Halebid
Halebid is 27 kms North West of Hassan and 17 kms, east of Belur. The temple of Helebid – like those of Belur - hear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple built by Hoysala rulers in 1121 AD is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temples 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.
Museum
There is a museum on the lawns of the temple with 12-13th century sculptures and the gold coins in use at that time.
Nandi
Out the temple, there is a sculpture of Nandi, The mount of lord shiva, and the hillock where the place stood connected to the temple by a passage.
Kedareshvara Temple
Veeraballala and his consort Abinava Ketala Devi in 1219AD built this small temple.
Jain Bastis, Bastihalli
1 km The Jain Basti temples are contemporaries of the Shiva temple.
Belavadi
13 km the home to the famous Trikooto temple.
Chatachattajalli
3 km there has a Chatteshvara temple built in 120AD.
Shravanbelagola
51 kms southeast of Hassan, this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali – the world’s tallest monolithic statue. Thousand of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabisheka – a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years when the 1000 year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabisheka will be held in 2005 A.D Shravanbelagola is 150 kms from Bangalore.
