Belur was the capital of the Hoysalas during the 11th and 12th centuries, before the capital was moved to Halebid. The fifth king of the Hoysalas dynasty, Bittadeva, is said to have changed his name to Vishnuvardhana (1108-1042) when he was converted from Jainism to Vaishnavism under the influence of Ramanujacharya. Most of the temples in Belur and Halebid were built during his reign.

The reason to come to this town is to see the impressive Chenna Keshava Temple, which has some of the most intricate and beautiful carvings in India. Beside this temple, there are two other temples to see, the Viranarayana Temple and the Chenniga Raya Temple.