Arsikere, human settlement in India
Arsikere is a town in Hassan district of southern Karnataka, situated at about 800 meters elevation in an area with green fields and nearby hills. The streets are marked by small shops, busy markets selling fresh produce and textiles, old buildings next to newer structures, and temples built in simple Hoysala style.
The town was part of various kingdoms and dynasties over centuries, including the Hoysala and later the Vijayanagara Empire, where rulers like Jagadevaraya controlled the region. In the 1600s, the Mysore Wodeyars took control, and it became an important trading post along major routes.
The town's name comes from a princess of the Hoysala rulers who built a pond here, with 'arasi' meaning queen and 'kere' meaning pond in the local language. It became a hub where travelers and traders stopped, and temples here have served as gathering places for the community across generations.
Trains and buses connect Arsikere regularly to larger cities like Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore, with the railway station centrally located. Within the town you can navigate on foot or by bike, and well-kept roads link you to nearby places like Hassan and Chikmagalur.
The area is famous for coconut farms, with farmers selling coconuts used throughout the region in cooking and festivals. Malekallu Tirupati, a nearby hill with temples and hundreds of steps, draws pilgrims who believe in old legends of sages like Agastya visiting the place.
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