Arsikere

Arsikere ಅರಸಿಕೆರೆ Arasikere
town
Arsikere railway junction
Arsikere Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 13°18′50″N 76°15′22″E / 13.31389°N 76.25611°E / 13.31389; 76.25611Coordinates: 13°18′50″N 76°15′22″E / 13.31389°N 76.25611°E / 13.31389; 76.25611
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Hassan District
Area
• Total	8 km² (3 sq mi)
Elevation	806 m (2,644 ft)
Population
• Total	45,166
• Density	5,600/km² (15,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	573,103
Telephone code	91 8174
Vehicle registration	KA-13
Website	www.arasikeretown.gov.in

Arsikere is a town and taluka in the Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. This area is known for its coconut production and the Malekallu Tirupathi hill. Arsikere is the taluka headquarters, a major railway junction on the South Western Railway, and a central place for tourists who visit nearby places that do not have rail access, such as Belur, Halebidu, and Shravanabelagola.

History

The name Arasikere originates from one of the princesses of the Hoysala Dynasty, who built a lake (kere in Kannada) near the town. Arasi means queen in Kannada. Therefore, it is 'Arasiya+kere' which means "queen's pond".^[1] Arasikere was also called Udbhava Sarvajna Vijaya and Ballalapura at various times.

Under the rule of the Wodeyars of Mysore, the area suffered from the raids of the Marathas, and was subsequently turned over to the Marathas by the Wodeyars as security for the payment of tribute. Under the rulers of Vijayanagara, it was under the administrative control of Jagadevaraya of Channaptna and later placed under Thimmappa Nayaka of Tarikere. It was finally under the rule of Shivappa Nayaka of Ikkeri and was acquired from Ikkeri rulers by the Mysore Wodeyars in 1690.

Geography

Arsikere is located at 13°19′N 76°16′E / 13.31°N 76.26°E / 13.31; 76.26.^[2] It has an average elevation of 807 metres (2,648 ft).

Arsikere is situated about 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Hassan and 166 kilometres (103 mi) from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Miraj railway line and is on the Bangalore-Honnavar road.

Climate

The winter temperature averages between 14 °C (57 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F). Summer temperature average between 19 °C (66 °F) and 33 °C (91 °F).^[3]

Education

Notable educational facilities in Arasikere include the following:

Sri Basava Rajendara English Higher School
Neviditha English Higher Primary School
St Mary's English Higher Primary School
Prathiba College
JSKPU College
Vivekananda College of Education
Sri Raamaiah Education Trust

Transportation

Arasikere belongs to the Mysore division and is a major railway junction between Bangalore and Hubli, Bangalore and Shimoga, and Mangalore and Hubli. Trains typically stop here before heading to Hassan, Bangalore, Hubli, and Mangalore.

Festivals

Various festivals are celebrated in Arasikere, including Ganapathi Pendal (where a large Ganesha statue is displayed for about ninety days in Pendal), Ganapathi Chathurti, and Ganapathi Visarjana (where an idol of Ganesha is immersed into the lake near Arasikere). During these festivals, Sports, cultural, and spiritual activities are organized.

Places of interest

Notable places around Arsikere include the following:

The Kalameshwara Temple, also known as Kattameshvara and Chandramoulishvara by devotees, is a monument in the Hoysala style of architecture. It faces east and dates to 1220 A.D.
Kattameshvara and Chandramoulishvara Temple, Shivalaya
Sahasrakuta Jinalaya has a Hoysala building from 1220 A.D. and was constructed by Vasudhaika bandhava Recharasa, a minister of Veera Ballala II.
Malekal Tirupathi Hill, also called Chikka Tirupathi is three kilometers from Arsikere and has two temples: (Venkataramana and Govindaraja), which are frequently visited by pilgrims. Malekal Tirupathi Hill has 1,300 steps and a standing Venkateshwara idol.^[1]
Malekallu Tirupathi-balaji
The Nagapuri fortress, built on the Hirekal hill, is eleven kilometres north of Arasikere and is said to have been constructed by Hyder Ali.
Haranahally is a big village about eight kilometres south of Arasikere; there are remains of an old fort that is said to have been erected in 1070 A.D. by a chief named Someshvara Raya. There is a large Nagarti tank, which was named after his daughter.
Sainatha and Ganapathi temples are of modern design and construction.
A state branch of the Kastur Ba Gandhi National Memorial Trust is located at Kastur Ba Gram.
Javagal, the hobli, is about 33 km from Arasikere and about 35 km from Hassan. It has a temple dedicated to Lakshminarasimha, which is a good specimen of Hoysala architecture with an outer entrance. This temple is attributed to the middle of the 13th century A.D.^[4]
Jenukallu siddeshwara swamy hill
Jenukallu siddeshwara Betta (hill)
Arasikere is home to naturally built elephant stone, situated at heart of the town in Shri Subhramnya Ane Bhetta.
Sri Siddarameshwara Temple in Sunkadahalli,
Sri Siddarameshwara Gadduge is located 12 kilometers from Arsikere.