Hassan

Belur – The Jewel of Hoysala Devotion
Set along the Yagachi River, Belur is home to the sublime Chennakesava Temple, a pinnacle of 12th-century Hoysala architecture that seems to defy both gravity and time. Your journey begins at the gopuram’s threshold, where a private historian draws your attention to the profusion of detail—mythological friezes, narrative sculptures, celestial dancers poised mid-movement, each carving an act of devotion.
Step inside to experience the mandapa's lathe-turned pillars and its play of shadow and geometry. The figure of Chennakesava—"the Handsome One"—gleams within the sanctum, exuding both divinity and artistic finesse.
With special arrangements, a curated classical dance performance or storytelling session can be held in the temple courtyard, echoing the rhythm that once animated these stone halls. At Belur, form is not separate from spirit—every motif is an offering, and every sculpture, a silent hymn.

Halebidu – Echoes of Empire and Eternity
A short drive brings you to Halebidu, once the proud capital of the Hoysala Empire and now a sanctuary of sculptural poetry. The twin shrines of the Hoysaleswara Temple—dedicated to Shiva—rise in contemplative grandeur, their walls covered in continuous, living narratives: episodes from the Mahabharata, rows of marching elephants, cosmic wheels, and deities in motion.
Here, your private guide leads you counterclockwise—an intentional, Shaivite design that encourages introspection. In this reverse journey, myth becomes metaphor, and architecture becomes philosophy.
Pause under flowering frangipani trees beside the Nandi pavilion, where guided meditation or quiet reflection offers a deeper resonance with the space. Nearby, explore Jain basadis—elegant, understated sanctuaries of silence and spiritual refinement.
Halebidu does not announce itself. It reveals, through the layering of light, stone, and stillness.

Shravanbelagola – A Sacred Ascent in Stillness
Rising above the surrounding plains, Vindhyagiri Hill hosts one of India’s most transcendent encounters with spiritual and sculptural grace. At its summit stands the 10th-century statue of Bahubali, carved from a single monolith and standing 58 feet tall—nude, unyielding, and utterly serene.
Begin your ascent at dawn, accompanied by a Jain scholar or monk, who shares the story of Bahubali’s renunciation and the Jain ideals of non-violence, detachment, and inner victory. Along the climb—over 600 stone steps—discover sacred tanks, ancient inscriptions, and weather-worn pavilions.
At the summit, silence becomes tangible. Participate in a private ritual of reverence or a guided meditation beneath the statue’s eternal gaze.
Descend gently to a monastery kitchen where a traditional Jain satvik meal awaits—an experience of purity, simplicity, and deeply rooted philosophy.