One of the 30 districts of Karnataka, Hassan has a vibrant and eventful history. In the 3rd Century BC, it was under the reign of the Mouryas of the north. Later, the Kadambas, The Chalukyas, The Gangas, The Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagar empires ruled it.
Karnataka
Mysore
Mysore
A gorgeous gem amidst the greenery of Karnataka, Hassan is a relatively unexplored tourist territory. Whether you are in town for nature or religious purposes, this district has it all. Belur Situated on the banks of the Yagachi River, it is renowned for its Hoysala temple complex, the Chennakeshava Temple. It was built by Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas in 1116 AD. It was recently proposed to be added to the UNESCO Heritage Sites list. Hasanamba Temple Inside the temple premises, there are three temples dedicated to Hasanamba, Darbar Ganapati, and Siddeshwara. Although the Goddess has been known by the name Hasanamba, it is not a single Goddess but a trinity. The three of the Shakthi-Swaroopinis are settled together here. Another interesting feature here is the Hasanamba Temple is opened only once a year (for a few days) during Deepavali celebrations. A unique phenomenon here is that while closing the doors, the deity is adorned with flowers, and a ghee lamp is lit. When the doors are reopened next year, the thick smoke engulfs the sanctum sanctorum with the lamp still burning. Even the flowers retain their freshness for the entire year. Shravanabelagola Home to the 18 m high statue of Lord Gometeshwara, it is considered to be one of the world’s tallest free-standing monolithic statues. It was constructed in 981 AD by Chamundaraya, a Ganga warrior. Carved out of a single block of granite and looms atop the picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill, it is visible up to 30 km away. There are nearly 700 steps hewn in the rock-face which must be climbed to have a close-up view of this colossal magic. The surrounding enclosures have images of all the Jain Tirthankaras. Gorur Home to the biggest reservoir in Karnataka, a temple dedicated to Lord Paravasudeva can be visited at the entrance. Further in, A temple dedicated to Lord Yoganarasimha is built on the banks of the Hemavati River. The reservoir was built in 1979 and covers a catchment area of 2,810 sq. km. This dam is 4,692 m long and 58.5 m high. It is a popular picnic spot. Shettihalli Church An ancient catholic church built in the 1860s by French missionaries, it boasts magnificent Gothic architecture. Shettihalli Church was abandoned in 1960 and is currently in ruins. An interesting feature about this place is that it gets submerged underwater every monsoon thus earning it the nickname ‘The Floating Church’ and ‘The Submerged Church’. This phenomenon occurs due to the Gorur Reservoir being built to redirect the waters of the Hemavathi River. This is another popular picnic spot in the Hassan district. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple Dedicated to Lord Narasimha (an avatar of Lord Krishna), this temple was commissioned by a commander of the Hoysala army, Bommanna Dandanayaka in 1246CE. The main temple is raised. The statue of Lord Narasimha is in the northern sanctum, images of Kesava in the western sanctum while images of Venugopala can be found in the southern sanctum. This style of architecture is known as Trikutachala. The entire temple has been constructed using soapstone.
South Indian delicacies such as idli, dosa, sambar, vada, etc can be found at every nook and cranny. The main staple food of this area includes rice and coconut. A plethora of fresh fruit can be found in the markets. Tender coconut is a must-have.
Kannada is widely spoken in Hassan but tourists can communicate with locals in English and Hindi.
The rich heritage and history of Hassan is an awe-inspiring sight for all visitors. It is a sight to behold in all seasons. However, it is recommended to visit the place in winter and monsoon to have a considerably cool atmosphere. If you are interested in exploring the nooks and corners of South India, then Hassan is your city.
