South Indian history's Hoysala period began about 1000 CE, and continued through 1346 CE. They built about 1,500 temples in 958 centers during this time. Halebidu was originally called Dvarasamudra, a name derived from "Dvara" and Samudra, two Sanskrit words. The capital used to be Belur, Karnataka, but under King Vishnuvardhana Dvarasamudra became the established capital and served as the capital of the Hoyasala Empire for almost 300 years.
Other temples in Hoysala that have survived in the modern age, and despite numerous inscriptions in the temple premises, the Hoysaleswara Temple lacks a dedication inscription. It is probably lost along with the many other features of the original temple. An inscription found about five kilometers from the temple site near the Ghattadahalli Kallesvara temple ruins states that this temple was built by Ketamalla – King Vishnuvardhana's officer. It also states that in Saka 1043 CE the king made land grant to finance the construction, service and maintenance of the Shiva temple. It was not the only temple that was built in that period.
The inscriptions suggest that the capital consisted of numerous other temples, both of Hinduism and Jainism traditions, along with stepwells, ponds and mantapas in the vicinity of the large Dorasamudhra lake. Evidence within the temple suggests that the temple was rebuilt and repaired over its history, sometimes for enhancements, sometimes to address structural issues with the towers above it, It is the largest temple built in South India by the Hoysalas which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
In the early 14th century, the Delhi Sultanate Armies of Alauddin Khilji invaded, plundered and destroyed the Hoysala Empire and its capital Dvarasamudra, with Belur and Halebidu being the target of plundering and devastation by another Delhi Sultanate army of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1326 CE. Vijayanagara Empire had taken over the area. The style of Hoysala, says James C. Harle, ended in the mid-14th century when King Ballala III was killed in a war with Malik Kafur 's Muslim army.Dvarasamudra and its temples became ruins, the capital was abandoned and the site became known as Halebidu. Around 300 of the original Hoysala Empire temples, scattered across the Halebid area, survive in different damage states.