Halebidu, Karnataka
Kedareswara Temple
Shantaleswara Temple

Halebidu

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Karnataka India
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Halebidu Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: October to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Halebid

"Capital of Hoysalas"

Halebidu Tourism

Halebid (or Halebidu) is a city located in the Hassan district of Karnataka state. Formerly known as Dwarasamudra, Halebid is a city with adorned with a beautiful collection of temples, shrines and sculptures. It is also known as the Gem of Indian architecture owing to its sterling Hoysala architecture, its magnificent temple complexes and some stunning Jain sites. Once the majestic capital of the Hoysala empire, the city is in ruins now.

Frozen in time, Halebid can be a great showcase of culture, architecture and imprints of certain significant events of the past. Halebid was the imperial capital of the great Hoysala Empire during the 12th and 13th century and is now home to the distinguished Hoyaleswara and Kedareshwara temples. It is also famous for its sculptures and panels designed in the prominent Hoysala style. During the 14th century, it was looted and plundered by Malik Kafur of the Delhi Sultanate twice. Hence it got its name ‘Halebid’ which translates to the ‘old city’.

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Things to do in Halebidu

1. Belur

Belur
Nestled on the banks of River Yagachi in Hassan District of Karnataka, the town of Belur along with its twin town of Halebid located 16 km away, houses exquisite temples reflecting the exemplary artis (Read More)tic taste and technique of builders of the yore. This small town was the capital of the mighty Hoysala empire and their engineering genius can still be witnessed in the structures that stand here today. Some of the important shrines that are housed here include��Chennakesava Temple and��Kappe Chennigaray, both of which are exemplary Dravidian pieces of architecture. Non-Hindus are allowed in the temples of Belur.

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2. Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple
Hoysaleswara or Halebid Temple is a 12 century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in the west of the Dwarasamudra lake in a small town of Halebid in Karnataka, this magnificent temple is on (Read More)e of the three most landmark monument of Hoysala empire and is also the most significant monument dedicated to Lord Shiva in south India. The designing and decoration of the temple are done by the famous Shilpkar Kedoraja. Its extremely elaborate walls proudly wear the stories of various Gods and brave Hoysala soldiers in the form of beautiful sculptures engraved on its walls. It attracts thousands of devotees year round as it is well known for its architecture and statues of the Hoysala period.

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3. Yagachi Dam

Yagachi Dam
About half an hour away from Belur, is the Yagachi Dam. Visit the dam not so much for the structure itself but the water sports that it hosts. One can enjoy Jet Ski, Speed Boat, Bumper Ride, Cruise Bo (Read More)at, Banana Boat Ride and Kayaking here, filling the town of temples and ruins with a dash of enjoyment and adventure.

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4. Basadi Halli

Basadi Halli
The Jain temples here are famous for the highly polished pillars that resemble mirrors. The three shrines here are Parswanathaswamy temple, Adinathaswamy temple and the Shanthinathaswamy temple. Sever (Read More)al monasteries are also found in the region.

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5. Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum
An open air museum in Halebid, this one houses countless sculptures, exhibits, inscriptions and more and has its displays represent Indian Art at various foreign exhibitions. Dancing Shiva, Nataraja a (Read More)nd Veena Saraswati, dancing Ganesha, a bronze statue of a Tirthankara are some of the most significant sculptures and exhibits here.

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6. Kedareshwara Temple

Kedareshwara Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, depicted in the form of a Shivlinga of Krishnashila, a black stone. Built with Chalukyan style of architecture, this temple was built in 1319 AD. The basement o (Read More)f the temple features sculptured friezes which depict The Ramayana, The Mahabharata and The Bhagavad Gita.

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7. City Shopping

City Shopping
While in Halebid, one can shop for terracotta items, statues and religious items. One might find a number of souvenir shops in the area selling these.

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8. Shantaleswara Temple

Shantaleswara Temple
A major attraction in the area, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shantaleswara, with an idol made of soft soapstone i.e. potstone. A shivalinga is also present in the sanctum.

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9. Hoysala Mahotsava

Hoysala Mahotsava
A magnificent celebration of Indian culture and heritage, artists from all over the country, come to participate in Hoysala Mahotsava. The Hoysala Mahotsava is a brilliant festival that commemorates (Read More)King Hoysala in his great military victory as well as the Hoysala Dynasty of India through the assorted forms of dance, music and art. The honorary art forms are performed in honour of the King Hoysala, whose military genius and bravery are commemorated in the wall carvings of the temple. The festival takes place in the temples of Belur Halebid in Karnataka and is holy and auspicious for Hindus.

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Hoysala Architecture

Halebid, also known as the temple townhouses, two Hindu temples- Hoysaleswar and Kedaleshwar, and two jain basadis. The main attraction of the place is the temple complexes.

Hoysaleswar Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hoysaleshwara temple is constructed on a star-shaped platform. It was built by Ketumalla, who was the minister of Vishnuvardhana- the Hoysala ruler, in 1121 AD. It took 105 years to complete the entire structure and was originally attributed to the king himself and his queen Shantala Devi. The temple walls are dotted with tiny depictions from Hindu mythology and carvings of birds, animals and dancing figurines.
Hoysaleswar Temple (Source)
Kedareshwara Temple: The Kedareshwara temple, also dedicated to Lord Shiva is built in the traditional Chalukya style. Built by King Ballala II, the temple is considered a masterpiece of architecture. In its days of glory, the temple was adorned with sculptures and panels in Hoysala style. Besides, there is a remarkable archaeological museum within the temple complex. To add to the beauty of the arrangement, there is a huge lake surrounding the temples.
Kedareshwara Temple (Source)

Restaurants and Local Food in Halebidu

South-Indian and North Indian platters are the most common is this area and the food is generally vegetarian. Though, not as widespread, one may come across Continental and Mughlai and Tandoori cuisines here too. Though you can find the typical items of the state's cuisine here, some specialties of the town are Kesuvina Gantu, Kaayi kadabu, Halasinakai Chutney.
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Suggested Itinerary for Halebidu

Day 1: Reach Halebid. You can start by visiting the Hoyaleswara Temple. It is a combination of two temples-Hoyaleswara and Shantaleshwara. In the evening you can go and see the Kedareshwara Temple and the Jain Basadi's of Parasvanth, Shantinath, and Adinath. Enjoy the sunset there. 

Day 2: You can go and see the enormous statue of Lord Bahubali. Later on, drive to Belur, which is just 30 km away from Halebid. Here you can see the famous Chennakeshava Temple, the Kappe Chennigarya, which has a 6.5ft tall statue of Chennakeshava.

Best Time to Visit Halebidu

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How to Reach Halebidu

How to Reach Overview

Halebid is a very small town located near Hassan and tourists usually stay in Hassan city, making a day trip to Halebid. The nearest railway station is Hassan (27 km) which can be accessed by taxi. The nearest airport is at Mangalore (168km). Bus services are also available, connecting Halebid to all major cities.

How to reach Halebidu by flight

The nearest domestic airport to Halebid is Mysore Airport, almost three hours drive away. The nearest international airport is Kempegowda International Airport situated in Bangalore. It is roughly four hours drive away from Halebid. Frequent flights from all the major national and international destinations take off from here. Taxis are available for hire from both the airports. 

How to reach Halebidu by road

There are a lot of state and private buses which run from Bengaluru to Halebid. You can board the bus from various bus stands of Bengaluru, namely Malleswaram, JP Circle, Majestic Bus Stand, etc. It takes approx 7 hrs to reach Halebid from here. Alternatively, you can hire a car or taxi to go to Halebid. Car journey takes around 5 hrs to reach and is considered the best way. If you are staying in Hassan, there are buses at every ten or fifteen minutes to/from Halebid.

How to reach Halebidu by train

The nearest railway stations to Halebid are Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. These stations are connected to all the major cities in the country. Taxis are available for hire from all these cities which will take you directly to Halebid.

Local transport in Halebidu

Taxis and autorickshaws are the best way to travel within the city.

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Halebidu Photos

Halebidu, Karnataka
Kedareswara Temple

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FAQs on Halebidu

What is famous about Halebid?

Hoysaleswara Temple situated here is listed as a world heritage site. The route from Halebid to Hassan is worth the driving experience with a picturesque village and scenic lake.

What is not so good about Halebid?

There are not many lodges and hotels in Halebid. Food can be a problem if you do not like South Indian cuisine.

Who should visit Halebid?

Halebid is ideal for family trips. It is a perfect place for people who love to explore historical places with wonderful architecture. 

What is the best time to visit Halebid?

October to February are the best months to visit Halebid. The dance festival of Hoysala Mahotsava during March along with Mahashivratri and Diwali can also make your experience festive and all the more enjoyable.
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What is the local food in Halebid?

South-Indian and North Indian platters are the most common is this area and the food is generally vegetarian. Though, not as widespread, one may come across Continental and Mughlai and Tandoori cuisines here too. Though you can find the typical items of the state's cuisine here, some specialties of the town are Kesuvina Gantu, Kaayi kadabu, Halasinakai Chutney.
Read More

What is the best way to reach Halebid?

Halebid is a very small town located near Hassan and tourists usually stay in Hassan city, making a day trip to Halebid. The nearest railway station is Hassan (27 km) which can be accessed by taxi. The nearest airport is at Mangalore (168km). Bus services are also available, connecting Halebid to all major cities.
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What are the things to do in Halebid?

The top things to do in Halebid are Belur, Hoysaleswara Temple, Yagachi Dam, Basadi Halli, Archaeological Museum, Kedareswara Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Halebid here

What are the places near Halebid?

The top places near to Halebid are Chikmagalur which is 26 km from Halebid, Coorg which is located 92 km from Halebid, Sakleshpur which is located 37 km from Halebid, Hassan which is located 26 km from Halebid, Kemmanagundi which is located 44 km from Halebid

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Halebidu Reviews

Your rating

Praveena Menon.T

5 years ago
Nice place to know about Hoysala architecture. Well maintained.

Kovid Kapoor

on Belur 6 years ago
This is a nice place. Very religious.
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