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.

Hassan is an ideal stopover to head to the neighbouring places of Belur, Halebid and Shravanbelgola, rich in architectural history by way of their temples. Approximately 38km from Hassan, Belur the erstwhile capital of the Hoysala Empire, is a picturesque village located on the riverbanks of Yagchi. Explore the Chennakeshava Temple, which took 103 years to finish. The architectural magnificence is one of the finest examples of Hoysala workmanship. The other temple to visit is the Veeranarayana Temple.

Halebid, meaning ruined city, is home to the ruins of Dwarasamudra, the capital of Hoysala after Belur, and 27km northwest of Hassan. Like Belur, the temples at Halebid reveal their rich cultural heritage. The most famous, 12^th century temple, is the Hoysaleswara Temple, which despite taking 86 years to be built could never be completed. No two parts of the temple are alike. On the side of the temple are two monolithic statues of Nandi Bull.

Shravanabelagola, an important Jain center of pilgrimage, located 51km on Hassan's southeast, houses the world's tallest monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali, standing 27mts high and is 1000 years old. Once in 12 years, this statue gets bathed with milk, ghee, curd, gold coins and saffron, in the presence of thousands of devotees who flock here to perform this ceremony called Mahamastakabhisheka.

Gorur Dam, 12km from Hassan, the Sakaleswara Temple and the fort at Manjarabad are the other interesting places around Hassan.

Other Activities:

You could shop for small mementos made of terracotta, stone carvings and idols and sculptures. Also don't forget to bite into Hassan's popular Ragi balls eaten with mutton curry or vegetable stew.

Tourism Info:

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation

# 49, 2nd Floor, Khanija Bhavan, West Entrance,

Race Course Road

Bangalore - 560 001

Telephone: 91-080-2352901 / 2352902 / 2352903

The town of Hassan is in Karnataka's southern district of the same name, and is 934 m above sea level. It has been named after the town's presiding Goddess "Hasanamba" and is called Karnataka's temple-architecture capital. Hassan dates back to the 11^th century, under the rule of the Hoysala Dynasty (11-14^th century), who were largely influenced by Jainism.