Beluru Chennakeshava Temple, Hassan Dist, Karnataka – Hoysala Architecture

Beluru Chennakeshava Temple

Hassan Dist, Karnataka – Hoysala Architecture

Belur is a beautiful town located in the Hassan district of Indian state of Karnataka in the Indian subcontinent. The geographical coordinates puts this place at 13.1629⁰N and 75.8571⁰E. Belur is situated at 738 meters above sea level. The temperature in summer season ranges from 29⁰C to 39⁰C and in winter season the temperature ranges from 24⁰C to 31⁰C. Belur spans over a total area of 897 hectares.

The town is known for its temples with magnificent architecture built during ancient times.

History of Belur

Belur once formed the centre of operation of the Hoysala Empire. In the ancient scriptures Belur is known as Velapuri. The Vijayanagar kings highly regarded the idol in the Channakeshava temple as their family god. The temple was built in the year 1117, under the reign of King Vishnuvardhana. There is a belief, the making of the temple took 104 years to complete. The final task of completion was over seen by Veera Ballala II who was the grandson of King Vishnuvardhana. The temple is enclosed by another temple named Kappe Chennigraya, created under the order of the Queen of King Vishnuvardhana.

The Chennakeshava Temple depicts one of the finest marvels created by early craftsmen. The temple is situated on the river Yagachi. The height of the temple is 38 meters. This temple happens to be the first greatest Hoysala temple built during the Hoysala reign.

The creation of this remarkable Chennakeshava temple by King Vishnuvardhana is not clearly known. Some theory points to the celebration of King Vishnuvardhana’s successful conquering of various parts of Tamil Nadu in the battle of Talakad from the Chola Empire. Another theory mentions about the King Vishnuvardhana’s decision of changing his religion from Jainism to Vaishnavism.

People & Culture in Belur

Belur has a rich and diverse culture with people from all religion, caste and sect reside in and around the place. The languages spoken by the people are Kannada, Hindi and English with Kannada being the official language.

Many festivals such as Ganesh Chathurti, Diwali, Ugadi etc., are celebrated in a grand way throughout Belur

Agriculture happens to be the main occupation of the people of Belur.

Food and Shopping Belur

Belur offers a wide range of Multi – cuisine, vegetarian and non- vegetarian. Vegetarian food happens to be the traditional food of Belur. Coffee happens to be the favorite pastime drink in the local region and the aroma is pretty strong.

Belur is filled with shops selling beautifully handcrafted silk sarees and sandalwood artifacts. There are also wonderfully crafted wooden toys. There are few emporium shops selling wonderful handcrafted stone idols and terracotta artifacts. All these products are sold at a reasonable price.

Tourist Places in Belur

The place has Temples with amazing architects and beautiful ancient monuments of interest. Some of them are listed below

Jain Temples
Belur Math
Kedareshwara Temple
Chennakesava Temple
Shantaleswara Temple
Veeranarayana Temple
Hoysaleswara Temple
Archaeological Museum
Shravanabelagola
Yagachi Dam
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Shantaleswara Temple
Basdi Halli

Means of Commutation to Belur

Belur is well connected to many places in the country. The distance of Belur by road from nearby cities and cities from neighboring states are mentioned below

Hassan is located at a distance of 40 km
Mysore is located at a distance of 160 km
Mangalore is located at a distance of 163 km
Kochi is located at a distance of 352 km
Pune is located at a distance of 635 km
Mumbai is located at a distance of 724 km

Some of the railway station near to Belur along with their distance is mentioned below

Hassan railway station is located at a distance of 40 km. Trains moving from Bangalore to Mangalore do halt at Hassan railway station

Belur is also connected to the rest of the places in India via airways. Some of the airports near to Belur along with their distance are mentioned below

Mangalore International Airport is located at a distance of 194 km
Bangalore International Airport is located at a distance of 222 km

Accommodation Options at Belur

There are plenty of hotels with beautiful interior and finest décor in and around Belur. Some of them are mentioned below

Vishnu Regency Deluxe Boarding
Hotel Mayura Velapuri
Vishnu Krupa Lodge
Mayura Shantala Hotel
The Green Pastures
Sumukha Residency
Hotel Ashrita
Mallige Residency
Suvarna Regency Hotel
Southern Star Hotel
Sri Krishna Hotel
Hassan Ashok Hotel
Stay Simple Riverdale
Hotel Chiranth Lodging and Boarding
Hotel Priyadarshini

Best Tourist Places in Bekal, Kasargod, Kerala, India

Best Tourist Places in Bekal, Kasargod, Kerala, India

Bekal is well known for fort located in the Kasargod district of the Indian state of Kerala happens to be the largest Fort in the state. The fort spans over an area of 40 acres. The geographical coordinates puts this place at 12⁰23’32” N and 75⁰1’57” E. In summer season temperature ranges from 22⁰C to 35⁰C and in winter season temperature ranges from 20⁰C to 25⁰C at Bekal.

History of Bekal

The Bekal Fort was built in 1649 A.D by Sivappa Nayaka of Bednore. Bekal Fort belonged to the Kingdom of Mahodayapuran. In the Perumal Age, the king of Mahodayapuram, Bhasakara Ravi II mentions about Bekal Fort being under his control. During the 12^thcentury A.D, after the collapse of Mahodayapuram, entire northern Kerala came under the possession of Chirakkal Royal Family. Under the reign of the Chirakkal, Bekal became an important harbor town of the Malabar and Tulunadu region.

From the year 1649 to 1670, the Malabar region witnessed the upcoming of many forts created by Shivappa Nayaka of Badnore and ruled by the Chirakkal Kings. After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, in the year 1566, the Keladi Nayakas rose to power. The Nayakas were aware of the potential of Tulunadu and Malabar region and conquered the entire region. The Bekal fort formed the symbol of power of the Nayaks in the Malabar region. The Nayakas fortified the fort. Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka began the creation of the fort which finished during Shivappa Nayaka reign. Another fort by the name Chandragiri fort was built in the same period in the district of Kasargod.

After conquering Manjeswar and Taliparamba, Somashekhara Nayaka had a fort constructed at Kanhangad. Battles were fought between the Chirakkal and Nayakas in order to establish supremacy in the region. Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore, sided with the Chirakkal and defeated the Nayakas and the fort came under his possession.

During the reign of Tipu Sultan, Bekal fort served an important strategic location for conquering most of the places in the Malabar region. In 1799, the British captured Mysore and the fort came under the British reign.

Bekal fort formed the center of operation of South Canara District. With time, the strategic importance of Bekal fort along with its harbor faded.

After Indian Independence, Kasargod district came under the administration of the Kerala state.

Compared to most of the forts built by the Nayakas, Bekal Fort happens to be the only fort that stood against the test of time. The fort is regarded to have one of the best architectural designs implementing defense strategies.

People & Culture in Bekal

Thrissur offers a rich and diverse culture, with people from all caste, religion and sect residing throughout the city. Apart from the huge number of Hindu follower there are people who are followers of various other religions such as Christianity, Jews, and Muslim. Malayalam, Hindi and English are the languages spoken by the people in Thrissur district, with Malayalam being the local language.

The place around Bekal has many folk arts such as Theyyam, Kolkali, Oppana, Yakshaganam and many more. Yakshaganam is one of the most colorful folk art in this region. Buffalo race and Cockfights are also famous in the region.

Many festivals well known throughout the country like Diwali, Ugadi, Ganesh Chathurthi etc., are celebrated in and around Bekal. Apart from these festivals there are some other festivities celebrated for a period of 5 or 7 days. Some of them are mentioned below

Madhur Srimad Anantheswara Vinayaka Temple annual festival
Mujamkavu Parthasarathi Kshetram Annual festival
Kumbala Sree Gopalakrishna Temple

Bekal Fort owing to its scenic beauty has caught the eyes of Malayalam film industry. Many films for movies and other commercials have been shot in and around the fort.

Food and Shopping in Bekal

The place, Bekal offers a wide range of cuisine vegetarian and non- vegetarian. The food is rather spicy and finger licking. Most of the food is cooked using coconut oil.

There are plenty of shopping centers where one can buy products at reasonable rates. One can come across plenty of shops selling beautifully crafted sarees and gold jewellery in Bekal.

Tourist Places in Bekal

Bekal located on the coastal areas of Kerala state has plenty of beaches and forts of interest. Some of these are mentioned below:

Bekal Fort
Nileswaram
Chandragiri Fort
Houseboat Cruise
Bekal Fort Beach
Kappil Beach
Bekal Hole Aqua Park
Malik Dinar Mosque
Pallikere Beach
Mallikarjuna Temple
Valiyaparamba Backwaters
Malik Deena Mosque
Ananthapura Temple
Hosdurg Beach
Nityanandashram Caves
Tulur Vanam

Means of Commutation to Bekal

Bekal is well connected to other places in the Indian country via roadway, railway and airways.

The distance, via road, of various cities in the state of Kerala and from neighboring states are mentioned below

Kozhikode is located at a distance of 175 km
Mangalore is located at a distance of 69 km
Coimbatore is located at a distance of 360 km
Bangalore is located at a distance of 385 km
Chennai is located at a distance of 707 km
Pune is located at a distance of 815 km

The railway station near to Bekal along with their distance is given below

Railway station at Kanhangad is at a distance of 8 km
Railway station at Kasargod is at a distance of 18 km

The airport near to Bekal along with their distances are mentioned below

Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore is located at a distance of 60 km
Karipur International Airport at Kozhikode is located at a distance of 180 km

Inter city transportation is facilitated by bus and taxis.

Accommodation Options at Bekal

There are plenty of hotels and resorts with amazing interiors and decors. The rooms of some hotels do overlook the scenic beaches and other natural landscapes of Bekal. Some of the hotels in and around Bekal are listed below

Vivanta by Taj
Neeleshwar Heritage
Nirvana Resort Bekal
The Lalit Resort & Spa Bekal
Oyster Opera Kasargod
Neelambari Resort and Spa Kasargod
Hotel Bekal International
Nalanda Resorts Kasargod
Chandralayam Homestay Bekal
Gitanjali Heritage
Hotel Bekal Palace

Bhadra Tourist Places in Bhadra, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, India

Bhadra Tourist Places in Bhadra, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, India

Bhadra is located on the Indian continent in Rajasthan State in the district, Hanumangarh. When translated to English the word Bhadra means “The City of Grace”. The geographical coordinates puts this place at 29.12⁰N and 75.17⁰E. In summer season the temperature can reach up to 44^oC and in winter season the temperature ranges from 5^oC to 25^oC. The place is about 192 meters above sea level.

History of Bhadra

According to Archeologists, Bhadra was an important town at the time of Mahabharata era. During the 11^th century, Bhadra was under the control of the Guhilas of Mewar. In the 12^th century, Chauhan captured Hanumangarh and brought Bhadra under his administration. In 1606, Bhadra was under the reign of the Rathores. The town, Bhadra remained a part of the kingdom of Marwar. In the 16^th century the town was under the rule of the Sultans. The 17^th century witnessed the defeat of the Sultans by the Mughals, led by Emperor Akbar, who ruled major portions of Marwar Kingdom.

Bhadra village played a significant role in the freedom struggle of India in the state of Rajasthan.

People & Culture at Bhadra

Bhadra offers a rich and diverse culture, with people from all caste, religion and sect residing throughout the city. One can come across people belonging to various religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Sikh, Jain and Muslim. Marwari, Hindi and English are the languages spoken by the people in Bhadra town, with Marwari being the local language.

Many festivals such Diwali, Holi etc., are celebrated in a grand way throughout Bhadra town.

Food and Shopping Bhadra

Bhadra offers a wide range of Multi – cuisine, both vegetarian and non- vegetarian. The food is rather spicy and finger licking.

There are plenty of shops selling magnificent picturesque paintings and amazing artifacts hand crafted from marble at a very reasonable price. Bhadra is also famous for beautifully crafted silver jewelleries and artifacts.

Tourist Places in Bhadra

There are plenty of Temples and Palaces with wonderful architectures in and around Bhadra. Some of them are listed below:

Kath Ki Haveli
Patawaris
Shri Kuldey Dadi Mandir
Gandhi Park
Anaj-Mandi Mandir
Samadh Bhawan
Bhatner Fort
Brahmani Mata Temple
Sila Mata
Kalibangan Archaeological Museum
Temple of Shri Gogaji
Dhuna Shri Gorakh Nathji Temple
Mata Bhadrakaliji Temple
Shri Kabootar Sahib Gurdwara

Means of Commutation to Bhadra

Bhadra is well connected to the rest of the places in the Indian country by roadways, railways and airways.

The distance of Bhadra from cities within the state of Rajasthan and neighboring states are given below

Aligarh is located at a distance of 417 km
Agra is located at a distance of 455 km
Udaipur is located at a distance of 566 km
Dehradun is located at a distance of 371 km
Bhopal is located at a distance of 777 km
Udaipur is located at a distance of 126 km
Jodhpur is located at a distance of 490 km

Inter city transportation is facilitated by bus and taxis. Bhadra is well connected to places within the state of Rajasthan and neighboring States. Sri Ganganagar to Jaipur rail link passes through the town of Bhadra. There are regular trains arriving at the station from Jabalpur, Ghaziabad, Ludhiana, Jaipur and Ujjain.

Bhadra is also connected by airways to other places in India. The closest airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Punjab which is at a distance of 217 km from Bhadra. This airport caters to both domestic as well as International flights. Flights from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and other places in India do arrive at the airport on daily basis.

Accommodation Options at Bhadra

There are plenty of hotels with beautiful interiors and wonderful landscapes in and around Bhadra. Free internet, breakfast and parking spaces are some of the luxurious provided by few hotels. The list of some of the hotels in Bhadra is mentioned here below

Narang Hotel and Restaurant
Shiv Hotel
Vicky’s Plaza Hotel
Kamal Hotel
Hotel Samrat
Ganga Guest House
Suraj Hotel
Circuit House
Rajvi Hotel

Beautiful Tourist Attractions in Naukuchiatal, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

Beautiful Tourist Attractions in Naukuchiatal, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

Naukuchiatal is one of the famed tourists destinations in Nainital district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Naukuchiatal is identified for its nine corner lakes and these lakes are 175 feet deep bound by hills, covered with dense flora. Naukuchiatal is situated at an elevation of 3996 feet above the sea level and it is surrounded by Bhimtal, Sattal, Daa, Ghorakhal, Farsoli, Bhowali and Nainital regions and Naukuchiatal is located at the distance of 302 Kms from capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun and Nainital is located at the distance of 25 Kms. Pin code of Naukuchiatal is 263126 and latitude is 29.3243 and longitude is 79.5864.

Tourism in Naukuchiatal:

Naukuchiatal is a charming lake region located in the foothills of Kumaon Mountains and furtive filled in the tranquil loveliness of nature along with group of rare birds. Naukuchiatal is renowned for the thrilling prettiness of territory and green sceneries with diverse selection of trees and shrubs, ideal destinations for tourists. Populaces of this region speak Kumaoni and Hindi as their languages and there are gorgeous small shops, where visitors can purchase local hand crafted decorative stuffs finished by local natives.

Places to Visit in Naukuchiatal:

Naukuchiatal Lake: this is one of the prime attractions in Naukuchiatal and located at an altitude of 3996 feet above the sea level and this lake is located close to Himalayan Mountains and home of numerous birds and tourists can participate in various activities like mountain biking, boating, swimming, fishing and parasailing.

Bhimtal Lake: Bhimtal Lake is one of the renowned Lakes in Nainital district and it is located at the centre of Kumaon Hills at an elevation of 400 feet above the sea level. Bhimtal Lake is bound by numerous tourist destinations and tourists can visit Small Island, located in the middle of the lake.

Snow View: this charming site is located at the distance of 27 Kms from Naukuchiatal region and from Nainital it is less than 2 Kms and situated at an elevation of 2270 meters above the sea level and tourists can reach this striking destination by trekking.

Kilbury: Kilbury is located at the distance of 30 Kms from Naukuchiatal and it is wrinkled by verdant oak, pine and rhododendron forests and with panoramic sight of royal snow capped hills in the proximity.

Other interesting places to visit near Naukuchiatal:

Dorothy’s Seat
Eco Cave Gardens
Gurney House
The Flatts
Guano Hill
Star Gazing
Governor’s House
Mukteshwer Dham

Best Time to Visit Naukuchiatal:

Naukuchiatal is a hill station located close to Nainital and it is bound by lake and best time to visit Naukuchiatal is between the months of March to June and September to November.

How to Reach Naukuchiatal?

By Air: Pantnagar Airport is the nearest Airport, which is located at the distance of 58 Kms from Naukuchiatal and this airport serves with only domestic flights to Delhi and Delhi Airport is located at the distance of 314 Kms from Naukuchiatal and it operates domestic and international flights to cities in India and world. Tourists can hire taxi or board private vehicles from Pantnagar airport to Naukuchiatal.

By Train: Kathgodam Railway Station is located at the distance of 26 Kms from Naukuchiatal and it is one of the major railway stations to reach major tourist destinations in Uttarakhand state. This railway line is linked to various cities and towns in Northern part of India.

By Road: National highway 87 passes close to the Naukuchiatal Lake and tourists can hire private vehicles or government buses are available from various parts of Uttarakhand state and neighboring states to reach Naukuchiatal.

Where to Dine and Stay in Naukuchiatal?

Naukuchiatal is identified for its picturesque scenery and it is one of the most delightful sightseer locations in Uttaranchal. Hotels in Naukuchiatal must be booked in advance as it is one of the most visited tourist destinations. Hotels are broadly classified into budget, deluxe and luxury. Budget and deluxe hotels cost from Rs. 900 to 3,000 per night and offers world class facilities and hospitality. Luxury hotels cost from Rs. 3.000 and above per night and offers royal treatment and hospitality. Some of the major hotels in Naukuchiatal are listed here below: