana's grandson veera ballala II completed the task. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank..