more belur
More india tripping...
On our A-List for this part of Karnataka were the Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid. These are pictures of the Chennakesava Temple at Belur. Probably going to do this in a few parts because the place is too amazing for just one post (well at least for me it is).
If you wanna learn about the history go to here:
http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/hassan/belur.htm
they explain it better than I could.
The kings of the Hoysala dynasty built this place in the 11th century. They had their own particular style of temple architecture of which Belur and Halebid are the existing masterpieces. It took them over 100 years to complete the main temple. The temple grounds have a lot of what I call Vijayanagar additions, like the main gopuram (gateway) leading into the complex. The Vijayanagar's were one of the great medieval dynasties of South India. Their stuff kind of exemplifies what we today consider South Indian Temple architecture.
What is remarkable about these ancient South Indian temples (well remarkable to a Westerner that is) is how towns are built around them. One drives to the center of town to find the temple, and the temple is considered a living integral organ of the community. Belur has been a living temple for 900 years, with its daily cycles of darshan and other services uninterrupted. It is also a famous tourist attraction in India, although rarely visited by foreigners.
The temple gate a couple blocks down the road, right in the middle of town
Before we got there I asked T-Bone where Belur ranked on his favorite places in India. And he answered that it was one of his 500 favorite places. Which is so true, India is so full of amazing spots, and ranking them is pretty much impossible. I can say though, that while I was at Belur, it was my favorite place in India. Of course when I went to the next temple at Halebid, THAT was my new favorite...
The Chennakesava temple at Belur
The inside is made from some type of black stone, with carvings everywhere
awesome carvings - a priest gives darshan with onlookers viewing the main deity inside the inner sanctum
Which was very unusual, photos were allowed inside this temple, so I had a rare opportunity (which I totally took advantage of) to take some pictures of god. Here he is, the Vishnu incarnation Keshava known as Vijaya Narayana, ringed by aarti (butter) lamps as the priest performs darshan. The pic is blurry as its a very slow shutter speed and I was kinda shaking. Its not everyday one gets the opportunity to take gods picture...
This pillar once revolved by means of stone ball bearings, Its about 12 feet high from one block of stone and who know how much the thing weights?
Ananta the 7 headed snake inside the temple
The awesome ceiling. There were zodiac signs mixed 100s of others
dudes, it was dark in there, the only light coming from the doorways and the incredible stone lattice windows. The temple is carved from black stone too. So the effect inside had an amazing womb-like atmosphere.
that's all for today folks, be back with more Belur pics soon.
On our A-List for this part of Karnataka were the Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid. These are pictures of the Chennakesava Temple at Belur. Probably going to do this in a few parts because the place is too amazing for just one post (well at least for me it is).
If you wanna learn about the history go to here:
http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/hassan/belur.htm
they explain it better than I could.
The kings of the Hoysala dynasty built this place in the 11th century. They had their own particular style of temple architecture of which Belur and Halebid are the existing masterpieces. It took them over 100 years to complete the main temple. The temple grounds have a lot of what I call Vijayanagar additions, like the main gopuram (gateway) leading into the complex. The Vijayanagar's were one of the great medieval dynasties of South India. Their stuff kind of exemplifies what we today consider South Indian Temple architecture.
What is remarkable about these ancient South Indian temples (well remarkable to a Westerner that is) is how towns are built around them. One drives to the center of town to find the temple, and the temple is considered a living integral organ of the community. Belur has been a living temple for 900 years, with its daily cycles of darshan and other services uninterrupted. It is also a famous tourist attraction in India, although rarely visited by foreigners.
The temple gate a couple blocks down the road, right in the middle of town
Before we got there I asked T-Bone where Belur ranked on his favorite places in India. And he answered that it was one of his 500 favorite places. Which is so true, India is so full of amazing spots, and ranking them is pretty much impossible. I can say though, that while I was at Belur, it was my favorite place in India. Of course when I went to the next temple at Halebid, THAT was my new favorite...
The Chennakesava temple at Belur
The inside is made from some type of black stone, with carvings everywhere
awesome carvings - a priest gives darshan with onlookers viewing the main deity inside the inner sanctum
Which was very unusual, photos were allowed inside this temple, so I had a rare opportunity (which I totally took advantage of) to take some pictures of god. Here he is, the Vishnu incarnation Keshava known as Vijaya Narayana, ringed by aarti (butter) lamps as the priest performs darshan. The pic is blurry as its a very slow shutter speed and I was kinda shaking. Its not everyday one gets the opportunity to take gods picture...
This pillar once revolved by means of stone ball bearings, Its about 12 feet high from one block of stone and who know how much the thing weights?
Ananta the 7 headed snake inside the temple
The awesome ceiling. There were zodiac signs mixed 100s of others
dudes, it was dark in there, the only light coming from the doorways and the incredible stone lattice windows. The temple is carved from black stone too. So the effect inside had an amazing womb-like atmosphere.
that's all for today folks, be back with more Belur pics soon.