Hassan
district
lies
partly
in
the
"malnad"
tract
and
partly
in
the
southern
"maidan"(plains)
tract.
By
considering
the
physical
aspects,
climate,
rainfall,
etc.
the
district
may
be
divided
into
three
regions,
viz.,
southern
malnad,
semi-malnad
and
southern
maidan.
western
and
north-eastern
portions
of
the
Belur
taluk,
western
and
central
parts
of
Alur
taluk
and
the
whole
of
Sakaleshapura
taluk
constitute
the
"southern
malnad"
region,
the
central
parts
of
the
Arkalgud
taluk,the
western
portion
of
the
Hassan
taluk,
the
eastern
portion
of
the
Alur
taluk,
the
central
and
eastern
parts
of
the
Belur
taluk
and
the
western
parts
of
the
Arasikere
taluk
form
the
"semi-malnad"
region.
The
southern
maidan
region
includes
the
whole
of
the
Holenarasipura
and
Channarayapatna
taluks,
eastern
parts
of
the
Arasikere
and
Hassan
taluks
and
the
south-eastern
portions
of
the
Arkalgud
taluk.
The
southern
malnad
is
a
forest-clad
hilly
region
with
a
heavy
rainfall.
The
town
dates
from
the
11th
century
and
had
in
1901
a
population
of
8241
.
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
Hemavati,
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,
felspar
and
quartz
.
The
soil
of
the
valleys
is
a
rich
red
alluvial
loam
.
The
area
is
2547
sq.
m
.
Population
(19o1),
568,919,
showing
an
increase
of
I
I
%
in
the
decade
.
The
district
contains
some
of
the
most
remarkable
archaeological
monuments
in
India,
such
as
the
colossal
Jain
image
at
Sravana
Belgola
(a
monolith
S7
ft.
high
on
the
summit
of
a
hill)
and
the
great
temple
at
Halebid
.
Coffee
cultivation
has
been
on
the
increase
of
late
years
.
The
first
plantation
was
opened
in
1843,
and
now
there
are
many
coffee
estates
owned
by
Europeans
and
also
native
holdings.
