Alicia Ortego
The Stone Fantasy
Belur was the capital of the Hoysala, between the eleventh and twelfth centuries. We went there after the promise of magnificent stone temples and were not disappointed. Chennakesahva Temple is a marvel, which is still in use. It was built in 1117 by King Vishnuvardhana, to celebrate several things: his conversion to Jainism (a branch Hindus who respect life to the point that they will not step on any ant, for example), victory over Chola troops, and the independence of the city of Chalukyas. The interior is dark, with stones worn by the passing of centuries and the pilgrims who come there to ask for blessings.
With exquisite reliefs in detail with mythological scenes, dancers, gods, etc. While there, the feeling is that you've been transported to a medieval setting, without electric lights (although they do have some, also inside the temple, but they were not lit), a little scary ... Around the courtyard there is a whole pillared corridor beautifully carved, and gods' niches where pilgrims leave offerings: candles, flowers, red paint that they put on their foreheads ... Right there we were surprised by a monsoon storm, which as usual, lasted only a little while ... and as we were facing one of the doors of the temple, we entertained ourselves laughing and gesturing with some local visitors. It was really cool.
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