Belur is known as ‘Southern Banaras’, as it’s temples are as exquisite. The Chenakeshwara temple was built by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhan in 117 A.D. to celebrate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism.
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. Belur is located in Hassan district. According to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri.
