Located in Hassan district, the small town of Halebeedu once served as the regal capital of the Hoysala empire (10th to 14th centuries) and attracts tourists from all parts of the country for its magnificent temples. The prime attractions in Halebeedu are the twin temples of Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara. The twin temple complex houses two grand statues of Nandi (bull god), Lord Shiva's vehicle. Visitors can see as many as 108 pillars inside the temple. These pillars resemble each other but feature different design patterns. The temple walls are adorned with intricate carvings of Hindu deities like Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. They also feature scenes from Hindu epics like the Mahabharata, along with finely carved images of animal figures like elephants and horses. The temple also houses a separate sanctum dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Halebeedu lies at a distance of around 212 km from Bengaluru and makes for an interesting excursion.