Harihara ([harihəra] also called Harihar[2]) is a city in Davanagere District in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Harihara Taluk. Harihara is famous for Harihareshwara temple.
Harihara is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, 275 kilometres north of Bengaluru. Harihar and Davangere (14 km away) are referred as "twin cities". Harihar is connected by road and railway, and is located on National Highway 48 (Mumbai – Bengaluru). It has a very pleasant climate year round. The major lifeline of this city is the Tungabhadra river, which is being exploited and polluted as a result of heavy industrialization.[3]
Harihara (or Hari-hara) is a syncretic deity in Hinduism, combining the two major gods Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). The region of Harihara had been under the control of the Hoysalas from the 11th to 13th centuries AD.
There is a famous temple built in the 12th century during Hoysala's time called Harihareshwara temple.[citation needed]
Legend
The god Harihareshwara is a combination of the gods Shiva and Vishnu. There is a story behind the avatar of this god. In ancient days this place was known as "Guharanya", a dense jungle and habitat of a demon Guhasura. He had a gift 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.[citation needed]
Industry
Harihar serves as a major industrial base also. It was served by the Kirloskar industry and at present Aditya Birla Group's Grasim Industries, Synthite, Shamanur Sugar's, Cargill and more. Kirloskar Engineering company has closed down in 2001, resulting in a loss of nearly 15,000 jobs.
Attractions
Harihareshwara Temple at HariharHarihareshwara Temple mandapa at Harihara
As of 2011[update] India census, Harihar had a population of 85,000. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. In Harihar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Kannada is the official and most spoken language.
Connectivity
Situated exactly in the middle of Karnataka, Harihar has a good connectivity with the South and North of Karnataka.
Air
The nearest airport is at Hubli 131 km from Harihar. From there one can reach Bangalore and Mumbai. The nearest International airports are 272 km and 275 km away in Mangalore and Bangalore respectively, from where one can take flights to most of the important cities in India. Harihar also has a private airport owned by Aditya Birla Group on their grounds and often used by politicians and famous personalities.
Railway
Harihara is well connected with most of the major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai through regular trains. Harihar Railway Station, in central Harihar and at Amaravati Colony Junction. These stations connect Harihara to Bengaluru & Pune and to Hospet and Bellary via Harapanahalli & Kottur.
It is a 3-hour drive from Hubli (131 km) and 6-hour-drive from Mangaluru (272 km) and Bengaluru (278 km). Almost all the buses which run from/to North Karnataka to/from South Karnataka go via Harihar. The town is 14 km from Davanagere city, which was earlier a part of the Chitradurga district (78 km).
India
