Introduction to city Hassan
- In Karnatka
Located in the South Indian state of Karnataka at around
187 km from the state capital Bangalore, Hassan extends
from 13°01/’ North to 76°10/’ East. Being the nearest
railhead to Belur, Halebid, and Shravanbelagola, Hassan is
an ideal base to explore these historical sites.
The region of Hassan had been under the control the
Hoysalas from 11th to 13th century AD. It was during this
period that the great temples of Belur and Halebid were
constructed. Hassan was also greatly influenced by
Jainism. It became a well-known centre of Jain literature.
This busy little town has a pleasant climate throughout
the year. The summers are warm with the temperature
soaring up to 35°C. The average annual rainfall in the
district is around 700 mm. You can visit the place any
time of the year but it is advisable to avoid the rainy
seasons.
Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination - Hassan
Belur and Halebid had been the capital of the Hoysalas,
who ruled over a large kingdom between Krishna and the
Kaveri rivers. Besides being great warriors, the Hoysalas
were also great patrons of art and culture. As such, one
sees the great works of art out here, the works which have
survived over the centuries and even today mesmerize all
those who come here year after year. Some of the main
attractions are the
Channekeshava Temple
at Belur and Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid.
Besides these, there are various other smaller temples and
Jain temples that are worth a visit.
Hassan Sightseeing :
Places to visit in destination Hassan
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Places to visit in the city Hassan |
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BELUR - Hassan
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Situated on the banks of the Yagachi River, Belur
was the first capital of the Hoysala dynasty. The
Channekeshava Temple here is one of the three major
Hoysala sites still in daily use. One of the
earliest structures of its type, the construction of
the temple was started in 1116 and took almost a
century to complete. The Hoysalas built it to
commemorate their victory over the Cholas. The
temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Built on a
star-shaped platform, the temple stands in a
courtyard surrounded by a rectangular wall. The
winged figure of Garuda, Vishnu/’s carrier, stands
at the entrance facing the temple.
The temple doesn/’t seem to impress one at the first
glance as much of the superstructure has been lost.
However, as one moves towards the temple, the work
of excellent craftsmanship is revealed. Exquisite
sculptures cover the exteriors. The base is
surrounded by a line of 650 elephants with rows of
figure and foliage above. Young musicians and
dancers adorn either side of the main door. At the
centre of the hall stands the Narasimha Pillar whose
astonishing details are worth a look.
To the west of the Channekeshava Temple lies the
Viranarayana Temple. You can have look at the fine
sculpture of the temple and also visit some of the
smaller temples around it. |
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HALEBID - Hassan
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Founded in the early 11th century as Dvarasamudra,
this ancient capital of the Hoysala empire was
destroyed by the armies of the Delhi Sultanate in
1311 and 1327. The famous Hoysaleswara temple, which
today is the centre of attraction, however survived
the destruction. The town was later renamed as
Halebidu or Halebid.
The history of the Hoysaleswara temple dates back to
around AD 1121. Though its construction spanned over
80 years, it was never completed. In structure, the
temple is similar to the one at Belur. The temple is
set in a well-tendered garden and has two shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva. A Nandi bull faces the each
shrine. All around the temple one can find big
statues of Hindu deities with minute details on them
displaying the excellent craftsmanship.
The Jain bastis nearby form another major attraction
in Halebid. These 12th-century temples stand in a
garden enclosure where you can walk around and have
a look at the dark interiors with carved ceilings. |
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Excursions : Places nearby
city - Hassan
The main excursion around Hassan is Shravanbelagola,
a Jain pilgrimage centre famous for the statue of
Gommateshwara. The statue, an impressive site, stands on
the Vindhyagiri overlooking the town of Shravanbelagola.
Another place worth exploring is Chikmagloor, a
historical town with several important monuments like
Kodandarama Temple, the Jamia Masjid, and the St. Joseph’s
Cathedral.
Chikmagloor also provides some exciting trekking routes in
the Western Ghats.
Hassan Excursion :
Places nearby Hassan - Karnatka
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Places to visit nearby destination - Hassan |
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Chikmagloor
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Barely 60 km from Hassan, Chikmagloor (literally,
younger daughter/’s town) is carved against a
mountainous canvas of lofty peaks, delightful dales,
racing rivers and sparkling streams. This hilly
district situated in south-western part of Karnataka
also has some exciting trekking routes in the
Western Ghats.
Chikmagloor town is a centre of education, trade and
commerce and has some interesting monuments
belonging to all religions. The Kodandarama Temple
(which shows influences of both Hoysala and
Dravidian styles of architecture), the Jamia Masjid,
and the St. Joseph/’s Cathedral are some of the
important monuments not to be missed. Another place
worth visiting is Hiremagloor (now a part of
Chikmagloor town) that has an Ishwara Temple with a
1.22-metre-high image of Jademuni. |
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Shravanbelagola
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The Monk of the White Pond or Shravanbelagola is the
oldest and the most important pilgrimage centre for
the Jains in the country. The town is famous for
being the home to the world/’s tallest monolithic,
the Gommateshwara statute. The 17-metre-high statue
representing the saintly prince Bahubali was erected
some time between AD 980 and 983. To reach the site
of the statue, which stands on the hill, you need to
climb a flight of about 700 steps carved in the
steep granite slope. The path starts near the
village and as you go up you can have an excellent
view of the surrounding areas. Several small shrines
dot the path up to the statue. The carved statue is
nude and captures the tranquillity typical to the
Buddhist and Jain art.
Shravanbelagola becomes a hub of activity during
Mahamastakabhisheka or the ritualistic
head-anointing ceremony of the statue of
Gommateshwara
. About 200 metres to the left of the path leading
to the statue lies the Bhandari basti. Believed to
have been built in AD 1159, it houses 24 images of
Tirthankaras in a spacious sanctuary. |
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