Hassan city in Karnataka, South India, offers an authentic experience which immerses visitors into the Karnatakan culture. Tradition, countryside, temples, and narrow roads lined with small shops, rub shoulders with shiny modern buildings.
The city is ideal for an excursion to the intricately carved stone temples at Belur and Halebid, whose intricate sculptures depict scenes from Hindu mythology and everyday life of the Hoysala Kingdom.
Also reachable from Hassan is the imposing statue of Gomateshvara at Shravanabelagola, which is a significant pilgrimage site for the Jain religion, aswell as Tipu's Summer Palace at Srirangapattanam, which was Tipu Sultan's summer residence until 1799.