Belle, Udupi

Moodubelle Surya Narayana Shrine made entirely of stone is dated to the 16th century C.E.

The village has a thousand year old temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Mahalingeshwara, which is situated in the Devaragudde area.[2] Ganesha and Surya Narayana are the other two deities worshiped in the temple. The circular shrine of the Solar deity Surya within the temple complex is of historical importance.[3] The idol of the solar deity is a neat image and holds lotuses in both his hands[4] The temple festival called "Utsava" takes place in the second week of February. The temple was established by an aristocratic Bunt woman named Ballalthi of the Belle Ballal clan, the chief land owning feudals of Belle.[5] The Belle Ballala Bunt clan is a cadet branch of the Arasa Ballala rulers of Yerdanadu Aramane, a small medieval feudatory state.[6] The Ballalas claimed descent from the Jaina Santara dynasty who married into the local Alupa dynasty of Tulu Nadu.[7] The Belle Ballala clan were originally followers of Jainism but converted to Shaivism later. They follow the law of matrilineal inheritance (Aliyasantana) and have five manor houses in Belle which are Belle Melmane, Belle Kelamane, Belle Badagumane, Belle Padumane and Belle Moodumane. These five manors owned close to 2000 acres of land in feudal and colonial times before land reforms were implemented in the 1960s[5]

A medieval wooden image of one of the chiefs (Ballal) of Belle lies in a shrine near the Kelamane House.[8]

Two branches of the clan exist outside Belle: Mallar Guthu (erstwhile feudal lords of Mallar village) and Sanoor Guthu (erstwhile Potail (administrators) of Sanoor Village). Moodubelle Kambala is held at Belle Kelamane House in November every year.[9][10] Mallarguthu Sankappa Shetty, a member of this clan built the Kalya Marigudi Temple in Kaup.[11]

The western part of the village also has an old temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Mahalingeshwara Shiva. The temple was recently renovated.[12]

A Roman Catholic Church which is also one of the biggest churches in the Udupi Diocese. It is place of worship for a large Konkani speaking Catholic population. An annual festival or the parish feast of St. Lawrence Church, also known as 'Santhmary' takes place every year on the first Tuesday, Wednesday of January. People from many communities go to the church and celebrate the feast.