Hassan
Hassan is a small town in Karnataka State. It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the heart of Karnataka architecture, greenery and water.
Understand
editHassan is a very good place, often called as poor man's Ooty.
Get in
editIt is about 185 km from Bangalore City and 130 km from Mysore.
By train
editHassan has a Railway station but very few passenger trains running through it- mainly Oil tankers from Mangalore to other parts of Karnataka pass through.
Hassan is connected from Bangalore vis 22679/80 Superfast Intercity Express from Yeshvantapur Junction. Train No. 16515/16 Karwar Triweekly and 16575/76 Mangalore Triweekly Express also connect Yeshvantapur and Hassan, along with 56215/16 Yeshvantapur Mysore Passenger running via Hassan. Train No. 16201/02 Mysore-Talaguppa Express, 17301/02 Mysore-Dharwad Express connect Mysore and Hassan. 11035/36 Sharavathi Express from Mumbai and 12781/82 Swarna Jayanthi Express from Delhi also connect to Hassan on a weekly basis via Hubli & Pune.
- 1 Hassan Junction railway station.
By bus
editBeing on NH-48(Nelamangala-Mangaluru highway) the place is well connected by bus from Bengaluru. Regular buses plying to Mangalore, Dharmastala, Chikkamagalur, Kukke Subramanya, and Udupi ply via Hassan. Owing to this regular Volvo and Rajahamsa (Deluxe) services of KSRTC available from Bangalore. Regular buses from Mysore are also available.
By car
editFrom Bangalore take NH-4 up to Nelamangla bye-pass and turn left on the Doddaballapur-Mangalore road (NH-48) and pass through Kunigal, Yediyur, and Chennarayapatna to Hassan. The road is completely 4-laned and provides a comfortable travel.
Get around
edit
Many autorickshaws roam around Hassan city. Taxis for regional trips are available near the Maharaja Park.
KSRTC operates city bus service of Hassan on selected routes at regular frequency.
See
edit- 1 Gorur Dam. This dam was built across the Hemavathy river in early 1900s and forms the Hemavathi Reservoir. 46 villages were submerged by the dam waters. You must have permission from relevant authorities to go to the top of the dam to view the Hemavathi Reservoir. This town is also the birthplace of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar who is a stalwart in Kannada literature.
- Mosale Hoysala Temples. There are 2 temples – Chennakeshava and Someshwara temples – built in Hoysala architecture with intricate details.
- 2 Ramanathpur Temples. This is a holy town on the banks of River Cauvery. This temple town is also known as “Dakshin Kashi” for its many temples that are at the banks of the river. There are over 5 temples within walking distance of one another. The river has a rich variety of fishes, some of which are revered. Right behind the Rameshwara temple, there are steps leading to the river where one can feed the fish after buying fish feed from vendors. You can also spot many birds. It is said that there is a cave in the waterbed that one can enter during the summer months.
- 3 Shettyhalli Church. This church is said to have been built about 450 years and is in Gothic architecture. The church gets submerged by the Hemavathy River backwaters. However, the water recedes during the summer months and one can go into the crumbling church. During this time, once a year, prayers are held and lamp is light in the church. When the church is submerged, you may find a coracle that would take you closer to the church. The new church is built in Portuguese style in the town.
- 4 Sri Ranganatha Hill (Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple). This temple is a modern construction on top of a hill. The Hanuman statue. The drive to the hill is very picturesque and the road is very good. The temple is open from 6:30AM to 5PM.
- 5 Gorur Dam. This dam was built across the Hemavathy river in early 1900s and forms the Hemavathi Reservoir. 46 villages were submerged by the dam waters. One needs permission from relevant authorities to go to the top of the dam to view the Hemavathi Reservoir. This town is also the birthplace of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar who is a stalwart in Kannada literature.
- 6 Ramanathpur Temples. This is a holy town on the banks of River Cauvery. This temple town is also known as “Dakshin Kashi” for its many temples that are at the banks of the river. There are over 5 temples within walking distance of one another. The river has a rich variety of fishes, some of which are revered. Right behind the Rameshwara temple, there are steps leading to the river where one can feed the fish after buying fish feed from vendors. You can also spot many birds. It is said that there is a cave in the waterbed that one can enter during the summer months.
- 7 Government Museum (inside Maharaja Park, N.R. Circle). 10:30AM-5:30PM.
Do
editPalaka resort has excellent activities for people staying there or for a day outing. The resort also has the only paintball facility in the district of Hassan.
Eat
edit- The Brew Berry's, MG Road, KR Pura.
- Chikmagalur Coffee Works, Ammeer Mohalla, ☏ +91 81722 68012.
- Cloud 9 Bakers, Rangoli Halla (Rangoli Halla).
- 1 Goli Vada Pav Hassan, Sahyadri Circle, ☏ +91 73537 1117.
- 2 Supriya Bar and Restaurant, Rangoli Halla.
- Srikrishna Restaurant, B.M.Road.
- Hotel Suvarna Regency (Bangalore Mangalore Road). Vegetarian restaurant. ₹70 for south Indian lunch.
- Mothi Hotel (near Head Post Office). Vegetarian restaurant. Good Masala dosa.
- Sanman Restaurant, Old Muncipal Office Road, N.R.Circle, ☏ +91 8172 268024, +91 63646 68024. Best quality vegetarian food. Items availableː Parottas, dosas, puri uppittu and ricebath. LunchːRs.80/-.
Sleep
edit- 1 Abhruchi Hotel (Hotel Abhruchi), Near SRS Jewellery, N.R.Circle, ☏ +91 81722 68885. Clean rooms with bath and TV. Very central location. ₹500.
- Mallige Residency, K.R.Puram, ☏ +91 97316 41137.
- 2 New Star Hotel (Hotel New Star), Old Muncipal Office Road, ☏ +91 81722 68842.
- Palaka Resorts, Hassan-Mysore Rd (Near Sri Ramadevara Dam), ☏ +91 80-41158187, leisure@ocioindia.com. Ocio Hospitality
- Sanman Hotel, Ammeer Mohalla, N.R.Circle, ☏ +91 8172 268024, +91 6364668024. High quality vegetarian restaurant attached. ₹400.
- Sarayu Hotel, B.M.Road.
- Srikrishna Hotel, B.M.Road.
- Hotel D.R.Karighatta, B.M.Road.
- Hotel Suvarna Regency. Middle budget rooms on Bangalore-Mangalore Road.
- Sri Vishnu Residency, Bhima Junction, Railway Station Road, ☏ +91 9448653397, +91 8172234785. Tiny bath-attached rooms with TV. ₹400.
- Sanman Lodge, N.R.Circle, ☏ +91 8172-268024, +91 63646 68024. Includes a restaurant, Sanman cafe open 6AM–9:30PM. ₹400.
- Sumukha Yathri Nivas, Opp. CSI Church or Govt Hospital, ☏ +91 9611323596. Vegetarian restaurant attached. ₹ 800.
Go next
edit- Chikmagalur Hill Station. 61 km
- Belur Temple Town
- Doddagadavalli - Lakshmidevi Temple on the Hassan-Belur road
- Halebidu - the capital of the Hoysala dynasty.
- Haranahalli - Chennakeshava and Someshwara temples
- Hosaholalu - Lakshmirarayana Temple
- Nuggehalli - Kesava Temple
- Shravanabelagola Jain temple.