Halebid, located in Hassan district, Karnataka, India, is home of one of the greatest examples of Hoysala architecture.
The Temple complex comprises of two temples. In front of these temples there is a big lake. So it is said that it was called Dhwara samudhra which means entrance from ocean. The two nandi bulls which are in front of the temples are monolithic. It is said that soap stones are used for the construction of these temples. But a number of sculptures in the temple are destructed by the invaders. So the temple is incomplete. It is said that the name Halebid means Destroyed City. Now there is an archeological museum in the Temple complex.
The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labour. The Jain basadis nearby are equally rich in sculptural detail. Belur and Halebid are 222 and 216 km from Bangalore, respectively. This temple is now being proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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