• Geography and Demographics: Hassan District, Karnataka, spans 6826.15 km² with a diverse landscape of plains and mountains, including Bisle Ghat. The district's major river is the Hemavati, a Kaveri tributary. The 2011 census recorded a population of 1,776,421 with a density of 261/km², and a literacy rate of 75.89%.
• Historical Background: Historically significant as the seat of the Hoysala Empire (1000-1334 CE) with Belur and Halebidu as capitals. Post-Hoysala, it became part of the Vijayanagara Empire and later contested by the Adilshahis, Mughals, Keladi Nayakas, and Mysore Kingdom.
• Administration: Established in its current form in 1886, Hassan was reorganized during the 1860s under the Mysore Kingdom. It contains 8 taluks: Hassan, Arsikere, Channarayapatna, Belur, Holenarasipura, Sakleshpur, Alur, and Arkalgud.
• Cultural Heritage: Named after the Hindu Goddess Haasanamba, the district houses significant historical temples like the Chennakesava in Belur, which was patronized by Vijayanagara kings.
• Modern Developments: Features like the Hemavati Dam, completed in 1981, have shaped the district’s geography and agriculture, leading to the creation of an 8000-hectare reservoir.