Halmidi is best known as the place where the oldest known inscription exclusively in Kannada language, the Halmidi inscription, was discovered. Anterior to this, many inscriptions with Kannada words have been discovered, such as Brahmagiri edict of 230 BCE of Emperor Ashoka.
Halmidi is notable for being the site where the oldest known inscription written in Kannada, the Halmidi inscription, was discovered. This predates other discoveries of inscriptions featuring Kannada words, such as the Brahmagiri edict of 230 BCE by Emperor Ashoka.