When traveling to a different country, one would want to see as much of that country as possible.

If India is the country of choice, then Hassan would be one place to visit.  Not only are there things to see within the town, but there are tourist destinations in nearby cities that could be easily visited from from the town of Hassan.

History of Hassan

Not much is known about the history of Hassan, aside from the fact that it was highlighted by the Hoysala dynasty during the 11^th to the 14^th century.  A number of temples were built in the area.  Earlier temples were dedicated to the Jain faith, but the finer temples of the later generations were for Shiva.

Tourism in Hassan

A considerable number of tourist attractions are within and around Hassan. For a quick history lesson of the area, one can make a quick visit to the district museum.  Here one would find a collection of weapons, coins, artifacts, and sculptures that would all give a brief glimpse at how the locals lived centuries ago.

There is also the Suddeshvara temple, one of the older temples of the area that would give a taste of the architecture of the time.

For those who wish to travel a little more, the Hoysaleshwara temple would be waiting for them some 27 km North-West of Hassan. Located in an area called Halebid, it features some of the most intricate scroll work set in stone.  The walls feature gods, goddesses, animals and dancing girls, each one different from the other, with each wall showing an entirely different scene as well.  It is said that this temple was worked on for more than 80 years, but was never finished.

38 km from Hassan would also be the town of Belur, a favorite tour destination.  It contains a number of temples including Channakeshava, constructed by King Vishnuvardhana in celebration of his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism.  Carved out of black rock, the temple looks as if it were created by a skilled metalworker.  The temple walls have 650 elephants carved into them, and each elephant is made in intricate detail that not one is identical to another.

For those who wish to walk long distances and commune with nature, Chikmagloor is close by.  This is a town within the Baba Budan hills.  The area contains valleys and streams, and a trek through the area would definitely delight and relax any tourist.

The land of India, being such a huge place with a very rich history, has so much to offer those who love to travel.  Anyone who wishes to know more about India should visit Hassan, as this not only shows a huge chunk of the Indian culture, but shows the talent and artistry of the Indians.  This talent has been existent and put to good use since historical times.  Although it is true that no single place can represent the whole beauty of India, Hassan is a good place to start a tour.