The Hindu : Karnataka News : Golden Chariot enters the architectural segment

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Golden Chariot enters the architectural segment

Sharath S. Srivatsa

Belur and Halebid temples leave tourists awestruck

— Photo: M.A. Sriram

Appreciating: Tourists travelling by the Golden Chariot at the Hoysaleshwara Temple in Halebid.

HASSAN: The architectural grandeur of the Hoysala style at the temples of Belur and Halebid left tourists onboard the Golden Chariot awestruck with the detailed carvings attracting the attention of the first-timers on Thursday. For the foreign tourists, who visited the magnificent Mysore Palace and the wildlife abode at Kabini backwaters over the last two days, Belur and Halebeedu temples gave a glimpse of the rich architectural heritage of Karnataka, which they would be witnessing in Hampi, Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal over the next two days.

Taking the tourists back to over 1,000 years in time, the carvings that had eye for detail introduced the famed style and the skill of artisans who worked for decades to complete the temples. While many passengers appreciated the Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebid for its carvings on the exterior, it was the minute details in the interiors of Chennakeshava temple in Belur that came in for lavish praise from the tourists.

With the Golden Chariot, Karnataka’s luxury train on its first commercial run completing the first leg, travellers onboard also visited the monolith of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelogola, the world-famous Jain pilgrim centre, in the evening.

Nigel Truffit, an Australian national, who went around the temples taking photographs, said he was staggered by the grandeur of the temples and intricacies in the architecture.

Michael Bassanel, 79, a French national of Vietnamese origin, said: “The temples are very grand here. The 10th Century Halebid temple gives us an idea of the civilisation that existed here.” Noting that India has several such monuments, he promised to be back with his wife, Dorit.

B.S. Guruprasad, B.N. Satyanarayan Gupta, S.R. Ramesh and M. Veena, the four tourist guides hired by the Golden Chariot exclusively for its passengers, took the tourists through interesting sessions on the Hoysala period, the rulers, religious activities, architectural contributions and snippets associated with the region.

Veena, who is among the few lady tourists guides working in the region, told The Hindu that she had her father’s unstinting support in choosing this profession, qualifying as a guide after quitting her job as a teacher in a private school.

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