Hassan

Karnataka > Hassan

One of the Old Bridge in Hassan

Hassan is the district headquarters, 186 km. from Bangalore. It is a centre of trade for coffee. Traditions say that the place name originated from Simhasanapura. The town is ascribed to a Chola Officer called Bukkanayaka of the 11th Century. The Hasanamba temple here, opens only once in a year in Ashwayuja masa (September - October) for a week for jatra. The Siddeshwara temple here is ascribed to Belur Feudatories under Vijayanagara. There is a Jaina basadi here, and also Chennakeshava, Malleswara and Virupaksheshwara temples. The last named is said to have been renovated by the sage Vidyaranya (14th century). There is a State Archaeology Museum here. Mosale, Koravangala and Kondajji are the other important places around Hassan where fine Hoysala temples are seen.

The town of Hassan is in Karnataka's southern district of the same name, and is 934 m above sea level. It has been named after the town's presiding Goddess "Hasanamba" and is called Karnataka's temple-architecture capital. Hassan dates back to the 11th century, under the rule of the Hoysala Dynasty (11-14^th century), who were largely influenced by Jainism.

Hassan is a picturesque town in the heart of malnad with a pleasant climate. This quiet and peaceful town is a convenient base to visit Shravanabelagola, Belur and Halebid. Hassan offers a wide variety of accommodations. It is well-connected by road and rail to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. It is about 180 KM from Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka. The Hoysalas brought world wide acclaim to the district through their unique style of Temple Architecture. It is surrounded by 6 districts namely Chikmagalur, Mangalore, Madikeri, Mysore, Mandya & Tumkur.

Statistics of Hassan

• No.of Taluks/Blocks : 8 (Hassan, Alur, Arkalgud, Arsikere, Belur, Channarayapatna, Holenarasipura, Sakleshpura)
• No.of Gram Panchayaths : 258
• No.of Villages : 2,559
• Area : 6,845 Sq.Kms
• Total Population : 17,21,669

History of Hassan

The history of Hassan districit is essentially the history of two of the well known dynasties that have ruled Karnataka, the Western Ganga Dynasty of Talkad (350 - 999 CE.) and the Hoysala Empire (1000 - 1334 CE). In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Vijayanagar kings patronised Chennakesava of Belur as their family deity. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Hassan became a land of contention between the Keladi Nayakas of Shimoga and the Mysore Kingdom. It finally merged as an independent Mysore kingdom.

Around the 300 BCE. Hassan was part of the Mayuran empire. Sage Bhadrabahu arrived from north India in 3rd century BCE. along with many ascetics marking the arrival of Jainism into Karnataka. Some historians believe king Chandragupta Maurya322 -298 BCE., grand father of emperor Ashoka was his disciple and accompanied Bhadrabahu to Sharavanabelagola and eventually died there. Other historians argued that the king was Ashoka's grandson and came later. A basadi or monument in his name called Chandragupta basadi still exists today. Whatever the truth about Chandragupta Maurya's lineage, the fact remains that Shravanabelagola has been a place of Jain worship for twenty three centuries.

Culture of Hassan

Much of culture of Hassan district in the past is linked with the Hoysala and Ganga dynasty rulers who ruled over this area. Initially the Gangas were Hindus but by the time of king Shivamara II (785 CE., took to Jainism. The Hoysalas were Jains too and the mythical founder of the empire sala was said to be blessed by the Jain sage Sudatta Muni. Some of the successive rulers were also Jains until Ramanujacharya came to Hassan to escape persecution from the Cholas in early 12th century. During this time Vishnuvardhana was influenced by Ramanujacharya and accepted Hinduism, though his wife Shantaladevi continued to follow Jainism, setting an example of religious tolarance. In fact the Channigraya temple in Belur was commissioned by her during the time the nearby famous Chennakeshava temple was being built. This tolerance is alive even today and can be seen in the importance given by the district administration and people in general to Jain religious events like Mahamastakabhisheka, long after Jainism has ceased to be the main religious practice of this region. While Most of the Hoysala monuments in Hassan are Hindu, and date between the 11th c. - 13th c. CE, the monuments of Shravanabelagola are a colossal effort of the Jain Ganga dynasty who ruled from about 350 - 999 CE. and is one of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites for in India.

Geography of Hassan

Lying between 12^o 13' and 13^o 33' North latitudes and 75^o 33' and 76^o38' East longitude, Hassan district has a total area of 6826.15 km². It is divided into 8 talikus, 38 hoblies & 2369 villages. The geography is mixed with the malnad or mountainous region to the west and south west called Bisle Ghat and the maidan or planis regions in the north, south and east. There are some areas of degraded forest ranges in central portion of the district.

The general level of Hassan district is it slopes with the course of Hemavathi river from the western ghat ranges towards the bed of cauvery river near Hampapura in the south east. Its chief tributary is Yagachi from Belur taluq which joins it near Gorur. Hemavathi passes through Holenarsipur taluq in a southerly direction and joins with Cauvery river near Hampapura close to the border of Hassan district. Hassan and Belur stands around 3,084 and 3,150 feet (960 m) above the sea level respectively.

The district is surrounded by Chikmagalur District to the north west, Chitradurga District to the north, Tumkur District to the east, Mandya District to the south east, Mysore to the south, Kodagu District to the south west and Dakshina Kannada district to the west.

Getting to Hassan

Hassan is well-connected by road and rail to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. Regular buses ply from Hassan to Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola and Arsikere.

There direct buses from Sravanabelagola to Arsikere,Hassan,Mysore and Bangalore.