Arsikere (Kannada , Araskere) is a town in the Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. Arasikere is a major railway junction on the South Western Railway. It is a central place for tourists visiting Belur (40km), Halebidu (25km), Mavuthanahalli (20km), and Shravanabelagola (80km). It was an important town during Hoysala rule and the name Arsikere comes from one of the princesses of the Hoysala dynasty, who built a big pond (kere in Kannada). Arasi means queen in Kannada. Therefore, it is 'Arasiya+kere' which means 'queen's-pond'. The place is situated at a distance of about 41 km from Hassan and 176 km from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Miraj railway line and on Bangalore-Honavar road. It was also called in the remote past as Udbhava Sarvajna Vijaya and Ballalapura. Under the rule of the Wodeyars of Mysore, this place suffered greatly from the raids of the Marathas and was subsequently made over to the Marathas by the Wodeyars as security for the payment of tribute...
