Hassan

Hassan is a district in Karnataka state, India. The district headquarters are Hassan. Hassan district was the seat of the Hoysala Empire which at its peak ruled large parts of south India from Belur as its early capital and Halebidu as its later capital during the period 1000 - 1334 CE.

Today Hassan is primarily known worldwide for its Hoysala architecture and is a veritable treasure trove of about fifty sculptural marvels tucked away in several villages and towns of the district. Hassan is also known as the location of the Master Control Facility of the Indian Space Research Organization's Indian National Satellite System.

History :

The history of Hassan district 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. It was also ruled by Adilshahis of Bijapur and Mughal Empire after decline of the Vijayanagar. 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.

Ancient :

Around the 300 BCE. Hassan was part of the Mauryan 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 Maurya 322 –298 BCE., grand father of emperor Ashoka the Great was his disciple and accompanied Bhadrabahu to Shravanabelagola and eventually died there.it is believed that Shravanabelagola has been a place of Jain worship for twenty three centuries.

Medieval :

Later Hassan came under the rule of the Ganga Dynasty of Talkad. The Gangas initially ruled as a sovereign power from 350 - 550 CE. and later continued to rule this area as feudatories of Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. In the late 10th century, many Jaina monuments were built at Shravanabelagola. Some of them, including the fifty seven feet tall monolithic statue of Gomateshwara, was commissioned by Ganga general Chamundaraya. During the rule of the Gangas, Shravanabelagola was an important religious centre. Today, it is also a place of great archaeological importance. The name of the town is derived from Shravana or Shramana, meaning a Jain ascetic, and Belagola or Biliya Kola in Kannada meaning white pond. Around 1000 CE., with their complete defeat at the hands of the Cholas, the Ganga lineage vanished forever from Gangavadi (southern districts of Karnataka). From that time onwards, till 1334 CE, Hoysalas ruled this region and after their decline, the Vijayanagar empire took control. After the decline of the Vijayanagar empire, the area came under the rule of the Mysore Kingdom. It was under the rule of the Hoysalas, a clan of hill people whose origins are traced to Angadi in Chikmagalur District who built a powerful empire from the malnad region of Karnataka that Hassan reached its zenith of fame, much of which is seen today in the fifty or more Hoysala temples scattered around the country side in the district.

The Hoysalas, who claim to be of the Kuruba/Yadava race stepped into the shoes of their predecessors, the Gangas after being feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani from about 1000 - 1150 CE. After the decline of them Kalyani Chalukyas power and constant efforts by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana to break free of subordination to the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas emerged as an independent power in the middle of the 12th century. Many historians feel that Vishnuvardhana was the true maker of the Hoysala empire. Their emergence as a sovereign power was made possible by two decisive victories, one against the Cholas at Talakad in 1114 CE.

After which Vishnuvardhana assumed the titles of Veera Ganga and Talakadu Gonda, struck coins in memory of the victory, built the Keerthi Narayana temple at Talakad and the famous Chennakeshava temple at Belur and took control of Gangavadi. The other was a sensational victory over the mighty Chalukya forces of Vikramaditya VI at Kannegal in 1118 CE. During the rule of his grandson, Veera Ballala II 1173–1220 CE. who earned the title Cholarajyapratishtacharya or preserver of the Chola Empire, the Hoysalas were able to become a true force to reckon with in South India. During this time, Hassan became the epicenter of Kannada literary and cultural activities.

Hassan district devided into 8 talukas, they are : Hassan, Holenarsipur, Arkalgud, Channarayanapatana, Sakleshpur, Belur, Alur, Arasikere.

Hassan is a city and district headquarters of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is situated 934 mts above sea level with fine weather similar to Bangalore. It was founded in the 11th century, by Channa Krishnappa Naik, a Palegar (chieften). The place is called Hassan after the Goddess "Haasanamba", the goddess and presiding deity of the town. It can be called the temple-architectural capital of Karnataka.

Hassan, the main city in the Hassan district,which has an area of 6814 km² dates back to the 11th century, during the Hoysala dynasty, which lasted from the eleventh to the fourteenth century. Their capital was at Dwarasamundra (Dwaravati-pura), the ruins of which are still to be seen scattered round the town of Halebidu.

Holenarasipura, also written Hole Narsipur or Holenarsipur, is a town in Hassan district of Karnataka. It is situated on the banks of the Hemavati, one of the many tributaries of the Kaveri. The name of the town signifies the presiding deity Narasimha, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu dwelling on the banks of the river (hole). It is a taluka headquarters in Hassan District and an important central point for the surrounding agriculture industry.

Arkalgud, also known as Arakalagudu is a panchayat town and is one among the eight taluks of Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated 30 km from Hassan and 195 km from Bangalore. The river Hemavati forms the entire northern boundary of the Taluk; river Kaveri runs through a portion of the south. It is well connected by road to many towns and cities of Karnataka. Holenarasipura is the nearest railway station to Arakalgud taluk and the nearest airport is in Mangalore.

It is said that Gautama rishi performed penance to Surya(Sun God) and installed the idol of Arkeshwara, the presiding deity of the local Arkeshwara temple and the town was originally called Arkapuri (city of an image of Arkeshwara, the presiding deity). Hence the name Arkalgud came into existence. It was founded by Krishnappa Nayaka, one of the Aigur (Balam) chiefs in 1568 A.D. It was then captured by Kanthirava Narasaraja I of Mysore in 1647 A.D., it was retaken subsequently by Keladi Shivappa Nayaka of Ikkeri and finally in 1694 by Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1673–1704) of Mysore.

Channarayapatna is a town in Hassan district in Karnataka, India. It is an administrative headquarters of a taluk of the same name(Shravanabelagola MLA Constituency). It is located on the Mangalore–Bangalore National highway 48 in India. It lies at a distance of 148 km from Bangalore and 37 km from the district headquarters, Hassan. The nearest Railway station is at Holenarasipura, which is at a distance of 26 km and Hassan at a distance of 37 km. Channarayapatna is a transport hub with a national highway NH 48 and 6 state highways intersecting here. The six state highways connect channarayapatna to Mysore, Arsikere, Holenarasipura(2 highways), Tiptur and Shravanabelagola while the national highway connects to Hassan and Mangalore.

Channarayapatna is a junction for pilgrims of lord Bhaghavan Bahubali of Shravanabelagola which is at a distance of 13 km and which is of great historical and cultural interest, nationally and internationally.

In the 1850s, a local chieftain named Channigaraya ruled this town and hence the name became Channarayapatna. There are records to show that the place was also named Kolattooru and Amritanathapura, before becoming Channarayapatna.

Sakaleshpura is a hill station town and headquarter of Sakleshpur Taluk in Hassan district in the South Indian state of Karnataka. The town lies in the Malnad region on the magnificient hills of the Biodiversity hotspot, the Western Ghats. It has a temperate climate sorrounded with lofty green hills full of Coffee, Cardamom, Pepper and Areca Plantations . These crops which contribute mainly to the economy of the Taluk are grown in the surrounding villages and entire taluk are brought to Sakleshpura city for sale. The town lies on National Highway 48 (NH-48) which connects port city of Mangalore with capital city Bangalore of Karnataka state.

The name Shakala is a Sanskrit word means "Bhinnavada" or "Birukada". In the past a Shivalinga found in this town which was broken. The linga was called as Shakaleshwara which since then became Sakaleshwara in the tongue of the local people. A temple was also built at the entrance of the town. Later, the town was also called as Sakaleshapura. Sakaleshwara swami's ratha yatra is held on Purnima in February of every year. In front of the Shakaleshwara temple, a newly constructed Shiva temple called as "Holemalleshvara" is situated right next to river Hemavathi. During the rainy season, the temple is filled up with water and is as famous as the Shakaleshwara temple. Another theory is that the name Sakaleshapura evolved from sakala-aishwarya-pura, which in turn got condensed from sakala aishwaryagalinda kudida pura – literally meaning that the place is blessed with all kinds of wealth.

Belur is a Town Municipal Council in Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India.The town is renowned for its Chennakeshava temple, one of the finest examples of Hoysala workmanship.Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. With Halebidu which is only 16 km away, this is one of the major tourist destinations in Karnataka, India. Belur is located in Hassan district. According to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri.

Alur also spelled as Aluooru is a town and the taluk headquarters of Alur Taluk in Hassan district in the state of Karnataka India .It is 12km from Hassan City.Alur is a poorly developed taluk in Hassan district.Which is quite famous for Coconut Tress and coffee plantation and also for the quality of education  by Basaveswara group of institute.

Arasikere is a town in the Hassan district of the state of Karnataka, India. Arasikere, a major railway junction on the South Western Railway, is a popular destination for tourists visiting Belur (40 km), Halebidu (25 km), Mavuthanahalli (20 km), and Shravanabelagola (80 km).It was an important town during Hoysala rule and the name Arasikere comes from one of the princesses of the Hoysala dynasty, who built a lake (kere in Kannada).

Arasi means queen in Kannada. Therefore, it is 'Arasiya+kere' which means 'queen's-pond'.

It was also called in the remote past as Udbhava Sarvajna Vijaya and Ballalapura. Under the rule of the Wodeyars of Mysore, this place suffered greatly from the raids of the Marathas and was subsequently made over to the Marathas by the Wodeyars as security for the payment of tribute. Under the rulers of Vijayanagara it was under the administrative control of Jagadevaraya of Channaptna and later under Thimmappa Nayaka of Tarikere and was finally under the rule of Shivappa Nayaka of Ikkeri. It was acquired from Ikkeri rulers by the Mysore Wodeyars in 1690.