Skip to main content

Interiors of Chennakeshava temple, Belur


Interiors of Belur Chennakeshava temple:

Originally the interior received much daylight, but the added screens make it dark and mysterious.
The interior of the temple consisting of a garbhagriha, Sukhanasi, navaranga and a mandapa takes us to a new world of sculptures with lathe turned pillars of various designs.
The central square of the navaranga has four pillars decorated with bracket figures atop. These bracket figures are remarkably of superior workmanship in conception and execution.
The Navaranga has raised verandah's on both sides of the three entrances.
Sufficient space has been left out in the central hall (Navaranga) for musical performances and Puja (worship) ceremonies by large numbers of devotees and others.
Sculptures on the entrance of Garbhagriha
Sculptures on the entrance of Garbhagriha
Pillars:
There are a total of 48 pillars, while the four central pillars have been hand churned, the others had been lathe turned. 
One of the four Pillar's at the central square of the Navaranga
One of the four Pillar's at the central square of the Navaranga
Some of the other pillars beautifully designed, the second pillar here is the central pillar of the Navaranga.
Some of the other pillars beautifully designed, the second pillar here is the central pillar of the Navaranga.
All the pillars are artistically executed and are different from one another in design and the arrangement enhances the beauty of the Navaranga.
Pillars inside the Main hall, each one is unique in design
Pillars inside the Main hall, each one is unique in design
The well-known Narsimha pillars are carved out with minute figures all round from the top to the bottom. A tiny bull (Kadali-basava) is in the size of a seed of the Bengal gram (Kadal). A small space on the south face of the pillar is said to have been left blank by the artist who prepared the pillar as a challenge to any artist who can appropriately fill it up. It is said could be turned on its axis.
Here you can see the scale of Narasimha Pillar, infront of people.
Here you can see the scale of Narasimha Pillar, infront of people.
The Narasimha Pillar
Design on the Narasimha pillar
Design on the Narasimha pillar
The Mohini pillar in the navaranga is one of the finest specimens. The pillar is cut vertically on a sixteen pointed star plan. It is decorated with a narrow band of filigree work. A creeper scroll and figures inset in convolutions. It has eight vertical bands with fine scroll work the convolutions of which are made up of delicately executed figures representing the Hindu minor gods of the eight directions and others. The eastern face of the pillar has a large beautifully carved image of Vishnu as Mohini exceedingly graceful with a chauri bearer and garuda on the other.
Mohini sculpture at the Mohini Pillar
Mohini sculpture at the Mohini Pillar
You can see here that these pillars are made hollow from inside out of a single stone, carved so delicately. Mohini Pillar
You can see here that these pillars are made hollow from inside out of a single stone, carved so delicately. Mohini Pillar
Mohini Pillar
Mohini Pillar
Rows of Pillars, beautifully carved
Rows of Pillars, beautifully carved
This one had some magnificent patterns on its surface.
This one had some magnificent patterns on its surface.
Row of pillars from the Narasimha pillar towards the main entrance on the east
Row of pillars from the Narasimha pillar towards the main entrance on the east
Other set of pillars towards the north entrance of the Navaranga
Other set of pillars towards the north entrance of the Navaranga
Ceilings:
There are many delicately carved ceilings and they represent the best specimens of that type.
Stone sculptures on the roof
Stone sculptures on the roof
The central vimana: The four central pillars support a large domed ceiling of about 3.05 meters (ten feet) in diameter, 1.83 meters (six feet) deep, that is one of the most elaborately decorated ceilings in all India.
The amazingly beautiful central vimana, or the central dome of the Chennakeshava temple, Belur
The amazingly beautiful central vimana, or the central dome of the Chennakeshava temple, Belur
It is elegantly carved with frieze of varied sculptures some being mythological.
Friezes of various sculptures on the bottom of the central dome
Friezes of various sculptures on the bottom of the central dome
Narasimha stands at the central of the ceiling protruding out of the dome. It is a remarkable piece of artistic workmanship famous for the richness of ornamentation and elaboration of details.
The epicenter of the central dome with Narasimha protruding out of the Dome
The epicenter of the central dome with Narasimha protruding out of the Dome
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesvara are shown on a lotus bud and the bottom frieze of Madanikas, standing on the capitals of the four central pillars, add much to the grace and charm of the Navaranga. Three of them are signed by the sculptors.
Sculptures of Madanika's on the central four pillars, in the pic is Gandharva Shilabalike
Sculptures of Madanika's on the central four pillars, in the pic is Gandharva Shilabalike
A common design found on the roofs
A common design found on the roofs
Ornate bay ceiling in mantapa
Ornate bay ceiling in mantapa
Ornate bay ceiling in mantapa
Ornate bay ceiling in mantapa
Garbhagriha:
The crowd during the pooja timings at the temple
The crowd during the pooja timings at the temple
The doorway of the garbhagriha is another specimen of delicate carvings unsurpassed of that type. Inside the garbhagriha is the sculpture of Keshava (Vijaya-Narayana), a handsome figure of 1.83 metres (six feet) in height with a halo (Prabha), standing on a 0.91 metre (three feet) high pedestal, holding sankha, chakra, gada and Padma in his hands, with a karanda makuta(crown) at his head. Bhudevi and sridevi are standing at the bottom.
The intricately carved doorjamb of the Garbhagriha
The intricately carved doorjamb of the Garbhagriha
Intricately carved Makara toranas on the exterior of the Garbhagriha
Intricately carved Makara toranas on the exterior of the Garbhagriha
The doorway, you can see here the hollow structure around these sculptures which opens up to the Garbhagriha
The doorway, you can see here the hollow structure around these sculptures which opens up to the Garbhagriha
The door jambs: The door jambs of the sukhanasa and garbhagriha carry across intricately carved Makara toranas on the exterior.The door-keepers (Dvarapalas) are elegantly executed on the Sukhanasi (vestibule) doorway. Its pediment with a fine figure of Lakshmi-Narayana in the centre has excellent filigree work. The Makaras at the side bear Varuna and his consort on the back.
The amazing view from the side of the garbhagriha doorway, here you can see the whole structure is so beautifully carved not leaving behind any piece of stone plain
The amazing view from the side of the garbhagriha doorway, here you can see the whole structure is so beautifully carved not leaving behind any piece of stone plain.

After spending decent time at the temple we went for a small shopping around the temple complex where you find some beautiful stone and metal sculptures made from the local people, most popular being the Mahavira face carved from granite stones. The sun was heating us while we were feeling hungry; it was about 2 pm when we left Belur towards Halebeedu town. The road towards Belur from Hassan was not so good, but manageable. 


Halebeedu Hoysaleshwara Temple …To be continued…



Labels:
Location: Belur, Karnataka, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sky Islands to the Pacific shores - Part 1: The Sky Islands of Southeastern Arizona

In August 2026, I crossed the Atlantic to chase a long-cherished dream, stepping into the vast, untamed birding horizons of the American Wild West. Across a sweeping route through Arizona, Texas, Utah, and California, I logged 108 total species -  the vast majority of them absolute lifers for me! While the landscapes were vast and the wildlife was extraordinary, what truly made the Arizona portion of the trip unforgettable was the incredible warmth of the local birding community. At almost every trail, feeding station, and wetland, I met welcoming, friendly locals who were quick to share site tips, point out hidden roosts, and make a first-time visitor feel right at home. While North America’s diverse habitats delivered endless surprises, it was Arizona's high-desert canyons, towering rims, and lush riparian corridors that anchored the trip. Here is a location-by-location breakdown of the top birding hotspots, standout avian highlights, and unexpected wildlife encounters from the A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sky Islands to the Pacific Shores – Part 2: Desert Valleys, Urban Wetlands & The Grand Canyon

If you missed Part 1: The Sky Islands of Southeastern Arizona , we explored the cool, high-elevation pine-oak Canyons of Madera, Montosa, Ramsey, Ash, and Carr, tracking hummingbird diversity and vibrant montane species across the legendary Sky Island ranges. Leaving the high, pine-scented peaks of the Sky Islands behind, the journey transitions into the sprawling lowlands and desert basins of Arizona. This second leg follows a dramatic ecological gradient—from open desert waters and lush suburban wetland oases into the iconic giant Saguaro forests of the Sonoran Desert, before ascending the Colorado Plateau to the high-elevation pine rims of the Grand Canyon. 3. Canoa Ranch Conservation Park Nestled in the Santa Cruz River Valley, Historic Canoa Ranch combines rich Southwestern heritage with wide-open water and vast desert horizons. Spending the late afternoon here delivered a bustling wildlife spectacle right up until dusk. Active hunters like the Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Ver...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seabird photography adventure on the Isle of May

Seabird Photography Adventure on the Isle of May – July 2025 Tucked off the east coast of Scotland, the Isle of May National Nature Reserve is a dream for wildlife and photography enthusiasts alike - especially during seabird breeding season. My trip in early July 2025 turned out to be more thrilling and rewarding than I had imagined, thanks to an unexpected boat change, incredible wildlife encounters, and a few lucky early moments of solitude with the stars of the island— the Puffins . A puffin staring right at the lens, proud of its catch. Getting There: A Wild Ride on the North Sea Originally, I had booked a standard boat tour with BlueWild from Dunbar harbour, but due to a last-minute issue with the vessel the night before, our journey was downgraded - well, depending on how you look at it - to a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) . What followed was a wild, wind-whipped ride across the North Sea , bouncing over waves with little warning. Thankfully, our guide kindly offered me a spar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Birding in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a coastline of over 451 km, wide open to the north sea. Much of its land has been reclaimed from the sea and is below sea level, not surprisingly its coastal wetlands make up some of the best birding hotspots, apart from the inland nature reserves. Close to 500 bird species are recorded in the country, much of them are waders and water birds due to its geography. As a non-resident birdwatcher it was not an easy task to locate the right bird watching spots, whilst ebird helped considerably, the rest was on me to explore the Dutch lands. Nevertheless, the country is much safer to explore and the good facilities such as birding hides at the right places, easy access to most reserves makes it a birder friendly country. I have explored two of the birding hotspots, the Texel Island and Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve. Apart from these, I found bird watching and bird photography can be interesting in the neighborhood city parks and also tourist places such as Zaans...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chennakeshava temple of Belur- Exteriors

Chennakeshava temple of Belur: Some facts about the Chennakeshava Temple: Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana defeated the Cholas at Talakad & to commemorate this great event built many temples in 1117 A.D., of which Chennakeshava temple at Belur is the most important & beautiful , dedicated to Keshava one of the 24 forms of Vishnu. Although the temple was completed by Narasimha, it took over 103 years to finish the structure. Though the legends assign this temple to have been built by Jakanachari, as per the inscriptions the master builders of this temple are Dasoja and his son Chavana, other sculptors include Chikka-Hampa, Malliyana, Padari Malloja, Masada and Nagoja who bestowed their best in creating this masterpiece. Chennakeshava Temple, Belur Back to the travelogue: Most important aspect of these Belur Halebeedu temples is that Chennakeshava temple is famous for beautiful and intricate interiors and Hoysaleshwara temple is famous for the magnificent sculpture...
3 comments
Read more