Tamil Nadu & Karnataka - Audley Travel

Devotees entering Chennakesava Temple, BelurSomnathpurSomnathpur makes a wonderful day trip fromMysore, with the one and a half hour drive tothe southeast taking you through attractivecountryside, dotted with paddy fields and tinyvillages. Surrounded by lovely gardens and palmtrees, the ancient Keshava Temple at Somnathpuris one of the best preserved and completemonuments remaining from the Hoysala dynasty.Created in 1268 by a Hoysala general, it featuresthree shrines, each dedicated to a different formof the god Vishnu. The walls are completelycovered in exquisite carvings of deities from theHindu Pantheon, episodes from the Ramayanaand other epics. Walking around the temple, inthe sacred clockwise direction, you can admireintricate carvings of a myriad of gods, goddesses,elephant, warriors and musicians that all featurein Hindu mythology.Temples at Belur54Pool at Hoysala Village Resort, HassanBelur, Halebid andShravanabelagolaThe two remote and beautiful temple sites ofBelur and Halebid at the heart of the HoysalaEmpire date from the 12th century and togetherform perhaps the richest repository of Hindu artand sculpture in India. The temple façades arerichly decorated with intricate stone carvings andthe interiors are filled with countless filigreedpillars and friezes, depicting tales from theRamayana and the Mahabharata. While travellingto this area, a visit to the hilltop town ofShravanabelagola, a significant pilgrimage centrebased around the world’s tallest monolithicsculpture, is recommended. Here, reached by635 steps, the figure of the naked Jain SaintGomareshwara stands 18 metres high and isdevoid of any decoration except creeperstwisting their way up his body.HOYSALA VILLAGE RESORT,HASSANDesigned by an award-winning Indian architect,this resort combines the geometric style ofHoysala architecture with the simplicity of localMalnad villages. The clusters of cottages, whichall have modern amenities, are set in landscapedgardens, and the use of local material gives anauthentic feel without compromising comfortand service. There is also a swimming pool,multi-cuisine restaurant and bar, all reached bymeandering walkways. Located five kilometresoutside Hassan, it makes a good base for visitingthe Hoysala temples in the surrounding area.Nagarhole National ParkAccessible from both Mysore and northernKerala, Nagarhole became a National Park in1955 and is the best place to view wildlifeduring a tour of South India. The forests andgrassland support a large population of elephantand a range of birds and mammals that can beseen either by jeep, coracle or motorboat.Please see the Wildlife section, pages 76-83, forfurther details.