At a distance of about 220 Kms from the metro city of Bangalore, Belur is considered as the Banaras of South and is thus also known as Dakshina Varanasi. A small town located on the banks of River Yagachi, it is very popular for its spectacular temples which are among the best if one wants to study temple architecture. According to inscriptions, the Channakeshava Temple was

built to memorialize king Vishuvardhana's conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism. He commemorated his conversion by the formation of many temples of unmatched brilliance, of which the temple of Channakeshava was no doubt the best.

The Channakeshava Temple stands tall, giving a feeling that one is entering an ostentatious royal court. As one steps onto the temple's revered platform, in a corner of the vast courtyard are tossed a golden horse and a temple chariot. The winged figure of Garuda, Lord Vishnu's carrier, stands at the entry, facing the temple, its palms touching in homage. The main structure of the temple stands as a homogenous architectural unit on a raised platform. The entire structure with its intricate ornamentation shimmers like metal.