Hassan district is an administrative district in the south-western part of the state of Karnataka, India. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Hassan, which in turn is said to derive from Haasanamba, the presiding goddess of the town. The district is best known as the heartland of the medieval Hoysala Empire and contains some of the most celebrated examples of Hoysala temple architecture, including those at Belur and Halebidu.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Karnataka |
| Region | Malenadu / South Karnataka |
| Headquarters | Hassan |
| Official language | Kannada |
| Notable historical sites | Belur, Halebidu, Shravanabelagola |
Geography
Hassan district lies on the eastern edge of the Western Ghats, with a terrain that ranges from the hilly, forested malnad tracts in the west to the drier maidan plains in the east. It is bordered by Chikkamagaluru district to the north, Tumakuru district to the north-east, Mandya district to the east, Mysuru district to the south, Kodagu district to the south-west and Dakshina Kannada district to the west.
The principal river of the district is the Hemavati, a tributary of the Kaveri. The Hemavati reservoir near Gorur is a major irrigation source. Other rivers include the Yagachi and the Vedavathi tributary system.
Administration
The district is part of the Mysuru division of Karnataka and is administered by a Deputy Commissioner. It is divided into several taluks, which have included Hassan, Arsikere, Channarayapatna, Holenarasipura, Arkalgud, Belur, Sakleshpur and Alur. Local self-government is structured through the Hassan Zilla Panchayat, taluk panchayats and gram panchayats.
History
The region that comprises the present district has been politically prominent since early medieval times. Successive parts of it came under the Western Gangas, the Rashtrakutas and the Western Chalukyas. From around the 11th to the 14th century, the area formed the core of the Hoysala Empire, whose early capital was at Belur and later at Dwarasamudra (modern Halebidu).
After the decline of the Hoysalas, the territory passed in turn to the Vijayanagara Empire, local palegars, the Wodeyars of Mysore, and briefly to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, before being incorporated into the princely state of Mysore under British paramountcy. With the reorganisation of states in 1956, Hassan district became part of the enlarged Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Demographics and language
Kannada is the principal language of the district. Tulu, Urdu and other languages are also spoken by smaller communities. The district has a sizeable Jain population, particularly around Shravanabelagola, alongside Hindu and Muslim communities.
Economy
The economy of Hassan district is predominantly agricultural. Major crops include paddy, ragi, maize, sugarcane, potato and pulses, while the malnad taluks of Sakleshpur and Belur are noted for plantation crops such as coffee, cardamom and pepper. Sericulture and dairy farming are also important. Industrial activ