Halebidu is a quaint little historic town located in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Earlier this popular town was known as “Dwarasamudra” and it acted as the imperial capital of the Hoysala dynasty from the 12th to 14th centuries. Looking at the city adorned with a collection of shrines, temples, sculptures and Jain sites built in Hoysala style architecture has the power to stun any individual with its beauty. However, what remains now is the ruins of one of the greatest kingdoms in south India. It has been told in history that this place which showcased rich culture, lifestyle, wealth, and architecture was looted and destroyed twice by Malik Kafur a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate empire in the 14th century. Hence, the name Halebidu, which literally means “old capital “ or “city of ruins” in regional language. Halebidu is noted for the Hoysaleshwara temple and Kedareshwara temple. Furthermore, most of the structures here were built using soapstone. Hoysaleshwara temple constructed on the star-based platform was built by Ketumalla, a chief of Hoysala as a tribute to King Vishnuvardhana and queen, Shantala Devi. One of the most unique features of this temple is it has two shrines, one dedicated to the queen and another to the king This temple has thousands of carvings which depict the stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Not just that this has figures of birds, animals, and various dancing styles that were present in that era It has been told that it took nearly 105 years to complete this temple. Also, read about unexplored Gokak Falls.
Halebidu is a quaint little historic town located in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Earlier this popular town was known as “Dwarasamudra” and it acted as the imperial capital of the Hoysala dynasty from the 12th to 14th centuries. Looking at the city adorned with a collection of shrines, temples, sculptures and Jain sites built Read More
