Arsikere Explained

Arsikere
Other Name:Arasikere
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:Arasiya-kere
Pushpin Map:India Karnataka
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates:13.3139°N 76.2369°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name1:Karnataka
Subdivision Name2:Hassan
Established Date:12th century
Founder:Queen Arasi of hoysala empire
Government Type:Government of Karnataka
Governing Body:City Municipal Council
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:11.13
Area Rural Km2:1257.75
Area Rank:2nd in Hassan
Elevation M:806
Population Total:53216
Population Rural:264003
Population As Of:2011
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Arsikerians
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:573103, 573122
Area Code:08174
Registration Plate:KA-13
Website:http://arasikerecity.mrc.gov.in/
Demographics1 Info1:Kannada
Leader Title:Constituency
Leader Title1:MLA
Leader Name1:K. M. Shivalinge Gowda
Leader Party:Arsikere Assembly constituency
Geocode:ASK

Arsikere is a city and taluka in the Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the second largest city in Hassan district, demographically. Arsikere city municipal council consists of 35 wards. This region is known for its coconut production and is also called Kalpataru Nadu. Arsikere Junction is a major railway junction in the South Western Railway which links Mangalore and Mysore to North Karnataka and a central place for tourists who visit nearby places that do not have rail access, such as Belur, Halebidu and Shravanabelagola, Harnahalli, and Kodimata.

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".[2] Arasikere was also called Udbhava Sarvajna Vijaya and Ballalapura at various times.

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.

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.

Geography

Arsikere is located at 13.3144°N 76.2569°W.[3] It has an average elevation of 812m (2,664feet).

Arsikere is situated about 44km (27miles) from Hassan and 166km (103miles) from Bengaluru on National Highway 73.

Towards northeast of the city, there is a mountainous scrub forest, known as the Nagapuri Forest. Old temples are found in isolation. Bears and Leopards population is the highlight of this forest. The elevation of the forest lies between 900m (3,000feet) to 1240m (4,070feet) above mean sea level.[4]

Climate

The winter temperature averages between and . Summer temperature average between and .[5]

Education

Notable educational facilities in Arsikere include the following:

School's and colleges

Colleges

Transportation

Arsikere serves as a common point for people travelling from Bengaluru to Northwest Karnataka and for commuters from Mysuru towards all of Northern Karnataka. Thus, public transport buses of 3 branches of KSRTC can be found here. KSRTC also has a bus depot in Arasikere, operated under Chikkamagaluru division. Tumakuru-Shivamogga four-lane expressway, comprising parts of NH-73 (Tumkur-Banavar) & NH-69 (Banavar-Shivamogga) is under construction, as of Nov-2022.[6] Arsikere railway junction lies on Bangalore-Arsikere-Hubli line. It comes under the Mysore division of South Western Railway Zone and is a major railway junction between Bengaluru – Hubli, Bengaluru – Shivamogga, Mysuru – Shivamogga and also connects northern Karnataka to Mangalore Central railway station, via Hassan Junction. Trains typically stop here before heading to Hassan, Bangalore, Hubli, Mysuru and Mangalore.

Nearly 100 trains stop here and is around 166 km from state capital Bengaluru. It has five trains starts from here to Bengaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Hubballi. Around 30,000 people travel from Arsikere to other parts of Karnataka every day.

Nearest international airport is Kempegowda International Airport at 190 km. Other nearby international airport is Mangalore International Airport at 220 km. Domestic airport near Shivamogga is around 110 km away from Arsikere.

Festivals

Various festivals are celebrated in Arasikere, including the following:

Places of interest

Notable places around Arsikere include the following:

Temples and architecture

Notable people

Notable people from Arsikere include:

MLA K M Shivalinge Gowda

See also

References

  1. Web site: Census Data Handbook 2011 Hassan District. 9 August 2023.
  2. http://www.arasikeretown.gov.in/ Home | ಅರಸೀಕೆರೆ ಪುರಸಭೆ
  3. Web site: Arsikere, India Page. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc . 11 September 2017.
  4. Web site: Nagapuri forest. 21 June 2019.
  5. Web site: Home | ಅರಸೀಕೆರೆ ಪುರಸಭೆ . 2012-12-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130314113604/http://www.arasikeretown.gov.in/ . 14 March 2013 .
  6. Web site: Shivamogga-Tumakuru Expressway. 3 April 2021.
  7. Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983.
    • Chikka Tirupati which is also called as Malekallu Tirupati or Amaragiri Malekallu Tirupati. It is located 3 km away from Arsikere, Hassan district. The main God worshipped here is Lord Balaji or Sri Venkataramana Swamy. There is a temple on the top of the hill which contains 1300 steps. There is a belief that sage Agasthya had offered prayers here to Lord Balaji and was blessed with lords Darshan here. It is also said that sage Vashista lived here and went to atonement by worshipping Lord Venkataramana Swamy, and on the day of Suddha Dwadashi Lord appeared and blessed him and hence this day every year a Maharathothsava will be held and is celebrated as one of the biggest fest. On this day we can find many people who climb the hill and offer prayers to Lord. And also there will be huge gathering for Rathothsava. Even at the bottom of the hill there is a temple built and Vigraha installed here, too. This was done by a Palegar. The temple is built in Hoysala architecture. The temple is combination of Dravidian Architecture and Nagara style. There is a beautiful Kalyani near the temple. Tourists come for the attractive local nature. And it is one of the must visit places in and around Arsikere.
    • Jenukallu Siddeshwara swamy hill
    • Hirekallu Sri Siddeshwara Betta Near JC PURA Ramanahalli Forest well known pilgrim center and very beautiful place for one day trekking
    • Sainatha and Ganapathi temples are of modern design and construction.
    • Arasikere is home to naturally built elephant stone, situated at heart of the town in Shri Subrahmanya Ane Betta.
    • Sri Siddarameshwara Temple in Sunkadahalli,
    • Sri Siddarameshwara Gadduge is located 12 kilometers from Arsikere, near Banavara.
    • Sri Devamma Devi Devalaya T Kodihalli near Thalalur is located 10 kilometers from Arsikere town.
    • Sri Veerabhadra Swami and Honaldajji Temple of Jajur is located 2 kilometers from Arsikere center.
    • Shree shyla Mallikarjuna temple, Challapura is located 8 kilometers from trekking*

    Others

    • The Nagapuri fortress, built on the Hirekal hill, is eleven kilometres north of Arasikere and is said to have been constructed by Hyder Ali.
    • A state branch of the Kastur Ba Gandhi National Memorial Trust is located at Kastur Ba Gram.
    • Garudanagiri hill, which is 25 kilometers from arsikere has a fort on the top of the hill. It is a good place for trekking.

    Nearby towns and places of interest

    • Madalu Sri Swarna Gowri (also called as Madalu Gowramma)JathraMahotsava is one of the popular festivals in Arasikere Taluk. This is celebrated during Gowri - Ganesha festival. Madalu which is the village located 23 kms away from Arsikere and 75 km away from Hassan district.
    • Undiganalu which is the village located in between Arasikere and Javagal there are historical temples called Kariyamma Devi Temple, Chamundeshwari Temple, Gavisiddeshwara temple (located in the hill top), Bhalu Basaveshwara Temple (located midway). There are many festivals in that the Kariyamma Devi Jathramahothsava is one of the popular festivals in Arasikere Taluk. Unidiganalu is located 28 km from Arasikere and 11 km from Javagal.
    • 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.[7]