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Hoysaleswara Temple
Photo: Karthikbs23, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Famous temples · Karnataka

Hoysaleswara Temple

The 12th-century Shiva temple of the old Hoysala capital in Karnataka

Checked 19 Oct 2026 with 2 sources2 min read

DirectionsShare

Getting there

  • By air

    Halebidu has no nearby airport. Bengaluru (BLR) is about 210 km away.

  • By train

    Halebidu is connected by rail at Hassan, about 30 km away.

  • By road

    The temple is about 4 hours by road on the four-lane NH75 highway through Hassan.

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Why devotees come here

Hoysaleswara Temple stands in Halebidu, Hassan district, Karnataka. It is a 12th-century temple dedicated to Shiva and the largest monument in Halebidu, the former capital of the Hoysala Empire. It has twin shrines and carved walls.

Hoysaleswara is a Shaiva temple, dedicated to Shiva. It is the largest temple the Hoysalas built for Shiva in South India. Its walls also carry themes from Vaishnavism and Shaktism, as well as images from Jainism.

Construction began around 1121 CE and finished in 1160 CE. King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire sponsored it. In the early 14th century, armies of the Delhi Sultanate sacked and plundered Halebidu twice.

The temple has twin shrines with two Shiva lingas. It was built from soapstone, a stone that let artists carve microscopic details in jewelry and facial expressions. About 340 large reliefs show Hindu theology and legends. The towers that stood over each sanctum are now missing. The artwork is damaged but largely intact. In 2023 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site, with Belur and Somanathapura, as part of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas.

Festivals

  • every MarchHoysala Mahotsava

    A state Tourism Department festival with classical dance and music, held in Belur and Halebidu.

Tips for your visit

  • Visitors normally use the northern entrance, the one closest to the parking lot.
  • The premises include a museum managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Darshan at home

Not in the app yet

Hoysaleswara Temple is not in the Divya Darshan 360 app yet. These Famous temples temples are, with darshan videos you can watch at home:

In the appChamundeshwari Temple, MysuruChamundi Hill, Mysuru, KarnatakaIn the appDakshineswar Kali Temple, KolkataDakshineswar, North 24 Parganas, near Kolkata, West BengalIn the appShirdi Sai Baba Temple, MaharashtraShirdi, Rahata taluka, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra
Get the appAndroid

The app is free, Android only. For darshan as if you are standing there, see the VR box (₹899, or ₹949 cash on delivery).

Questions people ask

Is Hoysaleswara Temple a UNESCO site?

Yes. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2023, along with the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur and the Keshava Temple at Somanathapura, as part of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas.

Why does the temple have two lingas?

It is a twin temple, with the Shiva lingas Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara. Each has its own sanctum.

When should I visit Halebidu?

Karnataka Tourism gives October to March for Hassan district, when the weather is pleasant. The Hoysala Mahotsava in March adds classical dance and music to the trip.

Does the temple still have its towers?

No. The towers that once stood over each sanctum are now missing, so the roofline looks flat. The carvings are damaged but largely intact.

Is Belur close to Halebidu?

Yes. Belur is about 16 km from the temple. The Chennakeshava Temple there is also part of the UNESCO listing.

How we checked this page

On 19 Oct 2026 we checked every fact on this page against these sources, official ones first. Anything we could not confirm is left out.

  1. Hassan district, Karnataka Tourism (Government of Karnataka) karnatakatourism.org
  2. Hoysaleswara Temple, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

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