HASSAN :

The picturesque town of Hassan is located in the heart of Malnad. Having a very pleasant climate throughout the year, Hassan 194 kms from Bangalore is the entry point for Belur, Halebid and Sravanabelagola. Sravanabelagola is a famous Jain pilgrimage with a 17 m high monolith of lord Bahubali standing tall. Belur was once the capital of the Hoysala kings. A busy ethnic town, Hassan in Karnataka serves as an ideal base for enthusiasts eager to explore architectural treasures of Halebid and Belur, both Unesco world heritage sites.

Hassan though a tiny busy town has a unique quality of making you feel relaxed and happy. Hassan is also an important stopover on the way to Sranvanbelgola, famous for a giant stone sculpture of Lord Gomateswara.

This city was earlier named Simhasanapura and with time this name got abridged to Hassan. There is a famous temple here, in the heart of the city, built in honour of the Goddess Hasanamba, this temple is opened for the public only once in a year. Also known as the poor man's Ooty, Hassan has a pleasant climate, is well connected and is popular with visitors throughout the year

Telephone Code    : 08172
Population   : 121,000
Temperatures : Summer : Max. 35 C, Min. 25 C
Winter : Max. 28 C, Min. 14 C 
Season  : Between September to April
Rainfall  : June to Octoberof approx 80 Centimeters
Climate : Tropical climate
Language(s) : Kannada, Hindi, English

The unique district of Hassan was underneath the great sovereignty of Mouryas of North in the 3rd B.C. and later kingdoms of Kadambas to the Vijayanagar Empire. The area is so-called Hassan after the adored Goddess "Hasanamba", the smiling Goddess, and presiding divinity of the town.

With a history that goes back to the 11th century, Hassan was the main seat of power during the Hoysala dynastic rule in this region. You can gauge the magnificence of those days while exploring the ruins of ancient Dwarasamudra (the capital of e Hoysalas and other Hoysala architectural gems scattered that was.

Famous for its rich repository of granite quarries, Hassan in Karnataka is a great holiday option. With a moderate temperature and immense cultural heritage, Hassan in Karnataka is a great base for those interested in setting out on excursions to the historic Sravanbelgola.

Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola is a historical town in Karnataka State in India. This historical town of Shravanabelagola is a treasure house of historical relies and shrines and temples. Belonging to the Jain era the natural stone formations coupled with greenery makes this place unique tourist's delight. The rare sense of town planning during the Jain religious era which has been proved to be scientific now stands as a testimony to the ingenuity that prevailed in that period. The Shrutakevali Bhadrabahu caves. Jain temples and Basadis speak volumes of the religious fervour and the architectural marvels clubbed together in this town.

Belur

This quaint hamlet - 38 kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire, today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensuous dancers. they are all there - awe-inspiring in their intricate workmanship. Inside are hand-lathe-turned filigreed pillars. The Veeranarayana Temple and the smaller shrines are well worth a visit.

Halebid

Halebid is 27 kms 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. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 21st century, is astounding for its wealth of sculpture details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of Gods and Goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed despite 86 years of labour.

External links :

]www.indiatourism.com/karnataka-travel-guide/
hassan-tourism.html
www.travelmasti.com/domestic/karnataka/hassan.htm
www.mapsofindia.org/karnataka/hassan.html
www.destinationindiatourism.com/india-tour-destinations
/hassan-tours.html
www.karnataka.com/tourism/hassan/
www.south-india-tour.net/karnataka/hassan-travel.html
www.hassancity.gov.in/
www.naturalnirvana.com/India/IndianStates
/KarnatakaHassan.htm
www.bangalore-karnataka.com/majorcities/
hassan/hassan.htm
www.touristplacesinindia.com/karnataka/
tour-packages.html