Formerly known as Dwarasamudra, Halebeedu was the ancient capital of the Hoysalas. A mere 17 km away from Belur, Halebeedu means “ old ruins“. Ruled by the Hoysala dynasty for over 200 years, the rulers built spectacular Hindu and Jain temples. However, In the 14th century, the armies of Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad Tughlak defeated the Hoysalas and raided their empire. They stole the wealth and pillaged the city to the extent that it fell into ruins and never recovered.
Karnataka
Belur
Mangaluru International Airport
Adorned with a gorgeous collection of temples, statues, and places of worship, Halebeedu is an undiscovered attraction sure to leave visitors speechless with its untainted beauty. Hoysaleshwara Temple A twelfth-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hoysaleshwara temple is Located in west of the Dwarasamudra lake. Shilpkar Kedoraja is credited with the intricate carvings and decoration of the interior and exterior of the temple. The walls depict various stories of soldiers of the Hoysala dynasty valiantly braving the evils of the world alongside the Gods. an image of Sun God Surya Dev, which is 7 ft in height, and a sculpture of one Lord Shiva’s attendant, Nandi, can also be found here. Yagichi Dam At the Yagichi Dam, visitors can enjoy the various water sports activities available. Jet skiing, Speed Boats, Bumper Rides, Cruise Boats, Banana Boat Rides, and Kayaking are all the various sports tourists can enjoy. Basadi Halli A very short walk from Hoysaleshwara Temple, Basadi Halli is a group of three shrines dedicated to three Jain Tirthankars: Parswanath, Shantinath, and Adinath. An 18ft high ‘Mahastambha’ pillar stands in the courtyard. Adorned with splendid and intricate carvings, the outer wall is decorated with sculptures of various other Jain Tirthankars. Archaeological Museum Established in the early 1970s, this museum houses more than 1500 sculptures, architectural members, and inscriptions of historical significance. Its Opening Hours are from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm and it is Closed on Friday. They charge a nominal fee of INR 5 per visitor. Children under the age of 15 enter for free. Kedareswara Temple Built by Veer Ballala II, a Hoysala King, and Ketaladevi, his Queen around 1220 A. D., this stunning structure has been built entirely out of soapstone. The basement of the temple depicts various scenes from The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, and The Bhagavad Gita.
South Indian and North Indian platters can be easily found in Haelbeedu. Please note that most of the cuisine available here is vegetarian. Some must-try specialties of the town include Kesuvina Gantu, Kaayi Kadabu, and Halasinakai Chutney.
Kannada is widely spoken in Hassan but tourists can communicate with locals in English and Hindi.
You can commute internally in Halebeedu by chartering a taxi or rickshaw.
The best time to visit Halebeedu would be in winter, ideally from October to March.
