Halebid Temple, also known as Hoyasaleswara Temple, is a historical temple located in the town of Halebid in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and was built during the 12th century by the Hoysala dynasty. The temple is known for its intricate and detailed sculptures and carvings that cover the walls, pillars, and ceilings of the temple. The temple is considered one of the greatest examples of Hoysala architecture. The temple is a major tourist attraction and is considered an important example of South Indian temple architecture.

Halebid is situated at a distance of about 27 km. north-west of Hassan town and about 7 km. east of Belur was once the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire. The place was known as Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra founded in the early 11th century A.D. It came to be known as ‘Halebeedu’ after it was plundered by the Delhi Sultan’s armies two times in 1311 and 1327 and deserted. Halebeedu means ruined city.

The ornate Kedareshwara and Hoysaleswara temples here are remarkable monuments of Hoysala architecture. The Kedareshwara temple is Trikutachala built by Ballala II and his consort Abhinava Ketala Devi in 1219.

Hoysaleshwara and Shanthaleswara temples were built by Ketamala to attribute Vishnuvardhana, the Hoysala ruler. It enshrines Hoysaleswara and Shantaleswara, named after the temple builder Vishnuvardhana Hoysala and his wife, Queen Shantala.

Halebidu temple complex with Hoysaleshwara and Shanthaleswara temples has four entrances which are elegantly wrought with beautifully sculptured lintels, and the temples are cross-shaped joined at their inner arms. The outer walls of Hoysaleshwara temple have a marvelous display of art, superb bracket figures, and typical Hoysala features. This is the largest existing structure of Hoysala times built by Kedaraja, the master builder of the Hoysala period.

The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds, and Shilabalikas or dancing figures. Yet no two sculptures of the temple are the same. Soapstone or Chloritic Schist was used for the construction of these temples. This magnificent temple guarded by a monolithic Nandi Bull was never completed, despite 86 years of labor going into it. The number of sculptures in the temple has been destructed by invaders.

In front of these temples, there is a big lake. The town got its name from the lake, Dhwara samudhra which means entrance from the ocean.

There are three Jain basadis nearby, Adinatheswara (1138 A.D.), Shanthinatha (1192 A.D.), and Parshvanatheshvara, (1133 A.D.), the last one being the largest and known to have been built by General Bopanna, son of Gangaraja.

The Veerabhadra temple to the southeast of the town is another notable monument. A Vishnu temple was rebuilt by the Vijayanagara rulers using old materials, and the temples of Mallikarjuna and Parvati are remarkable. There is also a small museum here. About 3 Km. south of Halebidu, there is Pushpagiri hill which has a round pillared pavilion.