Have you ever heard of Belur and Halebidu in the Hassan district of Karnataka? These towns are called temple towns because they have some of the oldest temples that are still being preserved from the Hoysala dynasty that date back to the 12 century.

Halebidu was said to be the capital city of the Hoysala empire. The most well known temples that most people visit include the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur and the Hoysaleswara temple (also known as the Halebidu temple) in Halebidu. Both have a lot of history and have been finalized as India's nomination for consideration as World Heritage for the year 2022-2023 by UNESCO.

The reason why I wanted to write about these towns is because it is easily accessible from Bangalore and is a day's trip that one must truly make. Belur and Halebidu are 20 mins apart and can both be visited on the same day.

The work and architecture of the temples are predominantly stone sculptures and hence are a sight to see. It is very evident that a lot of work has gone into making these structures and it shows in the intricate details of the idols all over the temple. And the best part is that it transports you to a lost era. An era of the past and the generation of Indian kings and kingdoms.

Places that have survived generations always make me wonder how people would have lived in that time period. The modern age is nothing like how it used to be then. These temples really showcase how elaborate art was and how much time and manpower went into creating these monuments.

Do plan a weekend getaway to these beautiful temples of the past and comment below and share some of your favourite historical monuments as well!