A Wonder in Stone
Halebid is often called the ruined city. This is true in a way, as the best parts of the city today are its ancient temples, which go back to centuries. The Hoysala temples with their magnificent carvings and sculptures, display not only Hindu architecture but also a whole culture. Halebid is also an agricultural paradise - you can find fields of sugarcane and paddy spread across thousands of acres here. The town lies on the banks of an artificial lake called Dwarasamudra.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Halebid was virtually the hub of activity, being the capital of the Hoysala Empire. King Veeraballa II is said to have extended the empire from the Cauvery River to Krishna during his reign. Veeraballa and King Vishnuvardhana were the rulers behind the building of the temples that the town today boasts of. The city gradually lost its glory following the death of King Ballala. During the 14th century, the city was invaded and looted by a succession of rulers like Malli Kafur and Mohammed Bin-Tuglak.
Mangalore airport is the nearest airport (148 km)
Good roads connect it to Hassan (31 km) Banavar (24 km)
Banavar is the nearest railway station. Trains run to Bangalore from here.
