For alternate meanings, see Hassan (disambiguation).

Hassan is a city and district in the Indian state of Karnataka. 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 one of the best colleges in the region.

The town of Hassan dates from the eleventh century as the seat the Hoysala dynasty, which lasted from the eleventh till the fourteenth century. Their capital was at Dwarasamundra (Dwaravati-pura), the ruins of which are still to be seen scattered round the town now called Halebidu. The earlier kings professed the Jain faith, but the finest temples were dedicated to Shiva by the later monarchs of the line. While they were at the zenith of their power the whole of southern India acknowledged their sway.Hassan is known for its stone quarries rich with granite stones.

Places to Visit

• Belur, 34 km from Hassan town is situated on the banks of Yagachi river. The Chennakeshava temple built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana in 1117 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 pleasent picnic spot.

• Halebidu, 39 km from Hassan town and 16 km from Belur is the home of the famous Hoysaleshwara temple. Built in 1121, the walls of the temple are covered with detailed friezes and sculptures depicting scenes narrated in great Hindu epics.

• Shravanabelagola, 52 km from Hassan town is a popular Jain piligrimage center. It is wedged between two rocky hills, Indragiri and Chandragiri. The monolitic 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 Ganga Dynasty that ruled southern Karnataka from about 350 AD–999 AD. Mahamastakabhisheka is a ceremony held here once every 12 years when devotees offer prayers to the great Jain saint.

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

Hassan district is full of other Hoysala architectural gems scattered around the countryside. Important amongthem are the Hoysala temples of Hulikere, Pushpagiri, Doddagadavalli, Koravangala, Kondajji, Adagur, Chatachatahalli, Javagal, Haranahalli, Arasikere, Nagapuri, Garudanagari, Hullekere, Shantigrama, Nuggehalli, Sakleshpura, Manjarabad, Ramnathapura, Halmidi and the beautiful Western Ghats that runs through the district.

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