Souravroyjournalist at 13:08, 18 December 2025

2025-12-18T13:08:09Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=September 2008}}
{{original research|date=September 2008}}
}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Harihara
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Harihareshwara Temple]] at Harihara
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|14.507|N|75.8|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Davanagere district|Davanagere]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = City Municipal Council
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 15
| area_rural_km2 = 470
| area_metro_km2 = 9
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 539
| population_total = 83219
| population_rural = 163668
| population_metro = 7283
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/607/download/2076/DH_2011_2913_PART_B_DCHB_DAVANAGERE.pdf|access-date=4 January 2024|title=Census Data Handbook 2011}}</ref>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[India Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 577 601
| area_code = (91) 08192
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = [[List of RTO districts in India#KA—Karnataka|KA-17]]
| unemployment_rate =
| website = http://www.hariharcity.mrc.gov.in
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Distance from [[Davangere]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = {{convert|14|km|mi}}
}}
'''Harihara''' ({{IPA|kn|harihəra|}} also called ''Harihar''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilks|first1=Mark|title=History of Mysore|date=1996|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=9788120604919|page=796|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEvQL8wHHngC&pg=PA796}}</ref>) 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/stretches-of-tunga-bhadra-tungabhadra-rivers-highly-polluted-minister-1204188.html|access-date=4 January 2024|title=River Pollution}}</ref>

==Etymology==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
Harihara (or ''Hari-hara'') is a [[syncretism|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|date=March 2021}}

=== Legend ===
The god [[Harihara|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|date=June 2023}}

==Industry==
Harihar serves as a major industrial base also. It was served by the [[Kirloskar Group|Kirloskar]] industry and at present [[Aditya Birla]] Group's [[Grasim Industries]], Synthite, Shamanur Sugar's, Cargill and more. [[Kirloskar Group|Kirloskar]] Engineering company has closed down in 2001, resulting in a loss of nearly 15,000 jobs.

==Attractions==
[[File:View of staggered square layout of mantapa of Harihareshwara Temple at Harihar.jpg|right|thumb|Harihareshwara Temple at Harihar]]
[[File:Large open mantapa with lathe turned pillars in the Harihareshwara Temple at Harihar.jpg|right|thumb|Harihareshwara Temple [[mandapa]] at Harihara]]
Harihar is popular for temples.
* [[Harihareshwara Temple (Harihar)|Harihareshwara Temple]]
* [[Kondajji]] situated a few kilometers from Harihar is a picnic spot.
* [[Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary]] around 20 km
* Omkar Math
* Banashankari Temple on the Banks of Tungabhadra.
* Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple in Temple Street.
* Raghavendra Swamy temple (popularly known as Raayara Matha)
* Ayyappa Temple other side of the river.
* Rajanahalli Hanumappa temple (Hanuman Temple in Rajanahalli, around 6 km from Harihar on bypass highway)
* Maargadha Durgamma temple (towards Ranibennur on NH4, around 3 km)
* Kumaranahalli Sri Ranganatha temple and Sri Ranganatha Ashram
* Mother Mary's Church
* Hazarat Chaman Shah Wali Dargha at Bathi Sharief, 6 km towards Davangere
* Hazarat Naadband Shah wali baba Dargha
* Hazarat Ahmed Shah Wali Mahmood Shah Wali Dargha.
* Narayana Aashrama 6 km towards Harapanahalli road. It is believed that original Rama Pariwara idols of Ayodhya were secretly established here.
* Satya Ganapati Temple 3 km towards Harapanahalli road.
* Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies, Yantranagar

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

==Demographics==
{{Historical population
| source = {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
| 1971 | 33888
| 1981 | 52334
| 1991 | 66647
| 2001 | 75042
| 2011 | 77447
}}
{{As of|2011}} 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 language|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 shivamogga around 80 km from Harihar. From there one can reach Bengaluru and Mumbai. The nearest International airports are 272 km and 275 km away in [[Mangaluru]] and [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]] respectively, from where one can take flights to most of the important cities in India. Harihar also has a private [[Harihar Airport|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, Bangalore and Chennai through regular trains. Harihar Railway Station, in central [[Harihar railway station|Harihar]] and at [[Amaravati Colony Junction railway station|Amaravati Colony Junction]]. These stations connect Harihara to Bangalore and Pune and to [[Hospet]] and [[Bellary]] via [[Harapanahalli]] and [[Kotturu, Karnataka,|Kottur]].

===Road===

Major highways passing through Harihara are [[National Highway 48 (India)|National Highway-48 (Bangalore - Mumbai) stretch]], [[State Highway 25 (Karnataka)|State Highway-25]] and [[State Highway 76 (Karnataka)|SH-76]].

It is a 3-hour drive from Hubballi (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).

==References==
{{reflist}}
https://www.kiams.ac.in/

==External links==
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july182004/d6.asp Defiling of Tungabhadra continues in Harihar]
* https://www.kiams.ac.in/

[[Category:Cities and towns in Davanagere district]]

Harihar - Revision history

Souravroyjournalist at 13:08, 18 December 2025