The Chennakesava Temple, originally called
Vijayanarayana Temple , was built on the banks of the
Yagachi River in Belur, by the
Hoysala Empire King
Vishnuvardhana. Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital is in the
Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is 40 km from
Hassan city and 220 km from
Bangalore. Chennakesava (
lit, "handsome Kesava") is a form of the
Hindu god
Vishnu. Belur is well known for its marvelous temples built during the rule of the
Hoysala dynasty, making it and nearby
Halebidu favored tourist destinations in Karnataka state. These temple complexes have been proposed to be listed under
UNESCO World Heritage Sites.