4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
45 minutes from Hassan by bus
When to go
November through May
Minimum stay
One day
Halebid (India)
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David Debrincat
Practical information on Halebid
Reviews of Halebid
Halebid is a tiny village completely lost in the Karnataka countryside. Just 30 km from Hassan and only 16 from Belur, it's a 45 minute bus ride from Hassan to get to this haven of peace.
My suggestion:
Halfway between the huge cities of Bangalore and Mysore, Hassan is a good base for visiting Halebid and Belur. Nevertheless, it is interesting to come and stay here in Halebid in the quiet of the Indian countryside.
My review
During the trip to India that I went on during my trip around the world, I discovered another India in Halebid. Far from the devouring and oppressive huge cities, in this lost corner of the Karnataka countryside, I finally found a peaceful and calm life, a real hymn to serenity. In India this feeling is a rare and priceless luxury.
Halebid, above all, is extraordinary temples. The architecture of the Hoysaleshera Temple and Kedareshvara Temple is a pure marvel. The sculptures have an unequaled finesse. I have experienced here the simple happiness of lying in the sun in the green grass, watching squirrels run on the friezes and statues. A little further on foot, the Jain temples are even more lost in the countryside. As if it were even possible...
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David Debrincat
Halebidu lies just 16 kilometers from Belur and 45 minutes from Hassan and contains three interesting temples to visit – two constructed at the time of the Hoysalas dynasty – as well as a group of Jain buildings and a lake that provides a source of life for the local inhabitants.
My suggestion:
Be sure to wander the lake's shores to experience the daily life of the Indians and enjoy a coconut away from the tourists.
My review
Firstly, there are the temples. Their names: Hoysaleswara, Kedareshwara, Parsvanatha, Adinatha and Shantinatha. It's no exaggeration to say that the sculptors brought the very best out of soapstone, a soft rock used for building that hardens in contact with air. The sculptures are absolutely superb, and when the light of the sun reflects off them, there is an exceptional metallic quality to the way the temples gleam. I can honestly say that these are pure works of art.
A little further on, just a few minutes away in fact, lies Dwarasamudra lake, with all its risky paths and scenes of everyday life. Here an Indian woman washing her dishes, there a fisherman striking with a skillful flick of his wrist, and a little further away, children playing… Halebidu inspires relaxation, and off the beaten track, well away from the hustle and bustle of popular tourist destinations, this is a place in which to rest and regain your energy!
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Sébastien Cuzol
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Sébastien Cuzol
344 travelers' photos
