Country India Language spoken Kannada Area 8 km2 | State Karnataka District Hassan District Population 45,166 | |
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.
Contents
Map of Arsikere
Shivalaya temple arsikere
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 "queens pond". 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 13.31°N 76.26°E? / 13.31; 76.26. 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.
Places of interest
Notable places around Arsikere include the following:
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.