Belur is located some 38 kms from Hassan and about 220 km from Bangalore. Standing on the banks of the river Yagachi, It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire. Famous for its exquisite temples and sculptures, it presents the finest arts and architectures of the Hoysala period and so rightly called the Dakshina Varanasi. The Chenna keshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture, was built in 1117 A.D by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism.

Standing on a star-shaped platform it has three doorways and bracket figures or ‘Madanikas’ representing the masterpieces of craftsmanship. The pillars of the temple are richly carved and you can spend hours studying the minute carvings on the exterior. The inside of the temple is masterfully carved with figures of deities, animals and sensuous dancers and no space had been left blank. Situated on the west of the Chenna Kesava Temple is Veeranarayana temple. This temple houses the shrines of Kappe Chenniga, Andal, Saumya Nayaki, and other deities.