Street scene of the Hassan Town

The government bus station at Hassan

Hassan is a small town in Karnataka State.

Understand

Hassan is a very good place,often called as poor mans ooty. It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the heart of Karnataka architecture, greenery and water.

Get in

It is about 185 km from Bangalore City and 130kms from Mysore

By train

Hassan 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 by a Daily train (16517/18) from Bangalore to Mangalore and a Tri-Weekly 16515/16 running in day time from Bangalore to Mangalore. A Weekly train connets Hassan from Mumbai(11035/36) and another weekly from H.Nizamuddin(Delhi).

By bus

Being on NH-48(Nelamangala-Mangaluru highway) the place is well connected by bus from Bengaluru. Regular buses plying to Mangalore, dharmastala, chikkamagalur, Kukke Subramanya, udupi etc ply via Hassan. Owing to this regular Volvo and Rajahamsa (Deluxe) services of KSRTC available from Bangalore. Regular buses from Mysore also available.

By car

From Bangalore take NH-4 up to Nelamangla bye-pass and turn left on the Doddaballapur-Mangalore road(NH-48) ans pass through Kunigal, Yediyur and Chennarayapatna to Hassan. The road is under 4 laning as of now and hence at places makes travel tedious.

Get around

Many autorickshaws roam around Hassan city, and rates are affordable. Taxis for regional trips are available near the Maharaja Park.

See

• 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. 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. 

• 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 recently constructed and is situated on top of a hill. The Hanuman statue .The temple itself is of recent architecture. The drive to the hill is very picturesque and the road is very good. The temple is open from 6.30 am to 5 pm. 

Do

Palaka 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

• Brewberrys Coffee Bar, Shankar Mutt Road. (updated May 2015)

• Chikmagalur Coffee, Ammeer Mohalla, ☏ +91 81722 68012. (updated May 2015)

• Cloud Nine (Rangoli Halla). (updated May 2015)

• 1 Goli Vada Pav Hassan, Sahyadri Circle, ☏ +91 73537 1117. (updated May 2015)

• 2 Supriya Bar and Restaurant, Rangoli Halla. (updated May 2015)

Sleep

• 1 Abhruchi Hotel (Hotel Abhruchi), Near SRS Jewellery, ☏ +91 81722 68885. (updated May 2015)

• Mallige Residency, K.R.Puram, ☏ +91 97316 41137. (updated May 2015)

• 2 New Star Hotel (Hotel New Star), Old Muncipal Office Road, ☏ +91 81722 68842. (updated May 2015)

• Palaka Resorts, Hassan-Mysore Rd (Near Sri Ramadevara Dam), ☏ +91 80-41158187, leisure@ocioindia.com. Ocio Hospitality 

• Sanman Hotel, Ammeer Mohalla. (updated May 2015)

Go next

• 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.