The Hoysala empire is a prominent Southern Indian Kannadiga empire that rules most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the tenth and the fourteenth centuries.

The capital of the Hoysalas is initially located at Belur but is later moved to Halebidu.The Hoysala rulers are originally from Malnad Karnataka, an elevated region in the Western Ghats range.

In the late twelfth century, taking advantage of the internecine warfare between the then ruling Western Chalukyas and Kalachuri kingdoms, they annex areas of present day Karnataka and the fertile areas north of the Kaveri River delta in present day Tamil Nadu.

By the thirteenth century, they govern most of present-day Karnataka, minor parts of Tamil Nadu and parts of western Andhra Pradesh in Deccan India.The Hoysala era is an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India.

The empire is remembered today primarily for its temple architecture.

Over a hundred surviving temples are scattered across Karnataka, including the well known Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

The Hoysala rulers also patronize the fine arts, encouraging literature to flourish in Kannada and Sanskrit.