Belur (Kannada:ಬೇಲೂರು) is a panchayat town in Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. With Halebidu which is only 16 km away, this is one of the major tourist destinations in Karnataka, India. Belur is located in Hassan district. According to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri.

Attractions in Belur:

Chennakesava temple complex: It contains the Chennakesava Temple ( dedicated to Lord Chennakeshava , meaning handsome Vishnu) as the centre piece, surrounded by the Kappe Chennigraya temple built by Shantaladevi, queen of king Vishnuvardhana.

The temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It was built by king Vishnuvardhana in commemoration of his victory over the Cholas at Talakad in 1117 CE. 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. The intricate workmanship includes elephants, lions, horses, episodes from the Indian mythological epics, and sensuous dancers (Shilabalikas). Inside the temple are a number of ornate pillars. Darpana Sundari ( Lady with the mirror ) carved on walls of Belur Temple is one of major attraction in complex.

How to reach Belur:

By Air: Bangalore airport is the nearest to Belur (222 kms)
By Train: Hassan is just 40 kms from Belur. Banavara and Arasikere are also near Belur.
By Road: Regular buses ply from Bangalore (222 kms), Halebid (16 kms), Hassan (40 kms), Hospet (330 kms), Mangalore (124 kms), Mysore (149 kms) to Belur

The nearest airport is at Bangalore from where it is about 4 hrs by road to Belur, and another 20 minutes to Halebid. There are direct buses on this route and a daily train from Hassan, 1 hr away by road. The nearest railway station is at Hassan (1 hr). There are trains to Hassan from all over the state. It’s very easy to get to Belur from here. Buses run through the day till 11:30 in the evening. There are direct services from Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Arsikere though not very frequent ones. The best way to reach Belur or Halebid by bus if you are dependent on public transport is from Hassan, which is very well connected to the both these place as well as to the rest of the region. Otherwise you can rent a car with a driver at Hassan and do the circuit at your own pace.

Other Places of interest: Halebid, Sravanbelgola, Hassan