Harihar

History

Harihar (or Hari-hara) is a syncretic deity in Hinduism, combining the two major gods VishnuVishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). Images of Harihara (also known as Sambhu-Visnu and Sankara-Narayana, variants of the names of the two gods) began to appear in the classical period after sectarian movements, which elevated one god as supreme over the others, had waned sufficiently for efforts at compromise to be attempted. The region of Harihar had been under the control of the Hoysalas from the 11th to 13th centuries AD.

There is a famous temple built in the 12th century during Hoysala's time called Harihareshwara temple (Guharanya Kshetra) – from which the city gets its name – which is also known as "Dakshina Kashi".

The god Harihareshwara is a combination of the gods Shiva and Vishnu. There is a story behind the avatar of this god. In ancient days this place was known as "Guharanya", a dense jungle and habitat of a demon Guhasura. He had a gift that no human or Rakshasa or god can kill him. And he started harassing people around this place. Then Vishnu and Shiva came together in a new avatara called Hari – Hara (Harihara) – and killed demon Guhasura. That is how this place got the name Harihar. Every year the Car festival is celebrated. Harihar also has a famous Ragavendra Mutt located on the banks of Tungabandra.

As Harihar is geographically located in the center of Karnataka, it was proposed to be made the capital of the state, but Bangalore was chosen instead.

Industry

Harihar serves as a major industrial base also. It was served by the Kirloskar industry and at present Aditya Birla Group's Grasim Industries, Synthite, Shamanur Sugar's, Cargill and more. Kirloskar Engineering company has closed down in 2001, resulting in a loss of nearly 15,000 jobs.

Attractions

Harihar is popular for temples.

Education

Harihar is a developing city, with the private sector growing faster than the government sector; it has a modern look to it. Mysore Kirloskar Education Trust(MKET) is one of the oldest educational institution in the town. A list of school's and colleges in Harihar town follows:

Education has mainly been dominated by the Mysore Kirloskar Education Trust, Vidyadayini School, and Sri Shaila Jagadguru Vagish Panditaradhya (SJVP) group of schools and colleges. Every year when 10th (SSLC) and 12th (PUC) results are announced most of the top ranked students will be from the Vidyadayini School /Smt Radha Bai D Gopala Rao PU College, MKET schools/ colleges, St. Mary's School, or Birla Schools or Colleges, generating competition among these schools which generates greater efforts on the part of the students.

Harihar also has one ITI college which provides industrial training in carpentery, fittings and joints, electrical, and turners.

SJVP College is another longstanding school in Harihar which provides education for both boys & girls, from school through degree level, in science, arts and commerce at the PUC level and for BS, BA, BCom, MS, MA, MCom, BEd, MEd, and TCH at the degree level.

Apart from the above-mentioned schools and colleges, many new ones are opening. There is a plan to open an orphanage at the St. Aloysius group of Institutions.

Harihar lacks an engineering college; only a Government Polytechnic Diploma Institution. Presently students of Harihar have to travel 14 kilometers to Davangere or 28 kilometers to Ranebennur to study engineering. The government of Karnataka is planning on opening an engineering school in Harihar.

Geography

Harihar is located at 14.52°N 75.8°E / 14.52; 75.8. It has an average elevation of 540 metres (1771 feet).

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Harihar had a population of 85,000. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. In Harihar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Kannada is the official and most spoken language.

Connectivity

Situated exactly in the middle of Karnataka, Harihar has a good connectivity with the South and North of Karnataka.

Air

The nearest airport is at Hubli 131 km from Harihar. From there one can reach Bangalore and Mumbai. The nearest International airport is 275 km away in Bangalore, from where one can take flights to most of the important cities in India. Harihar also has a private airport owned by Aditya Birla Group on their grounds and often used by politicians and famous personalities.

Railway

Harihar is well connected with most of the major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai through regular trains. Harihar has two Railway Stations, in central Harihar and at Amaravati Colony Junction. These stations connect Harihar to Bangalore Pune Railway lines and to Hospet and Bellary via Kottur.

Good Train faciliiesy, again the Hubli-Bangalore route. "Intercity express", "Rani Chennamma Express", and "Janashatabdi Express" are the major commuter trains. Other trains include "Hubli-Bangalore Fast Passenger" which is by all means the most convenient train to Bangalore (departs from Harihar at 8:30 pm, arrives at Bangalore at 7:10  am) or to come to Harihar (departs from Bangalore at 11:00 pm and arrives at Harihar at 7:00 am). Another train which inaugurated recently is the "Dharwar-Mysore express" train which departs from Harihar at 10:45 pm. There is a direct weekly train from New Delhi to Mysore (via Harihar), "Swarna Jayanthi Express". It is one of the longest routes reaching Harihar. It passes Harihar around 1:30 AM.

Road

With NH4 (Part of Golden Quadrilateral): passing close by there is a good network of roads that connects Harihar to other important cities of the region.

It is a 3-hour drive from Hubli (131 km) and 6 hour-drive from Bangalore (278 km). Almost all the buses which run from/to North Karnataka to/from South Karnataka go via Harihar. The town is 14 km from Davanagere city, which was earlier a part of the Chitradurga district (78 km). This town is also near to Hampi, a historical place, and Tungabhadra Dam, Hospet. Most of the buses running from North Karnataka to Dharmasthala, Shimoga, Mysore go via Harihar. Private travels include: