Things To Do Halebid

Karnataka India

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Places To Visit In Halebid

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 and Veena Saraswati, dancing Ganesha, a bronze statue of a Tirthankara are some of the most significant sculptures and exhibits here.

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. Several monasteries are also found in the region.

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 artistic 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. Known as the 'jewels of the Indian cultural heritage' Belur and Halebid are adorned with the legacy of rich past and culture. Belur is mainly known for its prime attraction, the Chennakesava Temple dedicated to Chennakesava or Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that it took 103 years to complete the construction of this magnificent edifice. Standing right next to it is another temple Kappe Chennigaraya, a temple built by the wife of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, Shantaladevi. Apart from these, there are two other temples in the complex. Both temples exhibit the intricate detail work on the walls made up of light green soapstone. Visit this destination for a glorious look into the Hoysala engineering genius. Read More

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.

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 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. The hamlets surrounding the temple come alive during the festival with lights, decorations, and the festive spirit. The beautiful temple, which is a piece of history in itself, is an excellent location for several festivities and the other activities that follow. After the traditional dances, a huge feast follows in the temple. Read More

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 one 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. The magnificent temple derives its name from the preceding ruler of Hoysala dynasty who sponsored its construction, King Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara. The construction was started in 1121CE and was complete in 1160CE. The temple is a simple Dvikuta Vimala, meaning that it houses two main shrines; one dedicated to Hoysaleswara and another to Shantaleswara (named after Shantala Devi, wife and queen of King Vishnuvardhana). Apart from the two main shrines, there is a 7 ft tall image depicting the Sun God, Lord Surya and a massive sculpture of Nandi (Shiva's attendant). Today, the artwork and the architecture of the Hoysaleswara Temple are damaged because of the sacking by Muslims armies in the late 14th century. However, it is mostly intact, and the temple itself is considered as one of the seven wonders of the country. It has also been proposed to be listed under the UNESCO world heritage sites. Read More

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 of the temple features sculptured friezes which depict The Ramayana, The Mahabharata and The Bhagavad Gita. Kadareswara Temple was built by Veer Ballala II, a Hoysala King and Ketaladevi, his Queen around 1220 A. D. The stunning structure has traditional Hoysala style architecture in soapstone and has enchantingly intricate carvings, relief work and sculptures depicting the legends of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Read More

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.

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 Boat, Banana Boat Ride and Kayaking here, filling the town of temples and ruins with a dash of enjoyment and adventure.