We hit the road around 9:00 am for an easy and pleasant ride to Belur. Since Ooty, we have enjoyed cooler temperatures and beautifully clear skies, and today was no exception.



The ride today took us through gold and green farmland and everywhere we went, people were harvesting in the fields. We skirted several pretty lakes and crossed many rivers, all under azure skies. It really felt like fall today. The first half of the ride was more four-lane goodness, and even when we turned onto the two-lane road, the pavement was still good and it was lightly trafficked.

We made it to Belur by 1:30 pm and checked into the nicest hotel we've stayed in in India. The Hotel Mayura Velapura is a government run hotel that Re found on TripAdvisor. The building is new, the room was huge, spotless, had a very comfy bed, flat screen TV, and a lovely bathroom, all for 16 bucks. Belur's main attraction is the Channakeshava Temple.



It is a massive Hoysala temple from the 1100s and is beautifully carved.



Some of the stonework here is among the best we've ever seen, and it doesn't hurt that the subject matter for part of the temple were some scenes from the Kama Sutra.



Re and I have really enjoyed the style of the Hoysala temples, and this is the best we've seen so far.

After wandering the temple for a couple of hours, our grumbling tummies told us it was time for a late, late lunch. We found an excellent thali place near the temple, where Re made a new best friend in the form of a three or four year old Indian girl named Devadara. Back at the room, we decided it would be best to have a room reservation for Christmas in Hampi. After calling several hotels, Re made a reservation at our second choice. Later that evening we were a little peckish, so we had a light dinner at the hotel's restaurant and called it a night.


110 miles in 4.5 hours. Bikes are running well.