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ಹೊಯ್ಸಳೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ
Halebidu, Karnataka · 13.2129°, 75.9950°
The largest Hoysala temple, a twin shrine at the old capital Dorasamudra, wrapped in an unbroken sculptural belt — 340 large reliefs and thousands of frieze figures narrating the epics. Sacked by Malik Kafur's forces in 1311, city and court never recovered ('Halebidu' means 'old ruined city'), but the temple endures as a museum of medieval imagination.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
Its friezes are a stone encyclopedia: Ravana lifting Kailasa, Krishna raising Govardhana, and — as guides delight in showing — no two of the 340 panels alike.
Halebidu lies 17 km from Belur and 30 km from Hassan, with regular bus services and taxis from both. Hassan is the nearest railhead, connected to Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Shivamogga and Mangaluru; there is no airport in the district, the nearest being Bengaluru.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Hoysala
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…