Hassan is the most important place for exploring the ancient temples and structural splendor in Karnataka. The city is around 900 mts above sea level. The town is home to the Master Control Facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and also to the Malnad College of Engineering MCE, which is a renowned institution. History: Hassan District was under the reign of Mouryas in the 3rd century and later kingdoms of Kadambas, Chalukyas, Gangas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagar. The Hoysalas with their unique style of architecture brought world wide acclaim to the place. The era was glorious and the remains of glory still reflects in the structures and monuments here.The place is called Hassan after the smiling Goddess "Haasanamba" the goddess and presiding deity of the town.
The weather here, is very fine tuned, and is almost the same like Bangalore, the state capital. The best time to visit is any time between October and February.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.
It is better to carry adequate cash while traveling to Hassan as it is a small town and banking facilities are limited. Change your money at one of the larger cities like Bangalore before arriving here.
A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) can work very well here.
Domestic Flights The nearest domestic Airports is at Bangalore (186 Kms) and Mangalore (168 Kms). international Flight: There are no direct flights to Hassan. The nearest international Airport is at Bangalore (186 Kms).
Train Travel Hassan is well connected by regular trains to Bangalore (185kms), Mysore (125kms), and Mangalore (190kms). The railway station is around 2 km east of town.
There are not many places to visit in Hassan.. However it is a convenient base for visiting the other temple towns like Belur, Halebid and Sharavanabelagola.
Within the city visit the Hasanamba Temple, where the enshrined Goddess is represented by an anthill, and is open to visitors only for a week every year in the month of October. The temple opening is inaugurated by a big fair (Jatra). The other temple to visit is the Siddeshvara temple, built by Venkatappa Nayaka, one of the Nayaka rulers.
Where To Eat: The best thing to try here is the South Indian cuisine. This can be found at the small eating joints in town.. Ragi is the staple food of the local farmers and is a nutritious cereal. This is generally eaten with Mutton or Vegetable Stew. Where To Stay: A range of accommodation facilities to suit all budgets is available in Hassan.
• Shravanabelagola[51 kms] southeast of Hassan is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. The 17mtrs high monolith of Lord Bahubali here is the world's tallest monolithic statue. The religion found powerful patrons in the Gangas who ruled the southern part of Karnataka between the 4th and 10th centuries. It was during this time the religion of Jainism reached its zenith. • Belur [38 kms] – This quiet town is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysalas. It is famous for its exquisite temples. • Halebid [27 kms] - This town lies to the north-west of Hassan and 17 kms east of Belur. The temples of Halebid - like those of Belur - bear mute testimony to the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. Recommended Circuits: Bangalore- Hassan- Belur- Shravanabelagola-Halebid
There is not much to see in Hassan but the town serves a base for visiing nearby places like Belur , Halebid and Sravanabelagola.
