Places to visit in Hassan

Built from Chloritcschist or popularly known as soapstine, the temple is located in Nuggehalli or Nuggupalli in the Tiptur-Channarayanapatna state highway. Constructed by Bommanna Dandanayaka during the Hoysala Period, the temple features three towers or trukuta which is intricately carved on the exteriors. The prayer hall of the temple and the main hall features a closed mantapa which has nine bays and three shrines, That is not all! The temple’s main attraction is the standing statue of Hindu Goddess Parvati.  

The city of Chikmagalur is famous for its coffee. The name, when translated, means ‘the town of the younger daughter’. Legend has it that this city was gifted by the King Rukmanda to his younger daughter as a wedding gift. Nearby, at a distance of 5km, there is a town known as Hiremagalur, which means ‘the town of the elder daughter’. Coffee was introduced in the 17th century and since then it is one of the major crops grown here.

The Chikmagalur city and its outskirts are famous as tourist attractions. There are some well-known hill stations and waterfalls which attract thousands of visitors annually. This land of coffee is a very popular destination. So what are you waiting for? Book your air or rail tickets for Chikmagalur today!. Also, since it is a popular tourist destination in the state of Karnataka.

This temple village is a few kilometres down from the town of Hassan, This is a Jain pilgrimage site located at an altitude of approximately 3350 feet above sea level. Located in between the hills of Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri, tourists will be enchanted by the view of the Lord Gommateshware or Bahubali statue which is located on the Vindhyagiri hill. Carved out of a single block of rock, this is the largest monolithic stone statue in the world. Hundreds of hundreds pilgrims climb up the steps to pay homage to the Bahubali.

Another temple town, Halebidu is a few kilometres in Hassan. The town is known for housing few of the best Hoysala styled temples such as the Hoysalaeswara Temple – famous for black stone carvings. The temple is considered an architectural gem considering the carvings in the wall are layered with the elephants lining up at the bottom level; above the elephants is the lions; above it is the mythological tales depiction from Ramayana and Mahabharata and the top layer consists of flower motifs. You will find almost all the Hindu deities in the walls of the temple. 

The town is located on the banks of river Yagachi, approximately 38 kilometresfrom Hassan and it is a very well-known tourist destination in the state. Belur was the former capital of the Hoysalas and referred to as Velapur, Velur and Belahur. Belur is famous for the Chennakeshava Temple, considered one of the best examples of Hoysala workmanship. The holy place was built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana who built it to show his achievements in 1116 AD after his victory against the Cholas.

Located in Sakleshpur Taluk, the forest reserve shares its border with the Pushpagiri Wildlife Santuary and the Kukke Subramanya Forest Range. The thick forest reserve is known for being home to the Indian cobras. That is not all! A ride across the forest also allows the tourists to spot a Sambar deer or a brown fox in the region. The reserve also plays host to innumerable migratory birds attracting bird watching lovers from across the country. 

Located at Maharaja Park, the museum was established in 1977. It is a preserving site for local archaeological antiquities such as stone statues, paintings, weaponry and coins

This museum has over 1500 architectural structures, sculptures, and inscriptions of historical importance, that have been retrieved in and around Hassan. This collection is showcased in a sculpture gallery and an open air museum.

Many important sculptures such as the dancing Shiva, Govardhanagiridhari Krishna, Veena Saraswati, Nataraja, dancing Ganesha, and elegant couchant Nandi are displayed in the open air museum. The sculptures of Nagna Kala Bhairava, Brahma-Saraswati, Mother and Child, wooden carvings and a bronze statue of a Tirthankara are among the important displays in the sculpture gallery. These master pieces represent Indian art at various exhibitions held at France, Japan and various other countries.

Hassan has an abundance of natural beauty. Your kids accompanying you on the holiday will love every bit of it. Most of the temples and architectural monument are home to a number of birds which can be very insightful and fun for the children. 

Drive across to the temple with a giant statue of Lord Hanuman. Though a not so popular destination, the temple does house good engravings which can be explored during a trip to Hassan. Also, the view from atop the hill offers a magnificent view of the town. 

Known for its Gothic-style of architecture, the church is around 450 years old. What makes it an interesting is the fact that the church is submerged during the monsoon and winter season by the River Hemavathy. But during the month of summer, the water recedes and tourists can explore the church premises.  

The town of Ramanathpur, located on the banks of River Cauvery houses a number of temples which are considered a ‘must-visit’ destinations in Hassan. While checking the temples, make sure that you have a binocular to view the many migratory birds during the migration season. 

Another masterpiece which is located to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple, is the ekekuta architectural styled Sadasiva Temple. One of the popular pilgrimage sites in the region, the temple is known for tits enormously-sized ‘Linga’. The templesanctorum also features an intricately carved ‘Nandi’bull statue and a couple of statues of Hindu Lord Ganesha. 

Gorur Dam is situated in Hassan, a town located in the south western region of the state of Karnataka. It is also called the Hemavathi Dam and happens to be one of the most visited tourist attractions in Karnataka. The dam was built on the river Hemavathi (a tributary of river Kaveri) in the year 1979. It runs a length of 4,692 meters and is 58.5 meters high. This, along with its six massive spillway gates, make it a sight to behold. 

The dam has scenic views and is surrounded by lush greenery. This makes it great place for bird watchers as many different species of birds call the area around it home. 

Gorur Dam is a multipurpose dam used for various purposes like providing water for irrigation, drinking and other activities. However, its utility is not what makes it so popular. The dam attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year, with locals and travellers heading there for picnics on the lawns. The temples of Paravasudeva and Yoganarasimha are nearby and one can also visit them to seek the blessings of local deities. 

Best time to visit Gorur Dam:

The monsoon season is undoubtedly the best time to visit the Gorur Dam. The sound of the cascading water from the dam is like a loud roar that you’ll never forget. Apart from marvelling at the sound, travellers can enjoy the majestic views of the water gushing out through the spillway gates of the dam. Having said that, one can visit this dam anytime of the year. The summer season in Karnataka is not typically a scorching one, so travellers can visit during June and July without feeling too hot. 

Do keep in mind that you can also visit Hassan during Diwali as the Hasanamba temple opens once a year to the public during this time. 

How to reach Gorur Dam:

The Gorur Dam is located about 22 kms away from the Hassan district and regular state transport buses by KSRTC are available. The buses run routinely between Gorur and Hassan and are a convenient option. 

Reaching Hassan-

By Road: Hassan is very well connected by private and public bus services to other major cities of Karnataka like Mysore, Mangalore and Bengaluru. Bengaluru is about 185 kms away from Hassan and is connected via NH-4 and NH-48, whereas Mangalore is 170 kms via NH-48. 

By Air: The nearest airport is the Mysore airport, which is just 115 kms away. However, Mysore Airport does not see many flights, which is why the most convenient airport is the Kempegowda International Airport in the city of Bangalore. It is located 200 kms from Hassan and is connected to all the major cities of the country. 

By Rail: The Hassan Railway station is the major station near the Gorur Dam and is well connected to cities in Karnataka. Passenger trains and express trains like Karwar Express, Kannur Express, Rani Chennamma Express depart regularly from Bangalore and Mysore to Hassan. The station comes under the south western railway zone and connects cities in the north and south too.

Explore our travel packages to enjoy a wonderful picnic at the Gorur Dam!