Belur and Halebidu, I consider it as one of the Wonders of the World and MUST visit in your lifetime, for its ultimate carvings, mind-blowing sculptures, lathe-turned polished and shining pillars, the ornate lintel and decorated ceilings, star shaped temple structure, series of elephants and many other sculptures on the outer wall...... ... this list never ends. I visited these places thrice and still like to visit 1000 times as well.
I am sure after checking the photos below, you decided your trip to these places. Yes, plan and visit once in lifetime. Very unique for its architecture. My main objective of this photo feature blog is to inspire the readers with these photos of this place.
I have written a blog post sometime ago about these places with all the details to plan, stay options, food etc. That time I did not have the DSLR and captured the photos with Samsung Note II.
Visit my old blog for all planning, stay, route, food....etc... http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2014/05/belur-halebidu-and-somanathapura.html
But now, my Nikon D810 helped me a lot to capture that beauty and present to you all. Enjoy seeing the photos and dont forget to add your feedback in comments section below and share with your friends as well.
If you have a HD TV or a good monitor see the photos in full screen. Album link to all the photos: https://goo.gl/photos/D9LEymU3Lt8fWLTf9
Let me start with my favourite capture ... Zoom to see the details and you will be amazed for sure.
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| Ornate Lintel at the entrance of Halebidu Hoysaleswara temple |
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| I want to surrender myself at the feet of this sculptor, no words to explain, just see it... !! What a patience and dedication...... |
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| Main Entrance of Belur Chennakesava Temple |
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| The pillar you see on left is standing on its own without any support or fixing. That is why, I added this photo here to explain. |
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| If you can zoom-in, you will see Nine Avatars of Lord Vishnu. Ornate lintel at the entrance of Belur Chennakesava Temple. Also notice the chain. |
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| Zoom-in to see the fingers holding onto the instrument behind the thread. Also notice the thread. Looks so real right? How on earth one could do such a carving, Amazing ! |
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| Gajasurasamhara - Lord Shiva inside Elephant Stomach !, What a creativity and imagination..... I am not getting words and getting lost staring at this picture.... |
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| Notice the unique style of that Temple Tower and those lathe-turned pillars |
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| Full View of Belur Chennakesava Temple |
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| Garuda worshipping Belur Chennakesava |
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| Unless you zoom and see the Decorated Pierced Stone Window screen, you will not appreciate this photo here. Did you see it ? |
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| Lord Narasimha at Belur Chennakesava Temple |
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| Ornate Bay Ceiling - Belur Chennakesava Temple |
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| Zoom-in at centre and see that structure, you will see many sculptures in it, Amazing isn't it ? |
Next let me move onto this so beautiful Nandi, I've ever seen at Halebidu Hoysaleswara temple. I have visited many temples, see many big and huge Nandi, but this is just awesome and very beautiful. I am also planning to capture photos of all Nandi at all different temples in one blog soon. Check it yourself below....
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| Do you know, there are 1248 elephants in Belur and 624 at Halebidu like these. This is the outer wall panel of Halebu Hoysaleswara temple |
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| The reason why this photo again is to show you the elephants carved perfectly on those corners or junctures. |
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| Look at the Ornaments, Zoom-in to see those sharp and crisp ornaments ... see the next one which is zoomed for a more closer look |
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| Notice those small needle sized holes perfectly placed to give a great impression of ornaments, |
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| More closer look of the ornaments |
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| Outer wall sculptures at Halebidu Hoysaleswara temple, do you see Shiva Parvathi, Murugan, Ganesha ? |
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| Why again Gajasurasamhara you ask, right? Different Sculptor, different imagination and creativity. Yet both are awesome. Lord Shiva inside Elephant Stomach |
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| View of the Outer wall panel at Halebidu Hoysaleswara temple, are you counting the elephants? |
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| Zoom-in to see how they managed the space and squeezed-in such sculptures.... See the corners.... mind blowing... !! Again no words come out of me and i keep staring at these amazing sculptures..... ! |
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| Mahishasuramardini - Halebidu Hoysaleshwara Temple |
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| Ravana Lifting Kailash - Zoom-in to see the details and miniatures ....again I am speechless, and keep staring at this ... !! |
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| Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill, Zoom-in to see the details and miniatures |
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| Lord Krishna Kalinga Nardhana, Look at his ornaments |
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| Shiva Parvathi on Rishabha Vahana (Nandi) |
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| Halebidu Kedareshwara temple |
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| Halebidu Parshvanatha and Shaninatha Basadis - Ornate Bay Ceiling and Polished Pillars. You can see your reflection on these pillars. |
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| Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple - Look at the Lathe-turned polished pillars, polished to perfection and it is like a mirror. My god, how did they do it those days? Did they have tools? |
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| Here you go, see how nicely polished.... and see the shape... Mind blowing ! |
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| Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple Tower, no space is left unused, carvings elsewhere and beautiful |
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| Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple Tower |
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| View of Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple. |
There are still lot more photos that I did not add here, yet you can see them from the Google+ Album and the link is here. Click and see them all.
