Harihar

articleissues
refimprove = September 2008
cleanup = June 2008
trivia = May 2008
OR = September 2008Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Harihara
type = town
latd = 14.5167 | longd = 75.8
locator_position = right
state_name = Karnataka
district = Davanagere district
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 539
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 73047
population_density = 6206.20
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total = 11.77
area_telephone =(91) 08192
postal_code = 577 601
vehicle_code_range = KA-17
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Harihar is a small town in central Karnataka, located in Davanagere District. It is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, 275km from north of Bangalore. It is connected by road and railway, and is located on national Highway 4 (Puna - Bangalore). Cost of living in Harihar is very cheap.

History

It has historically been a temple city but also has an industrial base and many home grown industries. Some examples are Mysore Kirloskar Ltd. - Unit of Kirloskar Brothers and Harihar PolyFibres (Grasim Industries Limited)- a unit of Aditya Birla Group. In 2000 Kirloskar chose to invest elsewhere, leaving thousands of people jobless.

There is famous temple built in thirteenth century during Hoysala's time called Harihareshwara temple, from which the city derives its name.

The god Harihareshwara is a combination of god Shiva and Vishnu. There is an interesting story behind avatara of this god. In ancient days this place was known as Guharanya. A dense jungle and habitat of a demon Guhasura. He had a boon that no Human or Rakshasa or God can kill him. And he started harassing people around this place. Then Vishnu and Shiva came together in a new avatara called Hari – Hara (Harihara) and killed demon Guhasura. That’s how this place has got name Harihar. Every year the Car festival shall be celebrated with great enthusiasm and lots of people participate.

It also has a Ragavendra Mutt on the banks of Tungabandra. And also hosts famous church.the uniqueness of this church is that it has built without any pillars and it is the second largest church in Karnataka. The town serves as a major Industrial base also. Although Kirloskar Engineering company has closed down, resulting in a loss of nearly 15,000 jobs, there are still 2 units of Grasim Industries run by Kumaramangalam Birla - the first unit is named as Harihar Polyfibers and the other unit is Graslene division. Apart from these heavy industries, there are a number of other engineering and small manufacturing industries, not to forget the famous brick kiln Industries in the region. The major lifeline of this small town is the Tungabhadra river, which continues to be exploited and polluted as a result of heavy industrialization.

Mother Mary's Church in Harihar is also very famous and attracts many pilgrims not only from various parts of the Karnataka, but also from neighboring states.

Attractions

Harihar is popular for temples, and the city is calm indeed.
* Harihareshwara Temple
* Rama Mandhira and Narayana Ashrama
* Raghavendra Swamy temple (popularly known as Raayara Matha)
* Ayyappa temple
* Rajanahalli Hanumappa temple (Hanuman temple in Rajanahalli, around 6 km from Harihar on bypass highway)
* Graamadevata temple
* Maargadha Dhurgamma temple (towards ranibennur on NH4, around 3 km)
* Kumaranahalli temple (towards Malebennur, around 10 km)
* Mother Mary's Church
* you may get more information on website www.hariharcity.gov.in
* EAR FLOWER INC' s ( A PREMIER COMPANY THAT NOURISHES YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS) founder' s home is in harihar.

Education

Harihar has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 69%. Education has mainly been dominated by the Kirloskars group of schools, and has been source for quality outgoing students, although new ones are being added up.These are the list of popular institutions in Harihar, although not complete:
* KIAMS, Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies
* MKET's LK High School
* MKET's CBSE school
* St.Mary's convent School
* Maria Nivas School
* Dr.Ambedkar School.
* Bapuji School (on the banks of Tungabhadra)
* SJVP PU, Degree, BEd and Law College.
* Giriyamma schools and college
* Vidyadaayini CBSE SchoolKumarapattanam, situated on the other bank of Tungabhadra river (3 km from Harihar) also is rich in terms of education facilities. Aditya Birla Group of schools (formerly, called The Harihar Polyfibres school) has been a good source of highly qualified students.

Harihar doesn't have law, engineering, medical and dental colleges as yet, most of the students commute to Davanagere for the same. Being very close to Davanagere, Harihar enjoys a good mix of rural and urban culture.

Geography

Harihar is located at coord|14.52|N|75.8|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Harihar.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Harihar] ] . It has an average elevation of 540 metres (1771 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Harihar had a population of 75,042. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. In Harihar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Connectivity

Situated exactly in the middle of Karnataka, Harihar has a good connectedness from South and North.
* Buses : Being on National Highway NH4, the city enjoys a good connectedness. It is a 2.5 hrs drive from Hubli (131 km) and 5 hr drive from Bangalore (278 km). Most of the buses which ply from/to North Karnataka to/from South Karnataka (if not all) go via this place. The town is 14 km from Davanagere city, was earlier a part of Chitradurga district (78 km). This town is also near to Hampi, a historical place and Tungabhadra Dam, Hospet. Most of the buses plying from North Karnataka to Dharmasthala, Shimoga, Mysore go via Harihar. Other private travels include:
* Mahesh Travels
* Vijayanand Roadlines (VRL)
* Trains : Good train facility, again connecting Hubli - Bangalore route. "Intercity express" "Rani Chennamma Express" and "Janashatabdi Express" are the major trains which people here rely upon and commonly commute in. Other trains include "Hubli-Bangalore Fast Passenger" which is by all means the convenient train to go to Bangalore (departs from Harihar at 9:30pm, arrives at Bangalore at 6:10am) or to come to Harihar (departs from Bangalore at 10:00pm and arrives at Harihar at 5:30am). Another train which has come to light recently is the "Dharwad-Mysore express" train which departs from Harihar at 10:45pm.
* Train# 2079, 2080 : Janashatabdi express
* Train# 583 : UBL (Hubli Junction) to SBC (Bangalore city) Fast passenger
* Train# 586 : SBC (Bangalore city) to UBL (Hubli Junction) Fast passenger

Nearest Airport: Nearest Airport to Harihar is the Hubli Airport, which is 131km from Harihar and one more mini airport is in HPF(Birla Company).

Eatouts

* Raj Bhavan Restaurant, PB Road
* Hotel Ayodhya, P B Road
* Hotel Gayathri, Shimoga Road
* Hotel Ganesh Cafe, P B Road
* Hotel Keerthi, P B Road
* Hotel Sai Sagar, P B Road
* Balaji Bakery & Sweets, P.B Road
* Balaji Tiffen Centre, P.B Road
* Ganesh Bakery, P B Road
* Durga Bakery, P B Road
* Rajasthani Dhaba, 3 km from Harihar (towards Ranebennur)
* Mohansa military hotel(specialized in fish items) Kumarapatnam
* Ramdev Dhaba
* Mahesh Butter (Benne) Dose Hotel
* Vibhav bar and Restaurant

Writers of Harihar
* H.G. DUNDYAPPA
* SHRIKANTH TAMBE
* D// I.A LOKAPUR
* D.FRANCIS XAVIER
* VEERUPAKSHA KULAKARNI

Harihar is famous for the local Khara mandakki, and Mirchi Bhajis (called menasinakaayi in Kannada), anyone visiting Harihar shouldn't leave the place without eating this.

Did you know this?

* Harihar was proposed to be the capital of Karnataka, as it is in the centre.

* Harihar town is exactly in the centre of Karnataka. The road connecting east-west of the state (Hospet-Shimoga) intercepts at Harihar the road connecting notrh-south (Bangalore-Belgaum) of the state exactly at the centre of the state. All the traffic bound north to south & viceversa as well as traffic bound east to west & vicversa were passing through Harihar till recently before the new bridge on the River Tungabhadra was built and Bypass road was opened for public.

* Because of the river Tungabhadra, Harihar railway station was built as a watering station to fetch water for the steam engines of the railways. All passenger trains used to halt here foe more than 20 minutes for watering and for food. It was developed as a retiring place for the railway employees on duty. Retiring room is still there.

* Harihar was the last taluka of earstwhile princely state of Mysore. The river Tungabhadra separated the state from the Bombay province (Presidency). The stone pillar claiming "Bombay Province" inscribed on it still exists on the road across the old bridge on the river Tungabhadra. This town was known as border town for the state of Mysore before November 1, 1956.

* The stark difference in culture, language, food habits, clothing, mannerisms could be seen between Harihar and Ranebennur till 20-25 years before as different systems ruled these places.

* A peculiar Kannada language is spoken in this central part of Karnataka state of India which is presently the District of Davanagere covering mainly Harihar, Davanagere, Harapanahalli, Honnali, Channagiri; which trickles down to parts of Shimoga, Bellary and Chitradurga districts but strangely, not to Haveri ditrict.

* A man from Harihar is conversant in both Dharwad seeme (accent) and Mysore seeme (accent) Kannada. Surprisingly, when he talks the local accent else where in Karnataka, the south Karnataka people call it Dharwad seeme (accent) Kannada and people from north call it Mysore seeme (accent) Kannada.

External links

* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july182004/d6.asp Defiling of Tungabhadra continues in Harihar]
* The Harihareshwara temple is said to be built by Jakanachari in only one day. He could not complete certain carvings which are still evidently left in half way.

Harihar is such a central part of karnataka that no other city or town in the state is more than 450KM away from here.

References