Arsikere

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". Arasikere was also called Udbhava Sarvagna Vijaya and Ballālapura 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 . It has an average elevation of . Arsikere is situated about from Hassan and 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 to above mean sea level. ==Climate==

The winter temperature averages between and . Summer temperature average between and . ==Education==

Notable educational facilities in Arsikere include the following: School's and colleges • Sharadha English school • St Mary's High school • Sri Adichunchanagiri English School, Higher primary school, Arsikere • St marys school (Kannada medium) • Niveditha English Higher primary school • Ananth International school • St Mary's English Higher primary school • Aashirvad Public school • Govt Girls High School • Sri Basvarajendra High School • Sri Gouramma School • Sri Vasavi School • Sri Vidyashankara Public School • Anubhava Mantapa (S.T.J) • Rotary school • Basaveshwara higher primary school • Sri Vidya Shankara Public School • Podar International School Colleges • JSKPU College • Jnanashree expert pu college • KPS pu college, arsikere • Ananth PU College • Adhichunchanagiri Science PU college • Siddeshwara pu college • Prathiba College • Vivekananda College of Education • Government Boys Junior College • Hoysaleshwara pu college • Ananthasadvidya College of Education • Al Ameen College • Hoysaleshwara degree College • Vivekananda BEd College • Govt first grade college Arasikere • Royal institute Of Commerce(Royal Degree College) • Government Engineering College, Arsikere • Government polytechnic college, Arsikere ==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. 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 120+ 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. The nearest international airport is Kempegowda International Airport at 190 km. Other nearby international airport is Mangalore International Airport at 220 km. A domestic airport near Shivamogga is around 110 km away from Arsikere. ==Festivals==

Various festivals are celebrated in Arasikere, including the following: • Yadhapura "Sri Jenukallu Siddeshwara Swamy Jatramahotsava" is a big festival held every month during full moon day. • Ganapathi Pendal (where a large Ganesha statue is displayed for about ninety days in Pendal), Ganapathi Chathurti, and Ganapathi Visarjana which has been celebrated from past 72(in 2017) years (where an idol of Ganesha is immersed into the lake near Arasikere). During these festivals, Sports, cultural, and spiritual activities are organized. • Madalu "Sri Swarna Gowri JathraMahotsava" is the biggest festival in Arasikere Taluk which is held during Gowri - Ganesha festival. • Undiganalu "Sri Kariyamma Devi Jatramahotsava" is the biggest festival in Arasikere taluk which is held in the month of April. • Malekallu Thirupathi Fair takes place annually for the god Venkataramana and Govindaraja. ==Places of interest==

Notable places around Arsikere include the following: Temples and architecture • The Kalameshwara Temple (also Ishwara), 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. • 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 Tirupati) 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. • Haranahally is a large 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. • Bannavara is a nearby town where one can see an old forts and a temple. ==Notable people==

Notable people from Arsikere include: • Balakrishna, actor • David Johnson, cricketer • Javagal Srinath, Indian cricketer and pace bowler • Dhananjay (actor), Kannada actor • Doddanna, Kannada actor • Ashok Haranahalli, Former Advocate General to Govt. of Karnataka • Haranahalli Ramaswamy, former irrigation minister and founding member of the Malnad Education Trust • Channa Keshava Sharma, Freedom fighter and Tamra Pathra Awardee • Narayana Gowda, Chief of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike • Chandrika, actress • Aparna, actress, Kannada anchor • Rajanand, Kannada actor • D Shankar Singh, producer/director ==Image gallery==

File:Hassan in karnataka.jpg|Positioning of Hassan district in Karnataka File:HASSAN DIST CRP.jpg|Hobli Map of Hassan district File:Arsikere (3).jpg|Malekallu Temple File:Arsikere RS.jpg|Railway Station File:Arsikere (1).jpg|Hill Temple Road File:Arsikere.Shivalaya.jpg|Shivalaya Temple File:Arsikere (4).jpg|Mini Thirupathi Hills File:Arsikere (2).jpg|Arsikere Hill Temple File:ARASIKERE POP 2001 A1.pdf|Map of Arasikere Taluk as per 2001 Census File:ARASIKERE POP 2011.pdf|Map of Arasikere Taluk as per 2011 Census File:ARASIKERE TQ.pdf|Arasikere Taluk – Hobli and Village Map File:ARASIKERE GPVIL 2015 A0.pdf|Arasikere Taluk – Grama Panchayat and Village Map File:ARASIKERE FLUORIDE.pdf|Arasikere Taluk Map about Fluoride content in DWS ==See also==