Odyssey Tours & Travels

Hassan is an ideal base to explore the historical sites of Belur, Halebid, and Shravanbelgola.

Belur

The Channekeshava Temple at Belur is the only one of the three major Hoysala sites still in use. The construction of this temple started in AD 1116 to commemorate the victory of the Hoysalas over the Cholas at Talakad. It took around 100 years to complete the work. It is said that every Hindu deity has been represented at this temple. Guides can be hired to explain the detailed sculptural work. Other Hoysala temples at Belur are the Chennigaraya and the Viranarayana.

Halebid

The construction of the Hoyasaleswara Temple was started in AD 1121 and continued for around 90 years, but was never completed. Nevertheless, even in its incomplete form, this temple is the most outstanding example of Hoysala art and architecture. Every part of the walls of this temple is covered by an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, stylized animals, birds, and many other art forms.

Shravanbelgola

Shravanbelgola is famous for the statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwar). The place is an important Jain pilgrimage center with an ancient history. The 17 meter high statue of Bahubali is said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world. It overlooks the small town of Shravanbelgola from the top of the rocky hill known as Indragiri, and is reached. by a path with 614 rock-cut steps.

When to Visit

The weather in Hassan is pleasant throughout the year. The summers are warm while winters are cool. April is the hottest month with the mean daily maximum temperature at around 35°C and a mean daily minimum of 20°C. The average annual rainfall is around 700 mm. One can visit any time of the year but it is advisable to avoid the monsoon.