Hassan district

Hassan ( : ಹಾಸನ) is a district in state, India. The district capital is city. Hassan district was the seat of the empire which at its peak ruled large parts of south India from  as its early capital and  as its later capital during the period  -  CE. Today Hassan is primarily known worldwide for its and is a veritable treasure trove of about fifty sculptural marvels tucked away in several villages and towns of the district. Hassan is also well known nationally for modern technology. The Master Control Facility of the Indian Space Research Organization is located here.

History
The history of Hassan districit is essentially the history of two of the well known dynasties that have ruled Karnataka, the of Talkad ( -  CE.) and the  ( -  CE). In the 15th and 16th centuries, the kings patronised Chennakesava of  as their family deity. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Hassan became a land of contention between the s of Shimoga and the. It finally merged as an independent Mysore kingdom.

Ancient
Around the 300 BCE. Hassan was part of the Mayuran 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 – BCE., grand father of emperor  was his disciple and accompanied Bhadrabahu to Sharavanabelagola and eventually died there. Other historians argued that the king was Ashoka's grandson and came later. A  or monument in his name called Chandragupta basadi still exists today. Whatever the truth about Chandragupta Maurya's lineage, the fact remains that Shravanabelagola has been a place of Jain worship for twenty three centuries.

Medieval
Later Hassan came under the rule of the of Talkad. The Gangas initially ruled as a sovereign power from -  CE. and later continued to rule this area as feudatories of and. In the late 10th century, many Jaina monuments were built at, commissioned by Ganga general , including the fifty seven feet tall statue monolithic statue of. During the rule of the, Shravanabelagola was an important religious capital. Today it is also a place of great archaeological importance. Shravana or Shramana means a Jain ascetic and Belagola or Biliya Kola in means white pond. Over eight hundred inscriptions which includes eighty from the Hoysala period have been discovered in and around Shravanabelagola covering a period -  CE. and has been enormously helpful in understanding the history not only of Hassan but the history of all the Kingdoms that ruled over Karnataka. Inscriptions are in, Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, Marwari and Mahajani languages and are attributed to all the major Kingdoms that have ruled over Karnataka, indicating patronage to Jainism was active thorough out medieval history.

Around CE., with their complete defeat at the hands of the, the Ganga lineage vanished forever from Gangavadi (southern districts of Karnataka). From that time onwards, till CE,  ruled this region and after their decline, the  took control. After the decline of the Vijayanagar empire, the area came under the rule of the.

It was under the rule of the, a clan of hill people whose origins are traced to Angadi in who built a powerful empire from the  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. Inscriptions in many of these temples speak volumes of the glory of a bygone era, the administration of the Hoysalas, their land reforms, taxation, culture and so on. The Hoysalas, who claim to be of the / race stepped into the shoes of their predecessors, the after being feudatories of the  of Kalyani from about  -  CE. After the decline of the Kalyani Chalukya power and constant efforts by Hoysala to break free of subordination to the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas emerged as an independent power in the middle of the 12th century. Vishnuvardhana who went by the name Bittideva was a Jaina but later changed his name having accepted Vishnavism, a sect of Hinduism. Many historians feel that 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 in  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 and the famous Chennakeshava temple at Belur and took control of Gangavadi. The other was a sensational victory over the mighty Chalukya forces of at Kannegal in  CE. However it was only after the death of Vikramaditya VI that Vishnuvardhana was able to gain control over central regions of present day Karnataka in Hangal, Uchchangi, Banavasi and Barkapura. During the rule of his grandson, II  –  CE. who earned the title Cholarajyapratishtacharya or preserver of the Chola kingdom, 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.

Hoysala architecture


The Hoysalas claim to immortality arises from their contribution to Karnataka culture, Kannada literature and their own unique style of architecture.

Historians such as Henry Cousens and James Furgusson observed that the Hoysala style of architecture is essentially an extension and culmination of the style initiated by the Badami Chalukyas and further enhanced by the Kalyani Chalukyas. In fact, the carved doorways, lathe turned pillars and pierced window screens used frequently by the Hoysalas is also commonly seen in earlier Kalyani Chalukya temples of north and central Karnataka. The Star shaped platform on which many Hoysala temples were constructed, the, the Zig- Zag character of the walls and the density of sculpture on gray soap stone (chloritic schist) is however a unique features of.

Contribution to Kannada
district has a special place in history in that , a tiny village in taluk is the home of the oldest known  language inscription in  dated 450 CE. The inscription whose date is sometimes debated as 425 CE. is attributed to king, great-great-grandson of king , founder of the dynasty.

Geography
Lying between 12° 13´ and 13° 33´ North latitudes and 75° 33´ and 76°38´ East longitude, Hassan district has a total area of 6826.15 km². It is divided into 8 talikus, 38 hoblies & 2369 villages. The geography is mixed with the  or mountainous region to the west and south west called Bisle Ghat and the maidan or planis regions in the north, south and east. There are some areas of degraded forest ranges in central portion of the district.

The general level of Hassan district is it slopes with the course of Hemavathi river from the western ghat ranges towards the bed of cauvery river near Hampapura in the south east. Its chief tributary is Yagachi from Belur taluq which joins it near Gorur. Hemavathi passes through Holenarsipur taluq in a southerly direction and joins with Cauvery river near Hampapura close to the border of Hassan district. Hassan and Belur stands around 3,084 and 3,150 feet above the sea level respectively.

The district is surrounded by to the north west,  to the north,  to the east,  to the south east,  to the south,  to the south west and  district to the west.

Demographics
The district had a population of 1,721,669 of which 17.70% were urban as of 2001. Of this 859086 were males and 862583 were female with a decadal population increase of 9.92%. The population density is 251 people/km². is spoken by a vast majority of the people in the district.

Economy
Tourism and coffee are the two main sources of income of Hassan district. Coffee is grown in the malnad areas of Sakleshpura. Other than this, farmers grow black pepper, paddy and sugarcane. Hassan district has forty five monuments that receive protection from authorities. Twenty four of these are protected by Karnataka state archaeological department while the remaining twenty one are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and are hence of national importance.

Concerns
According to estimates, in the year 2005, 800,000 tourists visited the temples of Hassan district. However concerns remain that the true and full tourism potential may not have been exploited in the district. Some of the sculptures and monuments in Channakeshava temple at and the Hoysaleshwara temple at u have been damaged by vandals. The ASI has blamed lack of manpower to fully guard the premises effectively. A blame game between the Department of Tourism and ASI has been ongoing.

Concerned people have complained that some of the protected temples are not in good condition including Keshava and Someshwara temples at Harnahalli, Nageshwara and Channakeshava temples at Mosale, Channakeshava (Allanatha) Temple at Kondajji. Some temples which are really worth visiting should be on the tourist circuit too they said. These are the Lakshminarasimha temple at Nuggehalli, Lakshmidevi temple at and Lakshminarayana temple at Adagur.

Proposals

 * A proposal has been sent to the government for the development of some Hoysala temples and tourist places, including Ramanathapura, Shanthigrama, Sriramadevarakatte and the Gorur Dam.
 * Develop eight parisara vana or environmental parks in eight taluks of the district.
 * Lion safari at Gendekatte forest in an area of 120 hectares.
 * Develop an 'eco-tourism at Belasinda forest area of Channarayapatna taluk on 100 acres of land.
 * Sandalwood conservation centre on 2000 acres at Sriramadevarahalla of Belur taluk.
 * Eco-tourism in forest area of Sakleshpur taluk.
 * Medicinal plants park at Hirekallugudda forest area of Arsikere taluk.

Culture
Much of culture of Hassan district in the past is linked with the and  rulers who ruled over this area. Initially the Gangas were Hindus but by the time of king Shivamara II ( CE., took to Jainism. The Hoysalas were Jains too and the mythical founder of the empire sala was said to be blessed by the Jain sage Sudatta Muni. Some of the successive rulers were also Jains until  came to Hassan to escape persecution from the  in early 12th century. During this time  was influenced by Ramanujacharya and accepted Hinduism, though his wife Shantaladevi continued to follow Jainism, setting an example of religious tolarance. In fact the Channigraya temple in Belur was commissioned by her during the time the nearby famous Chennakeshava temple was being built. This tolerance is alive even today and can be seen in the importance given by the district administration and people in general to Jain religious events like , long after Jainism has ceased to be the main religious practice of this region. While Most of the Hoysala monuments in Hassan are, and date between the 11th c. - 13th c. CE, the monuments of are a colossal effort of the Jain  who ruled from about  -  CE. and is one of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites for in India.

Today, Hassan is a largely agrarian community with a charm that is essentially similar to that of, except the palaces and colonial buildings of Mysore are replaced with exquisite  monuments built by the Hoysalas. One does not have to travel more than a few kilometers to visit the next monument on the list. Its cuisine is a mix of, and  districts resulting in tasty specialities like midigayi pickle (small raw mango), sandige, avalakki (beaten rice), and talipittu ( made of rice flour). About 5% of the total population are Muslims. A community of  an ancient brahmin community who  settled in this area for more than a thousand years. An inscription in Shantigrama indicates that the founder was a brahmin from Kashi. Hassan Iyengars, a different brahmin community are well known all over south Karnataka for their tasty condiment preparations like cakes, puffs, biscuits and breads etc. Iyengar bakeries are a common feature in most towns and cities of Karnataka.

Hassan is also called as Poor man's Ooty. Its Bisle ghat area has the same scenic beauty of the Nilgiri district if Tamil Nadu without the rapid and extensive commercialization. Hassan is a place where Kannada literature finds famous personalities like

Places to Visit

 * , 34 km from Hassan town is situated on the banks of Yagachi river. The built by  king  in  AD is a monument of supreme architectural beauty. The intricate carvings on its stone walls and the gravity pillars in the courtyard are the unique features of this temple.
 * Gorur, 22 km from Hassan town is where a dam across the river Hemavathi has been built. This place is a pleasant picnic spot.
 * , 39 km from Hassan town and 16 km from is the home of the famous . Built in 1121, the walls of the temple are covered with detailed friezes and sculptures depicting scenes narrated in great Hindu epics. another famous temple near here is the Kedareshwara temple known for the rich quality of its sculptures.
 * , 52 km from Hassan town is a popular Jain piligrimage center. It is wedged between two rocky hills, Indragiri and Chandragiri. The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint standing atop the Indragiri hill is 17 meters tall and is said to be one of the tallest monolithic statues in the world. About 1100 years old, the statue was commissioned by Chavundaraya, army commander of the that ruled southern Karnataka from about –. Mahamastakabhisheka is a ceremony held here once every 12 years when devotees offer prayers to the great Jain saint.
 * or Bisle ghat, one of Karnataka's best trekking destinations.

The temples of Belur, Halebidu and Shravanabelagola are a proposed UNESCO .

Hassan district is full of other Hoysala architectural gems scattered around the countryside. Important among them are the Hoysala temples of
 * at
 * Hulikere (ornate stepped tank or Kalyani)
 * Pushpagiri (Mallikarjuna, Bhairava temples)
 * (Lakshmidevi temple)
 * Koravangala (Govindeshwara, Nakeshwara and Bucheshwara temples)
 * Kondajji (Vishnu temple)
 * Adagur (Lakshminarayana temple)
 * Chatachatahalli (Chatteshwara temple)
 * Javagal (Narasimha temple)
 * Haranahalli (Keshava and  Someshwara temples)
 * Arasikere (Ishwara temple)
 * Hullekere (Channakeshava temple)
 * Shantigrama (Channakeshavaswamy temple)
 * (Lakshminarasimha and Sadashiva temple)
 * Sakleshpura (Sakaleswara temple)
 * Manjarabad (fort and dungeons)
 * Ramnathapura (Rameshwara temple)and Pattabi Rama ,Subramanyeshwara
 * Gorur (Paravasudeva temple and Dam over river)
 * Basadihalli (Adinatha Basadi, Parshwanath Basadi and Saantinatha Basadi)
 * Malekal Tirupathi (Venkata Ramanna and Govidaraja temple)
 * Shantigrama (Yoganarsimha, Dharmeshwara and Keshava temples)
 * Anekere (Chennakaesava temple)
 * Mallarajapatna (Lakshmaneshwara temple)
 * Mavathanahalli (Mahalingeshwara temple)
 * Anathi (Lakshminarayana temple)
 * Hebbalalu (Singeshwara temple)
 * Jinanathapura (Shantinatha basadi)
 * Ambuga (Prasanna Chennakeshava temple)
 * Heragu (Kirthinarayana temple)
 * Mosale (Nageshwara and Channakeshava temples)
 * Holenarasipura (Narasimha temple)
 * Honnavara (Keshava'' temple)[[Image:Honnavara.JPG|right|thumb|150px|‎Ruined Keshava Temple Honnavara,Hassan ]]
 * Hirekadalur (keshava temple)[[Image:Hirekadalur.JPG|right|thumb|150px|‎Ruined Keshava Temple Hirekadalur,Hassan]]
 * (Inscription)
 * Master control facility
 * Master control facility

Famous People

 * , former prime minister of
 * , writer( english), Padma Vibhushan(2007) and Padma bhushan(1969)
 * , current chief minister of
 * , Scientist, lead the team which created India's first atomic bomb.
 * , king
 * , king
 * , king
 * , Sanskrit Scholar, conferred "Abhinava Ramanuja" title in 2006 by Governor of Karnataka
 * , Karnataka Rakshana Vedike state president.
 * , Sanskrit Scholar, conferred "Abhinava Ramanuja" title in 2006 by Governor of Karnataka
 * , Karnataka Rakshana Vedike state president.


 * , former indian cricketer.