About Hassan

Country: India | State: Karnataka

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Hassan: Bangalore (177 Kms), Mangalore (170 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Hassan: October to February

Peak Season: November to January

At a distance of 32 km from Halebidu, 40 km from Belur, 48 km from Shravanabelagola, 63 km from Chikmagalur, 106 km from Madikeri, 120 km from Mysore, 170 km from Mangalore, and 177 km from Bangalore, Hassan is a city and the district headquarters of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the must include places in Karnataka tour packages.

Hassan derives its name from the local deity Hasanamba, which in Kanada language means 'Smiling mother'. The city is situated between two major cities of Karnataka, Bangalore & Mangalore. Hassan is the base station for Haebidu, and Belur tour packages. This district is considered the architectural capital of Karnataka. The rich culture of the Hoysalas can be seen all over the district. Dotted with several religious spots as well as monuments, Hassan is an ideal place to explore for history lovers, pilgrims, as well as curious souls. It is here where the plains begin to gently slope into the Western Ghats (Malnad). Although not a proper hill station, Hassan is often referred to as 'Poor Man's Ooty'.

Hassan has a special place in history. Found by the chieftain Channa Krishnappa Naik in the 11th century, Hassan was the command center of the Hoysala Empire, one of the most successful dynasties of South India. The Hoysala dynasty ruled from Dwara Samudra (present-day Halebeedu), the capital city then, between the 11th and 14th centuries. The ruins can still be found in and around Halebidu. Though the rulers of this dynasty belonged to the Jain faith, temples for Lord Shiva can be seen spread over the entire region. Well known for its historical values, Hassan, now, is a city that has grown in leaps and bounds.

Having been the focus of many empires over the centuries, there are many places in and around Hassan that are worth visiting if you are interested in exploring the architectural heritage of Karnataka. Hasanamba Temple, Nuggehalli Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Shettyhalli Church, Mosale temples, Maharaja Park, Mavinakere Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Chandramouleswara Temple at Arasikere, Bucheshwara Temple at Koravangala, Lakshmidevi Temple at Doddagadduvalli, and Gorur Dam are the top places to visit in Hassan. Besides, Hassan is close to Belur, Halebid, Chikmagalur, Sakleshpura, and Coorg.

Hassan is a town which has many temples and people celebrated various festivals. Hassanamba Temple Festival is the main festival in Hassan that is held every year in October in honor of the presiding deity.

About 203 km from Hassan, Bengaluru International Airport the closest airport, which has well flight connectivity with all the major cities in India, and international destinations as well. Hassan Railway Station is well-connected by trains with Dharwad, Kannur, Bangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Mangalore, Solapur, Mumbai, Karwar, Delhi, and Arsikere. As Hassan lies on the NH 48, it is well connected by the state-owned as well as private buses with Bangalore, Mysore, Udupi, Mangalore, and nearby places.

The best time to visit Hassan is from October to February. The weather during these months is pleasant and ideal for exploring the place. Also, during this time you can be a part of the popular Hassanamba Fair. Avoid traveling to Hassan during the heavy monsoon period as it experiences heavy rainfall. The summer months between March and May are quite hot and dry.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 08172
Languages Spoken: Kannada, Hindi, Telugu & English
Major Festivals: Hassanamba Temple Festival
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Hassan

By Air

Nearest Airport: Bangalore - Bengaluru International Airport (203 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Hassan Railway Station (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Hassan Bus Station (1 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Hassan

#1 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 3 km from Hassan Railway Station, Hasanamba Temple is a Hindu temple located in Hassan, Karnataka. Situated on the Bangalore-Mangalore Road, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Karnataka, and among the must include places in Hassan Tour Packages.

Dedicated to the Goddess Shakti or Amba, Hasanamba Temple was built in the 12th century AD. The goddess is an anthill or hutta which resembles the deity of Hassanamba as Goddess Parvathi. She is regarded as the presiding deity of Hassan, and in fact, the town name, Hassan, is derived from the goddess Hasanamba. Earlier, Hassan was known as Sihmasanapuri and later it got the name of Hassan when the goddess idol with its face wearing a pleasant smile (Hasana Mukhi) was found during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty in the 12th century AD. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Hassan.

The .....

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#2 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 15 km from Hassan, Nageshwara & Channakeshava Temples are the twin Hoyasala temples situated at Mosale village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

The Nageshvara-Chennakeshava temples are built in 1200 AD during the reign of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. The temple complex is an elegant example of Hoysala architecture of the early 12th century. The temples together form a unique Dwikutachala. One of the temples is dedicated to Nageshwara (Lord Shiva), and the other is dedicated to Chennakeshava (Lord Vishnu). This temple complex is protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. According to a legend, the village of Mosale was also the hermitage of Sage Jamadagni.

Surrounded by a wall, the two temples stand side by side in the complex a few feet apart and are similar .....

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#3 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 10 km from Hassan Railway Station, Bucheshvara Temple (also spelt Bucheshwara or Bucesvara temple) is an ancient Hindu temple located at Korvangla village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the stunning Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top tourist places in Hassan.

The Buchesvara Temple is a simple yet elegant specimen of the 12th century of Hoysala architecture. The temple was built in 1173 AD by a rich officer called Buchiraja to celebrate the coronation of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. The Bucesvara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

This is a dwikuta temple with two shrines facing each other. These shrines are connected by a closed mantapa, and an open mantapa. The western shrine facing east containing an image of Surya, the sun god, and the eastern shrine contains a Shivlinga. The entrance is very small and guarded by elephants. There are beautifully carved dwarapalaka statues on either side. This entrance leads to a Mukha .....

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#4 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 18 km from Halebidu, 21 km from Hassan, and 24 km from Belur, Lakshmi Devi temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Doddagaddavalli village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Situated on the Hassan - Belur highway, it is one of the stunning Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top tourist places in Hassan.

Dedicated to goddess Lakshmi, the Lakshmi Devi Temple at Doddagaddavalli was built by a merchant called Kullahana Rahuta and his wife Sahaja Devi during the reign of King Vishnuvardhana in 1114 CE, and is one of the earliest known temples built in the Hoysala style. Built with soapstone, it is the only example of the chatuskuta (four-shrined) order of temples built during the Hoysala period. Each is complete with a shikhara, a sukhanasi (vestibule), a kalasa on the shikhara, and a Hoysala crest on the sukhanasi.

The temple complex has two entrances. The one on the east makes its way through a porch while the one on the west opens to the lake. .....

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#5 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 3 km from Hassan Railway Station, Maharaja Park is a beautiful park located in Hassan town of Karnataka. Situated at Rangoli Halla, it is a popular picnic spot in the town and is often visited by locals and tourists as well.

Maharaja Park is the only park listed in Hassan. It is a well-manicured park which is covered with a green layer of grass. There are many spacious walkways that are lied of green dollops of bushes and tall trees. Apart from this, there is also a separate children's playground where you can let your kids play. This makes it a perfect place to see in Hassan for families with children.

Timings: 6 AM to 8 PM

Entry: Free

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#6 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 24 km from Hassan, Bettada Ranganathaswami Temple is a sacred Hindu temple located at Halekote village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Situated atop the Mavinakere Hill, it is one of the popular temples in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

Bettada Ranganathaswami Temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha. It is a cave temple with star-shaped architecture and also has a statue of Hanuman. Sri Ramanujacharya, who introduced Vishishtadwaitha, is said to have rested for a while here on this hill and sought the darshan of Sri Ranganatha, offering his devotional bhajans. There is a 3 feet standing idol of the lord behind the Ranganatha stone in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. On the other side of the cave is a Hanuman sculpted on a rock.

As per the history, Mavinakere was the residence of Palegar Lakshmana Nayaka and a ruined fort belonging to the Palegar is situated here. When he ruled this region, he noticed that one of his cows was .....

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#7 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 42 km from Hassan, 44 km from Halebidu, 71 km from Chikmagalur, the Ishvara Temple, also known as Chandramouleshwara Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Arasikere town of the Hassan district in Karnataka state, India. It is one of the stunning Hoysala temples in Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Hassan.

Dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, the Chandramouleshwara Temple at Arasikere was built in the 12th century by the Hoysalas. Though modest in size and figure sculpture, the temple is considered the most complex one in architecture among surviving Hoysala monuments because of its ground plan - a 16-pointed star-shaped mantapa (hall), along with an asymmetrical star-shaped shrine, whose star points are of three different types.

Like all Hoysala constructions, this east-facing temple was built with soapstone and is an ekakuta shrine (single shrine or cella) with two mandapas, one open and one closed. The sanctum (garbhagriha) enshrines .....

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#8 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 9 km from Arasikere, 34 km from Hassan, and 59 km from Shravanabelagola, the Lakshminarasimha Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Haranahalli village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the Hoysala temples in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Hassan.

The Lakshminarasimha Temple, also known as Kesava Temple, is a complete and good example of 13th century Hoysala architecture. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in 1235 AD by the Hoysala King Vira Someshwara. Mallitamma, one of the best-known Hoysala sculptors of the 13th century, is the main sculptor of the Kesava Temple. This is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Stands on a jagati or the raised platform, the Lakshminarasimha Temple is built-in the trikuta style (3 shrines) with a strong focus on the middle shrine which has a shikhara and a sukhanasi. The three shrines are connected by a common hall (mantapa). .....

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#9 of 9 Places to Visit in Hassan

At a distance of 17 km from Hassan, Allalanatha Temple is a sacred Hindu temple located at Kondajji village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular temples in the region, and among the must include places in Hassan Tour Packages.

Also known as Kondajji Varadaraja Swamy, the Allalanatha Temple is dedicated to Lord Channakesava. There is an 18-foot tall idol of the presiding deity made of black stone enshrined in a very ordinary granite temple. This most exquisite deity bearing the beautiful conch (Sankha), the Chakra, the mace, and the Lotus. The uniquely exquisite facial expression of the idol captivates the mind and heart of the spectator. The temple does not carry any architecture apart from the Varadharaj statue alone which is the center of attraction witnessing Hoysala architecture.

According to legend, this extraordinarily beautiful image of Varadaraja was on its way to Belur, for it to be enshrined at the Channakeshava temple complex. But the idol .....

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