The scenic hill town of Hassan is located in the heart of Malnad and is about 195 km from the capital city of Bangalore. This picturesque town is a suitable base for those who want to visit the archaeological and religious sites of Belur, Halebid and Shravanabelgola, all situated in close vicinity. information of hassan india, hassan city information, city information of hassan karnataka, hassan karnataka information guide, hassan city guide And all of these form an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.
About Hassan
Hassan city Information - This city was earlier named Simhasanapura and with time this name got abridged to Hassan. There is a famous temple here, in the heart of the city, built in honour of the Goddess Hasanamba, this temple is opened for the public only once in a year.
Also known as the poor man's Ooty, Hassan has a pleasant climate, is well connected and is popular with visitors throughout the year.
Attractions
Belur - Located on the banks of the river Yagachi, Belur is a quaint hamlet famous for its exquisite temples. In fact it is also known as Dakshina Varanasi or Southern Banaras. Its celebrated temple of Channakeshava was built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 A.D. to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism. information of hassan india, hassan city information, city information of hassan karnataka, hassan karnataka information guide, hassan city guide Hassan City Information, and it main structure of the temple, which is star-shaped, is a homogeneous architectural unit on a raised platform. Carved out of black stone the temple looks as if it had been skillfully crafted out of metal. At the entrance the winged figure of Lord Vishnu's carrier Garuda stands guard and the 650 elephants on the frieze around the walls outside are all different from each other. The exotic bracket figures on the walls portray the artistic and architectural talent prevalent in India even all those centuries ago.
The Shennakeshava temple
City Information of Hassan Karnataka - The intricate Shennakeshava temple took 103 years to complete. Filled with sculptures and frescoes it truly is an architectural marvel and also one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture.
Halebid
Halebid 27 kms north-west of Hassan is popular for its strikingly beautiful Hoysala Temples and Jain shrines. information of hassan india, hassan city information, city information of hassan karnataka, hassan karnataka information guide, hassan city guide The Hoysaleshwara temple, stands on a platform like a casket and is richly endowed with some of the most detailed scrollwork in stone. Its walls are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple is guarded by a statue of Nandi the Bull. Despite 86 years of labour the construction of the temple never got completed. Another famous temple here is the Keddareshwara temple.
Shravanbelagola
Wedged between two stark rocky hills, this legendary pilgrim center and shrine of the Jain's since early times is 51 kms south-east of Hassan. The monolithic, 27 m. high statue of Lord Bahubali is situated here. The Mahamastakabhisheka festival, an elaborate ritual, held here once every 12 years attracts thousands of devotees. information of hassan india, hassan city information, city information of hassan karnataka, hassan karnataka information guide, hassan city guide During the festival the 1000 year old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron, and gold coins. The last Mahamastakabhisheka was held in 2005 A.D. Just opposite to Shravanbelagola is the smaller Chandragiri hill, where some ancient Jain temples and the tomb of Chandragupta Maurya, a famous patron of Jainism resides.
Chikmagloor
Is nestled in the nearby Baba Budan hills, a calm, serene town full hills, valleys, streams and snow-white coffee blossoms it is a trekkers delight.
Koramangala
Just 10 kms from Hassan it is has a hugely famous Shiva temple.
Hassan City Information - How to get here
» By Air - The nearest airport is in Bangalore, from here one can get flights to major destinations in India like Delhi, Calcutta, and Mumbai. One can also take connecting flights to destinations abroad from Bangalore.
» By Rail - Hassan's railway station is just 2 km east of the town and is connected to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore by regular trains.
» By Road - Hassan is linked with Belur, Halebid, Shravanbelgola, Bangalore and Mysore by road. Mysore is at a distance of 115kms and Bangalore is 185 kms from Hassan by road.
Climate
Hassan Karnataka Information Guide and it has pleasant weather throughout the year. Summers are warm while winters are cool. April is the hottest month when temperatures hover around 35 degrees centigrade and sometimes drops to a minimum of 20 degrees centigrade. The average annual rainfall in the district is around 700 mm. One can visit Hassan any time of the year but the rains are best avoided.
Hassan Karnataka Information Guide - Accomodation at Hassan
Hassan Karnataka Information Guide - Hassan is a popular destination and offers plenty of accommodation options. Star-category hotels are few, but simple and decent hotels are available in plenty. Most of the hotels are conveniently located in the area near the bus stand. There are accommodation options available in Belur and Halebid also. Hotel Hassan Ashok and the Southern Star hotel are among the pricier accommodations where airconditioned rooms cost about Rs 2300 per night, hotels Gee Dee Comforts, Hotel Suvarna Regency and Hotel Sri Krishna are relatively cheaper and there are a host of low budget options with the Circuit House Inspection Bungalow and the Youth Hostel costing only Rs 40 per night.
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