Surrounded by Dakshina Kannada in the west, Chikkamagaluru and Chitradurga in the north, Coorg towards the south and Tumkuru in the east, Hassan has an eventful and rich history. It is blessed with a pleasant climate and a great picturesque location. It is here where the plains (maidaans) begin to gently slope into the Western Ghats (malnad). Although not a proper hill station, Hassan is often referred to as “Poor Man’s Ooty”.
Hassan is also associated with the Hoysala Empire who had their capital at Belur and Dwarasamudra (present-day Halebeedu). The district is a veritable treasure-house of Hoysala architecture and sculpture, the best specimens of which are at Belur and Halebeedu. However, there are many more yet lesser-known architectural gems in various parts of the district. Many other touristic treasures also await you here like Hasanamba Temple and the Saptamatrikas, the drowning church at Shettyhalli, Mosale temples, a star-shaped fort at Manjarabad and Bisele Ghat.

Heritage Sites
Belur: Belur (also known earlier as Velapuri, Velur and Belapur in olden times) is situated on the banks of Yagachi River and was one of the capitals of the Hoysala Empire. Renowned for its magnificent Hoysala temple complex, the Chennakeshava Temple (also called Vijaya Narayana Temple), which was built by Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas in 1116 AD. The temple is believed to have been built by master craftsmen – Dasoja and Chavana, a father and son duo. It is proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Halebeedu: Halebeedu (formerly known as Dwarasamudra) was the ancient capital of the Hoysalas just 17 km away from Belur. The Hoysala dynasty ruled over much of South India for close to 200 years and during this time they built spectacular temples; both Hindu as well as Jain. In the 14th century, the armies of Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad Tughlak defeated the Hoysalas and raided their empire. It is recorded that enormous wealth and riches were looted. The city never recovered and fell into neglect. In fact, Halebeedu means "old house/ old ruins". However, few temples survived this devastation like the ones in Halebeedu and today when you see them, you will be mesmerised by some the most stupendous expressions ever sculpted in stone. It is proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Manjarabad Fort: The Manjarabad Fort is located in Sakaleshpur and is constructed atop a hill, about 988 m above the ground-level. This fort was built by Tipu Sultan in 1792 with the aim to ward off enemy infiltrations from Mangaluru and Madikeri side. The unique aspect of this fort is that it is built in a star shaped design. It has a form with 8 angular tips stretching in 8 directions with a plus shaped well at the centre. A short climb to the top offers a scenic view of the Western Ghats with its hillocks, dense forests and valleys.
Maharajana Durga: 14 kms from Alur town, Maharajana Durga is a hillock with a large precipitous rock. Remains of an old fort, built in octagonal shape with a pond at the center can be seen in Maharajana Durga.
Haranahalli: Home to an 11th century Hoysala fort now in ruins and also features a Someshwara temple.