Halebid was formerly known as Dwarasamudra, the ancient capital of the Hoysala Empire. The highlights of the city are the 12th century Hoysaleswara temple with friezes and sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. There is an Archaeological Museum displaying 12th-13th century sculptures, woodcarvings, idols, coins and inscriptions that can be visited here.
Halebid is located in a fertile agricultural area and is surrounded by distant hills. When Halebid was The Hoysala capital it was located strategically in an isolated place. Today the original site of the palace has been pinpointed but it is still to be excavated. The stone ramparts that once surrounded the city are still visible today. Outside the ramparts, to the east, is a vast tank known as Dorasamudra and this was also the city’s original name.
Today Halebid is a village in Mysore state but its name means “Old Capital” as it was the site of Dorasamudra, the capital of the Hoysala dynasty founded early in the 11th Century. In 1310 and again in 1316 it was taken and plundered by the first Muslim invader of Southern India. Two of the temple ruins that are still standing today were never completed but they are regarded as the finest examples of the elaborately carved chalukyan style of architecture.