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Hassan is the city and district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is home to the Master Control Facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The town of Hassan dates from the eleventh century, during the Hoysala dynasty, which lasted from the eleventh till the fourteenth century. Their capital was at Dwarasamundra (Dwaravati-pura), the ruins of which are still to be seen scattered round the town of Halebid. The earlier kings professed the Jain faith, but the finest temples were dedicated to Shiva by the later monarchs of the line. While they were at the zenith of their power the whole of southern India acknowledged their sway.

Hassan District

Hassan District is bounded by the districts of Tumkur to the northeast, Mandya to the southeast, Mysore to the south, Kodagu to the southwest, Dashkina Kannada to the west, and Chikmangalur to the northwest. It has an area of 6814 sq. km., and a population of 1,721,319 (2001 census), an increase of 9.66% since 1991.

The district naturally divides into two portions, the Malnad, or hill country, which includes some of the highest ranges of the Western Ghats, and the Maidan or plain country, sloping towards the south. The Kemavati, which flows into the Cauvery in the extreme south, is the most important river of the district. The upper slopes of the Western Ghats are abundantly clothed with magnificent forests, and wild animals abound. Among the mineral products are kaolin, feldspar and quartz. The soil of the valleys is a rich red alluvial loam. The first coffee plantation was opened in 1843, and now there are many coffee estates.

Hassan district is well served by railways, and the city of Hassan is a major railway junction. Railway lines connect Hassan to the port of Mangalore to the west, Mysore to the southeast, Tumkur and Bangalore the east, and Shimoga and Chitradurga to the north.

The district contains some of the most remarkable archaeological monuments in India, including the colossal statue of the Jain saint Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola, a 57-foot high monolith on the summit of a hill. The great Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid and the Chennakeshava temple at Belur are two of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture in India.