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HASSAN
Hassan, the district headquarters, located 194 Kms from Bangalore is a quiet and peaceful town, convenient base to visit Shravanabelagola, Belur and Halebid.
Around Hassan:
BELUR - 38 Kms from Hassan
Belur was the capital of the Hoysalas during the 11th and 12th centuries, before the capital was moved to Halebid. The thing not to be missed here is the impressive Chennakeshava Temple, which has some of the most intricate and beautiful carvings in India. Beside this temple, there are two other temples to see, the Viranarayana Temple and the Chenniga Raya Temple.
 Chennakeshava Temple
The Channakeshava temple at Belur, which was (the earlier Capital of Hoysala Kingdom) built by the emperor Vishnuvardhana, during 1117 AD to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism, has attracted connoisseurs of art the World over, through its intricate sculpting wonders. The 42 bracket sculptures that decorate the outside walls of Chennakeshava, under the eaves, are fine examples of Hoysala art.
It is rare to see original outer brackets in situ; at other temples, most have been lost to damage or collecting. The subjects are celestial maidens in various poses, playing musical instruments, dancing, and beautifying themselves. Like an ancient version of Grumman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Vishnu's footprints are preserved here in stone. The temple built on a podium of star shaped platform has outer walls, which are far famed for the 'beautiful shilabalikas' carved out of stone. Their beauty is the inspiration for many odes. The pillars in the 'Navaranga' of the temple are stunning. Inside even in the darkness, you can see the hand-lathe-turned shining pillars, each unique in its own splendor.
HALEBID - 17 Kms from Belur; 30 Km from Hassan
Hoysaleshvara Temple
 Hoysaleshvara is a 12th century Hoysala temple in Halebid, the old Hoysala capital. The temple is laid out on a double plan, almost as if two temples were joined side to side. Both shrines open to the east, and rest on the usual Hoysala star-shaped bases. There are no gopurams or towers.
Sequences from Ramayana, Mahabharatha & Bhagavatha are depicted on the outer walls of these temples. The efficiency and experience of the sculpture, who had carved these stories in stone is bewitching. Outside there is a Nandi (Bull) the mount of Lord Shiva bullock where the palace stood, connected to the temple by a passage. The walls of the temples are covered with variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. There is a museum on the lawn with 12-13th century sculpture and the gold coins in use at the time.
The Kedreshwara temple where the sculptor's virtuosity seems to have surpassed even the goldsmith's skill in its sheer intricacy. One Km from Halebeed is Basti Hill where there are Jain Basties with gleaming black stone pillars.
SRAVANABELAGOLA - 52 Kms from Hassan
Wedged between two stark rocky hills, this legendary pilgrim center and shrine of the Jains since early times. The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint and an object of worship for centuries, standing atop one of the hills, is 18 meters high and is said to be one of the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the world. The symmetry in stone was created around 978 AD. The Mahamastakabisheka festival, an elaborate ritual, held here once every 12 years, the last one in 1993, attracts devotees from all over the world.
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