Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Start your day by visiting the coffee museum and later excursion to Hoysala Temple, Belur and nearby Halebid. The Hassan City more fully and meaningfully is known as the Simhasana Nagari originally, before the mutation of names made by foreign rulers is the administrative
center of the Hassan district which is the invaluable crown of the Karnataka state, whose glory is sung as being the dear offspring of the great Mother Bharata Maataa. This district is rich with natural sceneries and too with cultural wealth. It happens to be the confluence of three verities of areas namely the mountainous, the semi-mountainous and the open field areas (Malenadu, Are Malenadu, and Bayalu Seeme). The Nandas, the Mouryas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, the Lords of Vijaya Nagar Empire, the Kings of Belur, and the Monarchs of Mysore - thus several dynasties had their dominions over this land. Belur and Halebidu have revealed in History as the Capitals of the Hoysala Reign. The very first written document of the Kannada Language has been exposed to the world by this district, in the form of Halmidi Saasana (Halmidi Inscription)
Halebid - is 27 Kms northwest of Hassan and 17 Kms east of Belur. The temples of Halebid like those of Belur - bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 21st century, is astounding for its wealth of sculpture details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of Gods and Goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed despite 86 years of labor.
Belur - This quaint hamlet - 38 Kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire, today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Shennakeshava temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete this architectural marvel. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and frescos, with no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensuous dancers, they are all there - awe-inspiring in their intricate workmanship. Hand-lathe-turned filigreed pillars support the temple.
It was the Gangas and the Hoysalas who have contributed the immense treasure of sculptural artwork to us to be handed over from generation to generation with proper care and protective measures. Empires and Kingdoms have come and gone, but the sovereign state of the Art of Sculpture erected by them has remained immortal unto this day.
Return to the hotel for the night.
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Overnight at Chikmagalur