Bagalkot district
Encyclopedia
Bāgalkot district is an administrative district
in the India
n state of Karnataka
. The district headquarters is located in the town of Bagalkot
. The district is located in northern Karnataka and borders Belgaum
, Gadag
, Koppal
, Raichur
and Bijapur. The new Bagalkot district was carved out of Bijapur in 1997 via Government of Karnataka
directive Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III
. The bifurcated Bagalkot
district consists of six taluks — Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Hunugund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol.
Historically, Bagalkot was the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of South India
under Pulakesi I, who conquered the district in 550 CE
. Bagalkot's Badami
taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE — 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II
was overthrown by the Rashtrakuta
s.
Remnants of Chalukyan art and architecture are important tourist attractions in Bagalkot. Pattadakal
has many UNESCO
World Heritage
temples built by Vikramaditya II
, while Aihole
, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River
, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times. The cave temples of Badami Cave Temples and the Jain temples of Rashtrakutas at Lokapura and Bilgi are also famous.
Cottage industries occupy a predominant position in Bagalkot. The district is popular for its silk
and handloom industries.
Ghataprabha River
, Malaprabha River
and Krishna River
flow through the district. Koodalasangama lies at the point of confluence of rivers Krishna and Malaprabha.
Like most districts in India, Bagalkot is headed by a Deputy Commissioner
, with various Tahalsidars heading individual taluks in the district.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste
exploitation was born in Koodalasangama, a town in the taluk of Hungund
.
Rāvana
, lord of Lanka
to his musicians. Other taluks in Bagalkot also have mythological origins. Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after an asura
king who, according to the Mahābhārata
, ruled the area along with his brother Ilvala
. Legend has it that both asuras were vanquished by the sage
Agasthya. The northwestern taluk of Jamkhandi derives its name from an old Chalukyan temple
dedicated to Jambukeshwara, a form of the Hindu deity
Shiva
. The town of Aihole, formerly the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of Banavasi was previously known as Ayyavole and Aryapura meaning Noble city. The western taluk of Mudhol was traditionally known as Muduvollal — literally translating into lovely town. The ancient town of Pattadakal was previously known as Raktapura – red town and later as Pattadakal Kisuvoval.
The Greek astronomer Ptolemy
previously identified many towns in the district of Bagalkot. Pattadakal was referred to as Petrigal, while Badami was known as Badiamaioi.
In inscriptions, the old name of the town was quoted as Bagadage under the Chalukyas. Between 1664 to 1755 this territory was under the Savanur Nawab from whom it was annexed by the Peshwa, Balajirao. During 1778, Haider Ali took possession of Bagalkote. Later held by Savnur Nawab. It fell into the hands of Marathas in 1792. In 1800, the provincial manager, Anandarao Bhikaji belonging to the Ratia family residing at Bagalkote built a palace. In 1810, Peshwa Bajirao II gave the area to Nilakantharao Sarsubedar who held Bagalkote Fort supported by a garrison till Gen. Munro occupied it in 1818.
The place was a noted centre of freedom movement and also of unification movement. The place is on the banks of the Ghataprabha River. The place has a cement factory and is a centre of trade in cotton and groundnut.
es and villages and habitations. There are 18 hoblies in the district:
basin of the district. The discovery of settlements in the village of Lakhmapur near the Malaprabha valley yielded the identification of quartzitic
artefact
s such as handaxes and cleaver
s. A pre-Chalukyan brick temple
was discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, in Pattadakal, where an idol depicting the bust of Chaturmukha Shiva
was discovered. Evidence of megalithic habitation was also discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, as were Marahathi and Satavahana
coins of a later period.
The first documented evidence of the existence of Bagalkot district dates back to the 2nd century CE
, when the taluks of Badami, Indi and Kalkeri were mentioned in the works of the Greek astronomer
Ptolemy
. In the 6th century CE, the Hindu
Chalukya rulers ruled over much of present South India
. The Chalukyan king Pulakesi I established Bagalkote as his administrative headquarters; the district retained its prominent status until the Chalukyan empire was sacked by the Rashtrakuta
s in 753 CE. The Chinese
explorer Hieun-Tsang
visited Badami and described the people as "tall, proud,...brave and exceedingly chivalrous". He estimated the kingdom to be approximately 1,200 mi in circumference.
The period of rule of the Chalukyas of Badami, whose kingdom stretched from modern Karnataka to Maharashtra
and Gujarat, was a highlight of Bagalkot's history. Chalukya king Pulakesi II
further consolidated the empire by battling with the Kadambas, Gangas, Mauryas of the Konkan
, Gurjaras and Emperor Harshavardhana, whom he vanquished on the banks of the Narmada
river Accounts of war were inscribed on stone structures in the town of Aihole
, now located in the taluk of Hungund. The Kalyani Chalukyas
, descendants of the Badami Chalukyas, conquered the area before the dawn of the 10th century CE. Their rule was interspersed with wars against the Cholas and Hoysalas. The Kalyani Chalukyas moved their capital from Badami to Kalyani, in the present day district of Bidar
. Akkadevi
, sister of the Kalyani Chalukya Jayasimha II
ruled in the area for more than 40 years from 1024 CE. During the course of her rule of the area, then known as Kisukadu, seventy villages from Bagalkot district were added to her administration. The Chola king Vīrarajendra
seized the area by defeating Somesvara I
at Koodalasangama. By the 11th century CE, all of Karnataka including Bagalkot fell into the dominion of the Hoysala Empire, first consolidated by Veera Ballala
and later subordinated to the Sinda kings.
The Yadavas of Deogiri annexed Bagalkot in 1190 CE and ruled until approximately the thirteenth century. The Deccan
invasion by the Muslim
Khilji dynasty
, led by Ala ud din Khilji in 1294 brought an end to the rule of the Yadavas. In the 14th century, much of this territory was overrun by Muhammad Taghlaq. That the Taghlaqs were undisputed overlords of this territory cannot be established since Harihara
, first king of the Vijayanagara Empire
, is supposed to have possessed territories as far north as Kaladgi in 1340 and because a fort was built under permission from Harihara in Badami during that period. In the late 15th century, the Adil Shahi
dynasty founded by Yusuf Adil Shah
established an independent state with Bijapur
as its capital. It is from this time that Bagalkot's history is homogeneous to that of Bijapur's. In 1818, after having lost their kingdom to the British
, the Maratha
Peshwa
s of Satara
were crowned underlords of the kingdom. With the failing of their brief reign which ended in 1948, the district passed into the hands of the British Raj
and was incorporated into the dominion of the Bombay Presidency
.
India gained independence from the British in 1947; thereafter, the States Reorganisation Act
of 1956 allowed for the creation of a Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1971, and for Bijapur (and therefore Bagalkot) to be included in its dominion. A separate district of Bagalkot was carved out from the existing Bijapur district in 1997.
According to the 2001 census
of the district, the towns of Bagalkot and Badami each had a population of over 100,000. Kannada is the primary language in the district. Approximately 88% of the district's population is Hindu, while 11% is Muslim.
Badami Cave Temples
Badami taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE - 753 CE, till Chalukya king Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas.
Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II.
Mallikarjuna temple is in dravidian style while Kashi Vishwanatha temple is in nagara style at Pattadakal
, built around 740 CE.
Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times.
Kudalasangama, where Basavanna's samadhi is located.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation, was born in Basavana Bagewadi
.
The Mahakuteshwara temple dedicated to Shiva, is built in the Dravidian
style.
Naganath Temple, located in a forest on the way to Mahakuta, is one of the early Chalukya temples dedicated to Shiva.
Mahakuta, once the epicenter of shaiva cult, is a beautiful place surrounded by hills.
Here, an annual fair and festival is held during January & February.
The temple in Banashankari is dedicated to Banashankari or Shakambari, a form of Parvati. It is located at Cholachagud, popularly called Banashankari.
Mudhol is the birth place of poet Kavi Chakravarti Ranna
.
Mudhol
was one of the 9-gun princely states of British India.
Mudhol is famous for a breed of dog known as the Mudhol Hound.
The district of Bagalkot is situated entirely on the North Karnataka
Plateau, which is part of the larger Deccan Plateau
. Located in north-central Karnataka, Bagalkot is surrounded by Belgaum District
to the west, Bijapur District and Gulbarga District
to the north and north-east, Raichur District
to the east and Koppal District
, Gadag District
and Dharwad District
to the south-east, south and south-west respectively. It is positioned at 16°12′N 75°45′E and covers an area of 6593 km². Bagalkot district has six taluks — Bagalkot, Badami, Hungund, Mudhol, Jamkhandi and Bilgi. The average elevation in this area reaches approximately 610 m. The climate is warm and dry throughout the year and rainfall is scarce. Bagalkot district receives the lowest rainfall annually in Karnataka. The average rainfall in the region is approximately 318 mm annually. The months of September and December account for about 52% of the total annual rainfall.
Bagalkot is devoid of large canopy tree vegetation
; the region is semi-arid
. The Krishna River
, Ghataprabha River
and Malaprabha River
flow through the region but are non perennial
. Soil in the area can be categorised as either the majority black or minority red. Black soil retains moisture and is often used for the cultivation of cotton
. Rabi
and jowar are primarily cultivated in Bagalkot, as are groundnut
, cotton, maize
, bajra
, wheat
, sugarcane
and tobacco
. The district is also rich in mineral wealth. The village of Kaladgi, located 24 km from the town of Bagalkot, harbours copper
. Iron ore also exists in the southern part of the district. Like much of Karnataka, the gneiss
is the most common rock family. Common rock types in the region include greenstone
, quartzite
, sandstone
and limestone
. The dry climate makes the region susceptible to drought
and crop failure. Bagalkot has not been affected by major seismic activity due to it being located in the stable Zone II.
Bagalkot district has a population
of 1,890,826, roughly equal to the nation of Lesotho
or the US state of West Virginia
. This gives it a ranking of 249th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 288 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 14.46 %. Bagalkot has a sex ratio
of 984 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 69.39 %.
Bagalkot is the second largest district in the Belgaum Division
and the 15th most populous district in Karnataka. With over 1,651,892 inhabitants (of which 28.97% were urban), Bagalkot accounts for over 18% of the total population of the Belgaum Division. Bagalkot has 6 taluks, comprising a total of 18 hobli
es and 627 villages. Of the 6 taluks, two are categorised as "More Backward Taluk" and one as "Most Backward Taluk". The district has 163 Gram Panchayat
s and 12 urban agglomerations. Bagalkot, with a decadal growth rate of about 19% is one of the ten fastest growing districts in Karnataka. Over 86% of the population in the district is Hindu, while 11% of the population is Muslim. Jains account for a little over 1% of the population, while Christian
s account for 0.17%. Scheduled Castes and Tribes
constitute about 17% of the total population. Communal tensions are fairly uncommon in Bagalkot.
Kannada, the state language of Karnataka, is the most widely spoken language in the district. The literacy rate of the district is 57.3%, higher than national levels (52%) but lower than the mean literacy rate of the state (66.6%). Bagalkot ranks 22nd out of the 27 districts in Karnataka for adult literacy. The population density
of Bagalkot is approximately 251 persons per square kilometer. Housing conditions in the district were identified as above average, per India's 2001 national census. About 96% of the houses surveyed were recorded as either "Good" or "Livable". Mass media
(radio
, transistor
, television
) penetration was about 67%.
Primary workers constitute about 43% of the district's population. Of these, 65% work in agriculture
related activities. The sex ratio
of the district is 980 per 1000 males, considerably higher than the national average — 927. The district's Net Domestic Income
is US$
5.8 billion. The per capita income
of the district is about US$ 350 annually.
was valued at US$ 5.6 billion, making it the 12th largest economy in Karnataka. The approximate per capital income is US$ 360. The chief crops cultivated are rabi and jowar, as well as groundnut, cotton, maize, bajra, wheat, sugarcane and tobacco. Jowar is largely cultivated because it can be grown during rainy seasons
as well as during the winters. The crop also is the chief supply of food for the people. Pulses are also grown in the region, primarily tuvar daal
, gram, kulith and mūng daal
. Castor oil
, linseed and sesamum
are also grown in Bagalkot. Water supply for irrigation includes reservoirs such as the Kendur reservoir, which is six miles from Badami and the Muchkundi reservoir, which is 4 miles from Bagalkot. Famine due to lack of adequate rains is quite common in Bagalkot. A famine that struck the region in 1901 inflicted considerable financial loss to the agricultural industry in Bagalkot. The district has the fifth highest farmer suicide rate in Karnataka. Efficient water management techniques and government sops have only marginally mitigated the repercussions of the drought
stricken district.
A sizable proportion of the population also consists of weavers. The chief manufactures are cotton and silk
cloths. Large quantities of cotton yarn
are also dye
d and exported to other parts of the state and country. Most of the immigrants in the district are either money lenders or cloth merchants.
In September 1901 a famine
swept through the district, particularly affecting Indi, Sindgi and Badami taluks.
KANORIA INDUSTRIES LTD
A large-scale industry established in the year 1948 by A. G. Tendulkar with a net amount of 1 crore. It was started by the name "BAGALKOT UDYOG LTD" later in 1972 the Khnoria group of industries took over it and was renamed as Khnoria Industries Ltd. It is a cement industry, which produces about 1000 metric ton of Portland cement daily. The cement they produce is sold worldwide with the name "Bagalkot Cement". Thus introducing the Bagalkot city worldwide. It provides employment opportunity to 570 peoples. It has built a school for the children of the employees. The industry is built according to the industrial norms. The cement they produce is of 43 grades and is very much in demand. For more information see www.khnoriaindustriesltd.com or www.bagalkotcement.com.
KATWA UDYOG LTD
A cement industry established in the year 1993 in a nearby village called Kaladagi. It produces 43 grades Portland cement and is sold in the market with the name "Jyoti Cement". This industry produces about 51,000 tons of cement yearly.
LOKAPUR CEMENT LTD
Another cement industry close to Bagalkot city. It is presently closed. It used to produce 43 grades of Portland cement, sold in the market with the name "Lokapur Cement".
SHREE KALCITY CEMENT
A cement industry established in the year 1990 in Naganur village of Mudhol taluk. It produces about 66,000 tons of cement yearly. It provides employment opportunity to 110 people. It was closed in 1993 and there is no production presently.
BAGALKOT CO-OPERATIVE SPINNING MILL LTD
Since cotton is grown in more amount a spinning mill was started in the year 1966. It provided an employment opportunity to 950 peoples of Bagalkot. Presently the industry is closed.
PINK GRANITES OF ILKAL
Granite is available in large amount in Bagalkot district. Granite is available in Ilkal and the nearby villages of Hungund taluk. Various companies are engaged in producing granite. GEM
Granite, Bharat Timber Construction Company ltd, Rajashree Granite, Gomateshwar Granite and Mysore Minerals are the leading granite industries. Among these GEM Granite industry is dominant and it has been estimated that till now it has produced granite worth Rs. 600 crores. It is long time since the GEM granite industry exists. It uses latest technology in mining and produces good granite. It provides an employment opportunity to 1500 people.
GODHAWARI SUGAR MILL
Established in the year 1972 in Sameerwadi of Mudhol taluk. The sugarcane needed is supplied from Bagalkot district and various other nearby districts like Bijapur, Belgaum etc. It has a capacity of producing 6000 TCD of sugar. Around 922 people are employed in this mill.
JAMKHANDI SUGAR MILLS LTD
One of the recently started sugar mill, inaugurated by smt. Sonia Gandhi on 10 September 2001. The sugarcane needed is supplied from Bagalkot district and various other nearby districts like Bijapur, Belgaum etc. It has a capacity of producing 6000 TCD of sugar. Around 922 people are employed in this mill.
DEMPO DIARY INDUSTRIES LTD
A milk dairy in Asangi of Jamkhandi taluk produces milk powder and its products. Around 200 people are employed in this industry. Milk is collected from the farmers of Karnataka, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh states. The products are sold in Bangalore, Calcutta, Goa, Mumbai etc. It has a capacity of producing 1900 tons of milk powder.
AGRO INDUSTRIES LTD
Agro industries producing house hold eatables are running as small-scale industries. These produces Maida, Wheat Flour, Maize Flour, Noodles and Starch etc. Various Spices and Chilli powder are also prepared here. Cotton seed oil and Groundnut oil is also produced.
BANHATTI CO-OPERATIVE SPINNING MILL
As cotton was grown in more amount in olden days the people of Banhatti started looming cloths by hand. In order to uplift the loomers a spinning mill was necessary hence in the year 1974 a government-spinning mill was setup at Banhatti. The main aim of this mill was to provide the required raw material like spin to the loomers at low cost. Since the spin was available at low cost the sari's and other cloths prepared were cheaper for the customer to buy. Hence providing low cost material to the loomers and low priced product to the customers was the ultimate aim of the spinning mill. About 60% of the spin produced is sold to the local loomers and rest is sold to nearby states.
Apart from the above list many new industries are planning to begin in Bagalkot. New cement industries have been registered and are waiting for the permission to begin. There are other small-scale industries like Cement Pipe Industry which produce cement pipes, Bangle Industries which produce bangles, Match Stick Industries, Agarbatti Industries, Plastic Bag Industries etc. in Bagalkot.
At the outskirts of Bagalkot city there are many small-scale industries set up. These come under the Vidyagiri area of Bagalkot city, which is the latest extension of the city. Small-scale industries like Ceramic Tile Industry, tyre industry, Stone Cutting And polishing Industry, milk Dairy etc. are running successfully. At Gaddanakeri there are many limestone industries and brick industries. The limestone industries produce lime for whitewash and painting. The brick industries produce bricks required for the construction of houses. There are local oil industries and oil refineries which produce oil from groundnuts, sunflower, sesamum orientale, cotton etc.
The Deputy Commissioner
is the head of the administration of the district of Bagalkot. The Deputy Commissioners office provides municipal services to the district, collects census information, enforces judicial precedents, administers local elections and collects revenue. Tahalsidars assist the Deputy Commissioner in administrative matters at the taluk level — each taluk has one Tahalsidar. Rural areas of each taluk are administered by a locally elected Zilla Panchayat
, headed by a Chief Executive Officer
(CEO). The Zilla Panchayat is charged with rural development schemes related to irrigation, water supply, road and infrastructural facilities. Bagalkot district contributes one Member of Parliament
(MP) to India's Lok Sabha
. The district also contributes seven Members of Legislative Assembly
(MLA)s to Karnataka's Vidhan Sabha
, one from each taluk. Karnataka is one of only five states in the Indian union with an existing Vidhan Parishad
(Legislative Council
). Bagalkot district contributes four Members of Legislative Council (MLC)s to the Vidhan Parishad.
Bagalkot district's Zilla Panchayat body consists of 26 members. Of these, a president and vice president of the Zilla Panchayat are also elected. In addition, five standing committees consisting of Zilla Panchayat members numbering no more than seven are elected. The five standing committees include Planning and Finance, General standing, Agriculture and Industry, Education and Health and Social Justice.
of Kannada is primarily spoken in the district. Kannada itself is classified as a Dravidian language
. The ethnologue
identifies Bijapur
Kannada as the closest dialect to the particular dialect of Bagalkot. The traditional cuisine
of the district is typical of the North Karnataka cuisine of the region. Jowar-based foods such as Bhakri
are popular. Other forms of Indian bread
made out of jowar are also common and are referred to as jolada rotti
. As with most North Karnataka districts, Jhunka
, a garbanzo bean-based dish, is very popular and is usually eaten with Bhakri; the combination of these two dishes is referred to as Jhunka bhakar. Though not grown extensively in the district, rice, as in all of South India, is part of the staple diet and is imported from other parts of the state and region. Lentil
and pulse
-based broth
s are common. Ilkal
town in Bagalkot district is famous for the Ilkal saree
s manufactured there.
The Chalukyan kingdoms of old have left an omnipotent presence in the district of Bagalkot. Several Hindu temples built by the Chalukyas exist in the town of Badami. Three cave-temple complexes constructed by the Chalukyan king Mangalesa
(597 — 609 CE) exist within the district of Badami at the Badami Cave Temples. Of the cave-temples at this site, three are Brahman
ical while one is Jain. The Badami fort, previously used by the Chalukyas as well as by Tipu Sultan
also contains a prominent but now dilapidated Dravidian
tower. Aihole, the former capital of the Chalukyan empire, is a popular destination for Chalukyan and pre-Chalukyan art and architecture. Pattadakal contains a group of ten major temples surrounded by minor shrine
s and plinth
s each depicting the architecture of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The Government of India
sanctioned a pilgrim
centre in the town of Koodalasangama in honour of the social reformist Basavanna. Prasanna Venkata Dasa, widely regarded as the founder of Carnatic music
and prominent member of the Bhakti Movement
, lived in Bagalkot and composed his music in Kannada.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. The district headquarters is located in the town of Bagalkot
Bagalkot
Bagalkot or Bagalkote is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka. Bagalkot is the district headquarters of the Bagalkot district. It is one of the major towns in North Karnataka.-History:...
. The district is located in northern Karnataka and borders Belgaum
Belgaum district
Belgaum district is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. The city of Belgaum is the district headquarters in North Karnataka. By the 2011 Census of India, it had a population of 4778439...
, Gadag
Gadag District
Gadag District had a population of 971,952 of which 35.21% was urban as of 2001. Population increased 13.14% in the decade 1991-2001. The District is bounded on the north by Bagalkot District, on the east by Koppal District, on the southeast by Bellary District, on the southwest by Haveri...
, Koppal
Koppal district
Koppal district is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. In the past Koppal was referred to as 'Kopana Nagara'. Hampi, a World heritage center, covers some areas of Koppal District. It is situated approximately 38 km away...
, Raichur
Raichur district
Raichur District is an administrative district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located in the northeast part of the state and is bounded by Yadgir district in the north, Bijapur and Bagalkot district in the northwest, Koppal district in the west, Bellary district in the south, Anantapur...
and Bijapur. The new Bagalkot district was carved out of Bijapur in 1997 via Government of Karnataka
Government of Karnataka
The Government of Karnataka is a democratically elected body with the Governor as the constitutional head. The Governor who is appointed for a period of five years appoints the Chief Minister and his council of ministers...
directive Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III
Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III
Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III was part of a notification issued by the Government of Karnataka on August 2, 1997 in Bangalore that resulted in the creation of seven new districts in the Indian state of Karnataka...
. The bifurcated Bagalkot
Bagalkot
Bagalkot or Bagalkote is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka. Bagalkot is the district headquarters of the Bagalkot district. It is one of the major towns in North Karnataka.-History:...
district consists of six taluks — Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Hunugund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol.
Historically, Bagalkot was the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
under Pulakesi I, who conquered the district in 550 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
. Bagalkot's Badami
Badami
Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE — 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II
Kirtivarman II
Kirtivarman II also known as Rahappa was the last ruler in the Badami Chalukya dynasty. He succeeded his father Vikramaditya II...
was overthrown by the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
s.
Remnants of Chalukyan art and architecture are important tourist attractions in Bagalkot. Pattadakal
Pattadakal
Pattadakal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole...
has many UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
temples built by Vikramaditya II
Vikramaditya II
Vikramaditya II was the son of King Vijayaditya and ascended the Badami Chalukya throne following the death of his father. This information comes from the Lakshmeshwar inscriptions in Kannada dated January 13 735...
, while Aihole
Aihole
Aihole is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both....
, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River
Malaprabha River
The Malaprabha River is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows through the state of Karnataka in India. It rises in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 792 m in the state's Belgaum district...
, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times. The cave temples of Badami Cave Temples and the Jain temples of Rashtrakutas at Lokapura and Bilgi are also famous.
Cottage industries occupy a predominant position in Bagalkot. The district is popular for its silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and handloom industries.
Ghataprabha River
Ghataprabha River
The Ghataprabha river is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows in state of Karnataka, India.- Geography :Ghataprabha River originates in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 884 meters and flows eastward for a distance of 283 kilometers before its confluence with the Krishna River at Almatti...
, Malaprabha River
Malaprabha River
The Malaprabha River is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows through the state of Karnataka in India. It rises in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 792 m in the state's Belgaum district...
and Krishna River
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
flow through the district. Koodalasangama lies at the point of confluence of rivers Krishna and Malaprabha.
Like most districts in India, Bagalkot is headed by a Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner (India)
The deputy commissioner or district magistrate or district collector or district magistrate and collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of...
, with various Tahalsidars heading individual taluks in the district.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
exploitation was born in Koodalasangama, a town in the taluk of Hungund
Hungund
Hungund is a taluk in the northern district of Bagalkot in Karnataka, India. Major towns in the taluk are Amingad, Karadi, Hungund and Ilkal. It is the taluk which has the place Kudalasangama where the social reformist Basavanna attained moksha. Hungund Taluk also contains Aihole and Pattadkal...
.
Origin
Stone inscriptions identify Bagadige as the ancient name of Bagalkot. According to legend, the area was gifted by the mythologicalHindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
Rāvana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
, lord of Lanka
Lanka
Sri Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the legendary king Ravana in the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata...
to his musicians. Other taluks in Bagalkot also have mythological origins. Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after an asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
king who, according to the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, ruled the area along with his brother Ilvala
Ilvala
Ilvala and Vatapi were asuras, the rulers of Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after asura king Vatapi. According to the Mahābhārata, Vatapi ruled the area along with his brother Ilvala. Legend has it that both asuras were vanquished by the sage Agasthya. Ilvala and his brother Vatapi...
. Legend has it that both asuras were vanquished by the sage
Wise old man
The wise old man is an archetype as described by Carl Jung, as well as a classic literary figure, and may be seen as a stock character...
Agasthya. The northwestern taluk of Jamkhandi derives its name from an old Chalukyan temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Jambukeshwara, a form of the Hindu deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. The town of Aihole, formerly the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of Banavasi was previously known as Ayyavole and Aryapura meaning Noble city. The western taluk of Mudhol was traditionally known as Muduvollal — literally translating into lovely town. The ancient town of Pattadakal was previously known as Raktapura – red town and later as Pattadakal Kisuvoval.
The Greek astronomer Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
previously identified many towns in the district of Bagalkot. Pattadakal was referred to as Petrigal, while Badami was known as Badiamaioi.
In inscriptions, the old name of the town was quoted as Bagadage under the Chalukyas. Between 1664 to 1755 this territory was under the Savanur Nawab from whom it was annexed by the Peshwa, Balajirao. During 1778, Haider Ali took possession of Bagalkote. Later held by Savnur Nawab. It fell into the hands of Marathas in 1792. In 1800, the provincial manager, Anandarao Bhikaji belonging to the Ratia family residing at Bagalkote built a palace. In 1810, Peshwa Bajirao II gave the area to Nilakantharao Sarsubedar who held Bagalkote Fort supported by a garrison till Gen. Munro occupied it in 1818.
The place was a noted centre of freedom movement and also of unification movement. The place is on the banks of the Ghataprabha River. The place has a cement factory and is a centre of trade in cotton and groundnut.
Divisions
Bagalkot district is divided into six taluks; each taluk is further subdivided into hobliHobli
A hobli is defined as a cluster of adjoining villages in the state of Karnataka, India. This clustering of villages was formed mainly to streamline the collection of taxes and maintenance of land records by the revenue department of the state. Each hobli consists of several villages and several...
es and villages and habitations. There are 18 hoblies in the district:
- Badami taluk: BadamiBadamiBadami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
, Guledgudd, Kerur, Kulageri - Bagalkot taluk: BagalkotBagalkotBagalkot or Bagalkote is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka. Bagalkot is the district headquarters of the Bagalkot district. It is one of the major towns in North Karnataka.-History:...
, KalagdiKalagdiKaladgi is a town in the Bagalkot District of Karnataka State and is located about 24 km west of Bagalkot. Kaladgi is well known for fruit gardens.-History:...
, Sitimani - Bilgi taluk: Anagwadi, BilgiBilgi, KarnatakaBilagi is a town and taluka in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is situated at a distance of 30 km from the district headquarters Bagalkot. The main occupation of people in this taluk is agriculture. Most of the farmers grow sugarcane.-Geography:...
- Hungund taluk: Amingad, HungundHungundHungund is a taluk in the northern district of Bagalkot in Karnataka, India. Major towns in the taluk are Amingad, Karadi, Hungund and Ilkal. It is the taluk which has the place Kudalasangama where the social reformist Basavanna attained moksha. Hungund Taluk also contains Aihole and Pattadkal...
, IlkalIlkalIlkal is a medium sized town in Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is located in a valley that lies in South – East corner of Bagalkote district and is quite close to the borders of Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district. The town falls within the jurisdiction of Hungund...
, Karadi - Jamkhandi taluk: Jamkhandi, SavalagiSavalagiSavalagi is a village in the northern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Jamkhandi taluk of Bagalkot district in Karnataka.-Demographics: India census, Savalagi had a population of 9623 with 4981 males and 4642 females....
, TerdalTerdalTerdal is a panchayat town in Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka.-Geography:Teradala is located at . It has an average elevation of 536 metres .-Demographics:... - Mudhol taluk: MahalingpurMahalingpurMahalingpur or Mahalingapura in Kannada is a town in the Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Agriculture and weaving are the primary industries. Prior name is Naragatti becomes Mahalingpur after the gracious appearance of Lord Mahalingeshwara. People speak typical Kannada,...
, LokapurLokapurLokapur is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district in Karnataka.-Demographics: India census, Lokapur had a population of 10865 with 5444 males and 5421 females....
, MudholMudholMudhol is a town in the Bagalkot District in the Northern part of the state of Karnataka, India. It is about 60 km from the district headquarters of Bagalkot town on the left bank of the Ghataprabha River...
History
Over 191 Middle Palaeolithic localities have been discovered in the KalagdiKalagdi
Kaladgi is a town in the Bagalkot District of Karnataka State and is located about 24 km west of Bagalkot. Kaladgi is well known for fruit gardens.-History:...
basin of the district. The discovery of settlements in the village of Lakhmapur near the Malaprabha valley yielded the identification of quartzitic
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
artefact
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
s such as handaxes and cleaver
Cleaver (knife)
A cleaver is a large knife that varies in its shape but usually resembles a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is used mostly for hacking through bones as a kitchen knife or butcher knife, and can also be used for crushing via its broad side, typically garlic....
s. A pre-Chalukyan brick temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
was discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, in Pattadakal, where an idol depicting the bust of Chaturmukha Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
was discovered. Evidence of megalithic habitation was also discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, as were Marahathi and Satavahana
Satavahana
The Sātavāhana Empire or Andhra Empire, was a royal Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar and Prathisthan in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward...
coins of a later period.
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, when the taluks of Badami, Indi and Kalkeri were mentioned in the works of the Greek astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
. In the 6th century CE, the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Chalukya rulers ruled over much of present South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The Chalukyan king Pulakesi I established Bagalkote as his administrative headquarters; the district retained its prominent status until the Chalukyan empire was sacked by the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
s in 753 CE. The Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
explorer Hieun-Tsang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
visited Badami and described the people as "tall, proud,...brave and exceedingly chivalrous". He estimated the kingdom to be approximately 1,200 mi in circumference.
The period of rule of the Chalukyas of Badami, whose kingdom stretched from modern Karnataka to Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and Gujarat, was a highlight of Bagalkot's history. Chalukya king Pulakesi II
Pulakesi II
Pulakesin II is the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan.-Early life and accession:...
further consolidated the empire by battling with the Kadambas, Gangas, Mauryas of the Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
, Gurjaras and Emperor Harshavardhana, whom he vanquished on the banks of the Narmada
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
river Accounts of war were inscribed on stone structures in the town of Aihole
Aihole
Aihole is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both....
, now located in the taluk of Hungund. The Kalyani Chalukyas
Western Chalukyas
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
, descendants of the Badami Chalukyas, conquered the area before the dawn of the 10th century CE. Their rule was interspersed with wars against the Cholas and Hoysalas. The Kalyani Chalukyas moved their capital from Badami to Kalyani, in the present day district of Bidar
Bidar
Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District....
. Akkadevi
Akkadevi
Akkadevi , 1010-1064 CE, was a princess of the Chalukya dynasty of Karnataka and governor of an area known as Kishukādu, situated in the present day districts of Bidar, Bagalkot and Bijapur. She was the sister of King Jayasimha II of the Western Chalukyas, and aunt of Somesvara I.Akkadevi was...
, sister of the Kalyani Chalukya Jayasimha II
Jayasimha II
Jayasimha II , also known by the titles Jagadekhamalla and Mallikamoda, succeeded his brother Vikramaditya V on the Western Chalukya throne. Jayasimha had to fight on many fronts to protect his kingdom...
ruled in the area for more than 40 years from 1024 CE. During the course of her rule of the area, then known as Kisukadu, seventy villages from Bagalkot district were added to her administration. The Chola king Vīrarajendra
Virarajendra Chola
Virarajendra Chola was one of the most under-rated Chola kings, mainly because a major part of his life was spent in the apprenticeship of his two elder brothers Rajadhirajan Chola I and Rajendra Chola-II, who along with Virarajendra Chola himself were the illustrious sons of their Chakravarti...
seized the area by defeating Somesvara I
Somesvara I
Somesvara I succeeded his father Jayasimha II as the Western Chalukya king. He was one of the greatest kings of the later Chalukya Dynasty. In spite of many reverses he managed to safeguard the integrity of the Chalukya kingdom. He founded the city of Kalyani, present day Basavakalyana and moved...
at Koodalasangama. By the 11th century CE, all of Karnataka including Bagalkot fell into the dominion of the Hoysala Empire, first consolidated by Veera Ballala
Veera Ballala I
Veera Ballala I succeeded Eereyanga as king of the Hoysala Empire. His rule was short and uneventful other than subduing the Chengalvas and the Santharas. It is claimed he made some unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the overlordship of the Western Chalukyas but was brought under control by...
and later subordinated to the Sinda kings.
The Yadavas of Deogiri annexed Bagalkot in 1190 CE and ruled until approximately the thirteenth century. The Deccan
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
invasion by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Khilji dynasty
Khilji dynasty
The Khilji Sultanate was a dynasty of Turko-Afghan Khalaj origin who ruled large parts of South Asia from 1290 - 1320. They were the second dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate of India...
, led by Ala ud din Khilji in 1294 brought an end to the rule of the Yadavas. In the 14th century, much of this territory was overrun by Muhammad Taghlaq. That the Taghlaqs were undisputed overlords of this territory cannot be established since Harihara
Harihara
Harihara is the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu and Shiva from the Hindu tradition. Also known as Shankaranarayana , Harihara is thus worshipped by both Vaishnavites and Shaivities as a form of the Supreme God, as well as being a figure of worship for other Hindu traditions in general...
, first king of the Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
, is supposed to have possessed territories as far north as Kaladgi in 1340 and because a fort was built under permission from Harihara in Badami during that period. In the late 15th century, the Adil Shahi
Adil Shahi
The Adil Shahi or Adilshahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a province of the Bahmani Sultanate , before its political decline in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518...
dynasty founded by Yusuf Adil Shah
Yusuf Adil Shah
Yusuf Adil Shah , referred as Adil Khan or Hidalcão by the Portuguese, was the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty that ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur for nearly two centuries...
established an independent state with Bijapur
Bijapur, Karnataka
Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...
as its capital. It is from this time that Bagalkot's history is homogeneous to that of Bijapur's. In 1818, after having lost their kingdom to the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
, the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
s of Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
were crowned underlords of the kingdom. With the failing of their brief reign which ended in 1948, the district passed into the hands of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and was incorporated into the dominion of the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
.
India gained independence from the British in 1947; thereafter, the States Reorganisation Act
States Reorganisation Act
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India's states and territories. The act reorganised the boundaries of India's states along linguistic lines, and amended the Indian Constitution to replace the three types of states, known as Parts A, B,...
of 1956 allowed for the creation of a Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1971, and for Bijapur (and therefore Bagalkot) to be included in its dominion. A separate district of Bagalkot was carved out from the existing Bijapur district in 1997.
According to the 2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the district, the towns of Bagalkot and Badami each had a population of over 100,000. Kannada is the primary language in the district. Approximately 88% of the district's population is Hindu, while 11% is Muslim.
Tourism
- BadamiBadamiBadami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
Badami Cave Temples
- PattadakalPattadakalPattadakal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole...
Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II.
Pattadakal
Pattadakal is a village in Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district. It is 22 km from Badami and about 10 km from Aihole...
, built around 740 CE.
- AiholeAiholeAihole is a temple complex in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka. It lies to the east of Pattadakal, along the Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the west of both....
Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times.
- KudalasangamaKudalasangamaKudalasangama in India is an important center of pilgrimage for people of the Lingayat faith. It is located about 15 km from the Almatti Dam in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. The Krishna river and Ghataprabha river merge here and flow east towards Srisaila in state of Andhra Pradesh...
Kudalasangama, where Basavanna's samadhi is located.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation, was born in Basavana Bagewadi
Basavana Bagewadi
Basavana Bagewadi in India is an important center of pilgrimage for people of the Lingayat faith. It is located in Bijapur district of Karnataka state. This is the birth place of Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat and is therefore an important center of pilgrimage for Lingayats....
.
- Mahakuta Mahakuta group of templesMahakuta group of templesThe Mahakuta group of temples is located in Mahakuta, a town in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state, India. It is an important place of worship for Hindus and the location of a well-known Shaiva monastery. The temples are dated to the 6th or 7th century and were constructed by the early kings...
The Mahakuteshwara temple dedicated to Shiva, is built in the Dravidian
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
style.
Naganath Temple, located in a forest on the way to Mahakuta, is one of the early Chalukya temples dedicated to Shiva.
Mahakuta, once the epicenter of shaiva cult, is a beautiful place surrounded by hills.
- Banashankari
Here, an annual fair and festival is held during January & February.
The temple in Banashankari is dedicated to Banashankari or Shakambari, a form of Parvati. It is located at Cholachagud, popularly called Banashankari.
- MudholMudholMudhol is a town in the Bagalkot District in the Northern part of the state of Karnataka, India. It is about 60 km from the district headquarters of Bagalkot town on the left bank of the Ghataprabha River...
Mudhol is the birth place of poet Kavi Chakravarti Ranna
Ranna
Ranna was one of the earliest poets of Kannada language.Ranna, Adikavi Pampa and Sri Ponna together are called "three gems of Kannada literature".-Early days:Ranna was born on 949 C.E. in Muduvolalu Bagalkot district, Karnataka....
.
Mudhol
Mudhol
Mudhol is a town in the Bagalkot District in the Northern part of the state of Karnataka, India. It is about 60 km from the district headquarters of Bagalkot town on the left bank of the Ghataprabha River...
was one of the 9-gun princely states of British India.
Mudhol is famous for a breed of dog known as the Mudhol Hound.
Geography
North Karnataka
North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
Plateau, which is part of the larger Deccan Plateau
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
. Located in north-central Karnataka, Bagalkot is surrounded by Belgaum District
Belgaum district
Belgaum district is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. The city of Belgaum is the district headquarters in North Karnataka. By the 2011 Census of India, it had a population of 4778439...
to the west, Bijapur District and Gulbarga District
Gulbarga District
Gulbarga district is one of the 30 districts of Karnataka state in southern India. Gulbarga city is the administrative headquarters of the district...
to the north and north-east, Raichur District
Raichur district
Raichur District is an administrative district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located in the northeast part of the state and is bounded by Yadgir district in the north, Bijapur and Bagalkot district in the northwest, Koppal district in the west, Bellary district in the south, Anantapur...
to the east and Koppal District
Koppal district
Koppal district is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. In the past Koppal was referred to as 'Kopana Nagara'. Hampi, a World heritage center, covers some areas of Koppal District. It is situated approximately 38 km away...
, Gadag District
Gadag District
Gadag District had a population of 971,952 of which 35.21% was urban as of 2001. Population increased 13.14% in the decade 1991-2001. The District is bounded on the north by Bagalkot District, on the east by Koppal District, on the southeast by Bellary District, on the southwest by Haveri...
and Dharwad District
Dharwad District
Dharwad District is an administrative district of the state of Karnataka in southern India. Dharwad is the cultural headquarters of North Karnataka....
to the south-east, south and south-west respectively. It is positioned at 16°12′N 75°45′E and covers an area of 6593 km². Bagalkot district has six taluks — Bagalkot, Badami, Hungund, Mudhol, Jamkhandi and Bilgi. The average elevation in this area reaches approximately 610 m. The climate is warm and dry throughout the year and rainfall is scarce. Bagalkot district receives the lowest rainfall annually in Karnataka. The average rainfall in the region is approximately 318 mm annually. The months of September and December account for about 52% of the total annual rainfall.
Bagalkot is devoid of large canopy tree vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
; the region is semi-arid
Semi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
. The Krishna River
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
, Ghataprabha River
Ghataprabha River
The Ghataprabha river is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows in state of Karnataka, India.- Geography :Ghataprabha River originates in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 884 meters and flows eastward for a distance of 283 kilometers before its confluence with the Krishna River at Almatti...
and Malaprabha River
Malaprabha River
The Malaprabha River is a tributary of the Krishna River and flows through the state of Karnataka in India. It rises in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 792 m in the state's Belgaum district...
flow through the region but are non perennial
Perennial stream
A perennial stream or perennial river is a stream or river that has continuous flow in parts of its bed all year round during years of normal rainfall. "Perennial" streams are contrasted with "intermittent" streams which normally cease flowing for weeks or months each year, and with "ephemeral"...
. Soil in the area can be categorised as either the majority black or minority red. Black soil retains moisture and is often used for the cultivation of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
. Rabi
Rabi crop
Different crops have different requirements for their proper growth , as they grow in different season . Based on the season in which they grow , crops are categorised as:-1.rabi crops2.kharif crops...
and jowar are primarily cultivated in Bagalkot, as are groundnut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
, cotton, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, bajra
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. The district is also rich in mineral wealth. The village of Kaladgi, located 24 km from the town of Bagalkot, harbours copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
. Iron ore also exists in the southern part of the district. Like much of Karnataka, the gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
is the most common rock family. Common rock types in the region include greenstone
Greenstone belt
Greenstone belts are zones of variably metamorphosed mafic to ultramafic volcanic sequences with associated sedimentary rocks that occur within Archaean and Proterozoic cratons between granite and gneiss bodies....
, quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. The dry climate makes the region susceptible to drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
and crop failure. Bagalkot has not been affected by major seismic activity due to it being located in the stable Zone II.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Bagalkot district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 1,890,826, roughly equal to the nation of Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
or the US state of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. This gives it a ranking of 249th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 288 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 14.46 %. Bagalkot has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 984 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 69.39 %.
Bagalkot is the second largest district in the Belgaum Division
Belgaum Division
Belgaum Division is one of the four divisions of Karnataka state of India. The division comprises the districts of Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, and Uttara Kannada. Totally it covers a geographical area of and has a population of 13,042,163 as of the 2001 census. The...
and the 15th most populous district in Karnataka. With over 1,651,892 inhabitants (of which 28.97% were urban), Bagalkot accounts for over 18% of the total population of the Belgaum Division. Bagalkot has 6 taluks, comprising a total of 18 hobli
Hobli
A hobli is defined as a cluster of adjoining villages in the state of Karnataka, India. This clustering of villages was formed mainly to streamline the collection of taxes and maintenance of land records by the revenue department of the state. Each hobli consists of several villages and several...
es and 627 villages. Of the 6 taluks, two are categorised as "More Backward Taluk" and one as "Most Backward Taluk". The district has 163 Gram Panchayat
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...
s and 12 urban agglomerations. Bagalkot, with a decadal growth rate of about 19% is one of the ten fastest growing districts in Karnataka. Over 86% of the population in the district is Hindu, while 11% of the population is Muslim. Jains account for a little over 1% of the population, while Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s account for 0.17%. Scheduled Castes and Tribes
Scheduled Castes and Tribes
The Scheduled Castes , also known as the Dalit, and the Scheduled Tribes are two groupings of historically disadvantaged people that are given express recognition in the Constitution of India...
constitute about 17% of the total population. Communal tensions are fairly uncommon in Bagalkot.
Kannada, the state language of Karnataka, is the most widely spoken language in the district. The literacy rate of the district is 57.3%, higher than national levels (52%) but lower than the mean literacy rate of the state (66.6%). Bagalkot ranks 22nd out of the 27 districts in Karnataka for adult literacy. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of Bagalkot is approximately 251 persons per square kilometer. Housing conditions in the district were identified as above average, per India's 2001 national census. About 96% of the houses surveyed were recorded as either "Good" or "Livable". Mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
(radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, transistor
Transistor
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and power. It is composed of a semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor's terminals changes the current...
, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
) penetration was about 67%.
Primary workers constitute about 43% of the district's population. Of these, 65% work in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
related activities. The sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of the district is 980 per 1000 males, considerably higher than the national average — 927. The district's Net Domestic Income
Net income
Net income is the residual income of a firm after adding total revenue and gains and subtracting all expenses and losses for the reporting period. Net income can be distributed among holders of common stock as a dividend or held by the firm as an addition to retained earnings...
is US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
5.8 billion. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
of the district is about US$ 350 annually.
Economy
Agriculture is the largest employer in Bagalkot, with over 65% of the working population engaged in it; approximately 80% of female workers in Bagalkot are engaged in agriculture. Like most of north Karnataka, Bagalkot is very rich in black soil which is conducive to the cultivation of cotton. Bagalkot's economyNet income
Net income is the residual income of a firm after adding total revenue and gains and subtracting all expenses and losses for the reporting period. Net income can be distributed among holders of common stock as a dividend or held by the firm as an addition to retained earnings...
was valued at US$ 5.6 billion, making it the 12th largest economy in Karnataka. The approximate per capital income is US$ 360. The chief crops cultivated are rabi and jowar, as well as groundnut, cotton, maize, bajra, wheat, sugarcane and tobacco. Jowar is largely cultivated because it can be grown during rainy seasons
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
as well as during the winters. The crop also is the chief supply of food for the people. Pulses are also grown in the region, primarily tuvar daal
Pigeon pea
The pigeon pea , also known as tropical green pea, toor dāl or arhar dāl , ತೊಗರಿ ಬೇಳೆ kadios , or Congo pea or gungo pea , pois Congo , gandul , gunga pea, or no-eye pea, [Cajanus...
, gram, kulith and mūng daal
Mung bean
The mung bean is the seed of Vigna radiata. It is native to the Indian subcontinent.-Description:They are small, ovoid in shape, and green in color...
. Castor oil
Castor oil
Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean . Castor oil is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. Its boiling point is and its density is 961 kg/m3...
, linseed and sesamum
Sesamum
Sesamum is a genus of approximately 20 species in the flowering plant family Pedaliaceae. The plants are annual or perennial herbs with edible seeds. The best-known member of the genus is sesame, Sesamum indicum , the source of sesame seeds. The species are primarily African, with some species...
are also grown in Bagalkot. Water supply for irrigation includes reservoirs such as the Kendur reservoir, which is six miles from Badami and the Muchkundi reservoir, which is 4 miles from Bagalkot. Famine due to lack of adequate rains is quite common in Bagalkot. A famine that struck the region in 1901 inflicted considerable financial loss to the agricultural industry in Bagalkot. The district has the fifth highest farmer suicide rate in Karnataka. Efficient water management techniques and government sops have only marginally mitigated the repercussions of the drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
stricken district.
A sizable proportion of the population also consists of weavers. The chief manufactures are cotton and silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
cloths. Large quantities of cotton yarn
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
are also dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
d and exported to other parts of the state and country. Most of the immigrants in the district are either money lenders or cloth merchants.
In September 1901 a famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
swept through the district, particularly affecting Indi, Sindgi and Badami taluks.
Industries
The large-scale and small-scale industries in Bagalkot district are:KANORIA INDUSTRIES LTD
A large-scale industry established in the year 1948 by A. G. Tendulkar with a net amount of 1 crore. It was started by the name "BAGALKOT UDYOG LTD" later in 1972 the Khnoria group of industries took over it and was renamed as Khnoria Industries Ltd. It is a cement industry, which produces about 1000 metric ton of Portland cement daily. The cement they produce is sold worldwide with the name "Bagalkot Cement". Thus introducing the Bagalkot city worldwide. It provides employment opportunity to 570 peoples. It has built a school for the children of the employees. The industry is built according to the industrial norms. The cement they produce is of 43 grades and is very much in demand. For more information see www.khnoriaindustriesltd.com or www.bagalkotcement.com.
KATWA UDYOG LTD
A cement industry established in the year 1993 in a nearby village called Kaladagi. It produces 43 grades Portland cement and is sold in the market with the name "Jyoti Cement". This industry produces about 51,000 tons of cement yearly.
LOKAPUR CEMENT LTD
Another cement industry close to Bagalkot city. It is presently closed. It used to produce 43 grades of Portland cement, sold in the market with the name "Lokapur Cement".
SHREE KALCITY CEMENT
A cement industry established in the year 1990 in Naganur village of Mudhol taluk. It produces about 66,000 tons of cement yearly. It provides employment opportunity to 110 people. It was closed in 1993 and there is no production presently.
BAGALKOT CO-OPERATIVE SPINNING MILL LTD
Since cotton is grown in more amount a spinning mill was started in the year 1966. It provided an employment opportunity to 950 peoples of Bagalkot. Presently the industry is closed.
PINK GRANITES OF ILKAL
Granite is available in large amount in Bagalkot district. Granite is available in Ilkal and the nearby villages of Hungund taluk. Various companies are engaged in producing granite. GEM
GEM
-Broadcasting and entertainment:* G.E.M., a pop singer from Hong Kong* GEM , an Australian free-to-air TV Channel* Gem , stylized as GEM, an indie rock band from Utrecht, The Netherlands...
Granite, Bharat Timber Construction Company ltd, Rajashree Granite, Gomateshwar Granite and Mysore Minerals are the leading granite industries. Among these GEM Granite industry is dominant and it has been estimated that till now it has produced granite worth Rs. 600 crores. It is long time since the GEM granite industry exists. It uses latest technology in mining and produces good granite. It provides an employment opportunity to 1500 people.
GODHAWARI SUGAR MILL
Established in the year 1972 in Sameerwadi of Mudhol taluk. The sugarcane needed is supplied from Bagalkot district and various other nearby districts like Bijapur, Belgaum etc. It has a capacity of producing 6000 TCD of sugar. Around 922 people are employed in this mill.
JAMKHANDI SUGAR MILLS LTD
One of the recently started sugar mill, inaugurated by smt. Sonia Gandhi on 10 September 2001. The sugarcane needed is supplied from Bagalkot district and various other nearby districts like Bijapur, Belgaum etc. It has a capacity of producing 6000 TCD of sugar. Around 922 people are employed in this mill.
DEMPO DIARY INDUSTRIES LTD
A milk dairy in Asangi of Jamkhandi taluk produces milk powder and its products. Around 200 people are employed in this industry. Milk is collected from the farmers of Karnataka, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh states. The products are sold in Bangalore, Calcutta, Goa, Mumbai etc. It has a capacity of producing 1900 tons of milk powder.
AGRO INDUSTRIES LTD
Agro industries producing house hold eatables are running as small-scale industries. These produces Maida, Wheat Flour, Maize Flour, Noodles and Starch etc. Various Spices and Chilli powder are also prepared here. Cotton seed oil and Groundnut oil is also produced.
BANHATTI CO-OPERATIVE SPINNING MILL
As cotton was grown in more amount in olden days the people of Banhatti started looming cloths by hand. In order to uplift the loomers a spinning mill was necessary hence in the year 1974 a government-spinning mill was setup at Banhatti. The main aim of this mill was to provide the required raw material like spin to the loomers at low cost. Since the spin was available at low cost the sari's and other cloths prepared were cheaper for the customer to buy. Hence providing low cost material to the loomers and low priced product to the customers was the ultimate aim of the spinning mill. About 60% of the spin produced is sold to the local loomers and rest is sold to nearby states.
Apart from the above list many new industries are planning to begin in Bagalkot. New cement industries have been registered and are waiting for the permission to begin. There are other small-scale industries like Cement Pipe Industry which produce cement pipes, Bangle Industries which produce bangles, Match Stick Industries, Agarbatti Industries, Plastic Bag Industries etc. in Bagalkot.
At the outskirts of Bagalkot city there are many small-scale industries set up. These come under the Vidyagiri area of Bagalkot city, which is the latest extension of the city. Small-scale industries like Ceramic Tile Industry, tyre industry, Stone Cutting And polishing Industry, milk Dairy etc. are running successfully. At Gaddanakeri there are many limestone industries and brick industries. The limestone industries produce lime for whitewash and painting. The brick industries produce bricks required for the construction of houses. There are local oil industries and oil refineries which produce oil from groundnuts, sunflower, sesamum orientale, cotton etc.
Civic Administration
| Bagalkote district officials | |
| Deputy Commissioner Deputy Commissioner (India) The deputy commissioner or district magistrate or district collector or district magistrate and collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of... |
manoj kumar meena IAS |
| Zilla Panchayat Gram panchayat Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300... CEO Chief executive officer A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization... |
G C Prakash |
| Member of Parliament Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... |
P.C.Gaddigoudar (BJP Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament... ) |
The Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner (India)
The deputy commissioner or district magistrate or district collector or district magistrate and collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of...
is the head of the administration of the district of Bagalkot. The Deputy Commissioners office provides municipal services to the district, collects census information, enforces judicial precedents, administers local elections and collects revenue. Tahalsidars assist the Deputy Commissioner in administrative matters at the taluk level — each taluk has one Tahalsidar. Rural areas of each taluk are administered by a locally elected Zilla Panchayat
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...
, headed by a Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO). The Zilla Panchayat is charged with rural development schemes related to irrigation, water supply, road and infrastructural facilities. Bagalkot district contributes one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) to India's Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
. The district also contributes seven Members of Legislative Assembly
Member of Legislative Assembly
A Member of Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature of a State in the Indian system of government...
(MLA)s to Karnataka's Vidhan Sabha
Vidhan Sabha
The Vidhan Sabha or the Legislative Assembly is the lower house or the sole house of the provincial legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhi and Pondicherry...
, one from each taluk. Karnataka is one of only five states in the Indian union with an existing Vidhan Parishad
Vidhan Parishad
The Vidhan Parishad is the upper house in those states of India that have a bicameral legislature. , six states have a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh...
(Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
). Bagalkot district contributes four Members of Legislative Council (MLC)s to the Vidhan Parishad.
Bagalkot district's Zilla Panchayat body consists of 26 members. Of these, a president and vice president of the Zilla Panchayat are also elected. In addition, five standing committees consisting of Zilla Panchayat members numbering no more than seven are elected. The five standing committees include Planning and Finance, General standing, Agriculture and Industry, Education and Health and Social Justice.
Culture
The North Karnataka dialectDialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of Kannada is primarily spoken in the district. Kannada itself is classified as a Dravidian language
Dravidian languages
The Dravidian language family includes approximately 85 genetically related languages, spoken by about 217 million people. They are mainly spoken in southern India and parts of eastern and central India as well as in northeastern Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, and...
. The ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
identifies Bijapur
Bijapur, Karnataka
Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...
Kannada as the closest dialect to the particular dialect of Bagalkot. The traditional cuisine
Cuisine
Cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, often associated with a specific culture. Cuisines are often named after the geographic areas or regions that they originate from...
of the district is typical of the North Karnataka cuisine of the region. Jowar-based foods such as Bhakri
Bhakri
Bhakri is a round flat unleavened bread often used in the cuisine of western and central India, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Malwa, Goa and northern Karnataka . It is coarser than a roti and can be compared to a British biscuit with respect to hardness.Bhakri as...
are popular. Other forms of Indian bread
Indian bread
Indian breads are a wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine. Their variation reflects the diversity of Indian culture and food habits....
made out of jowar are also common and are referred to as jolada rotti
Jolada rotti
Jolada rotti is a specialty North Karnataka unleavened Indian bread made out of jowar . The name literally translates into jowar bread....
. As with most North Karnataka districts, Jhunka
Jhunka
Junka is a dish prepared in North Karnataka and Maharashtra. It is also known by the name of "Pitla". Its chief ingredient, gram flour , is mixed with water to form a stiff paste. It is then sauteed in oil with other ingredients and served with roti or more traditionally with Bhakri. The dish is...
, a garbanzo bean-based dish, is very popular and is usually eaten with Bhakri; the combination of these two dishes is referred to as Jhunka bhakar. Though not grown extensively in the district, rice, as in all of South India, is part of the staple diet and is imported from other parts of the state and region. Lentil
Lentil
The lentil is an edible pulse. It is a bushy annual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped seeds...
and pulse
Pulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
-based broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
s are common. Ilkal
Ilkal
Ilkal is a medium sized town in Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is located in a valley that lies in South – East corner of Bagalkote district and is quite close to the borders of Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district. The town falls within the jurisdiction of Hungund...
town in Bagalkot district is famous for the Ilkal saree
Ilkal saree
Ilkal saree is a traditional form of saree which is a common feminine wear in India. Ilkal saree takes its name from the town of Ilkal in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state, India. Ilkal sarees are woven using cotton warp on the body and art silk warp for border and art silk warp for pallav...
s manufactured there.
The Chalukyan kingdoms of old have left an omnipotent presence in the district of Bagalkot. Several Hindu temples built by the Chalukyas exist in the town of Badami. Three cave-temple complexes constructed by the Chalukyan king Mangalesa
Mangalesa
Mangalesa succeeded Kirtivarman I to the Chalukya throne. He ruled as regent as the heir to the throne Pulakesi II was considered too young to rule.-Capable warrior:An energetic and ambitious ruler, Mangalesa won several laurels in war...
(597 — 609 CE) exist within the district of Badami at the Badami Cave Temples. Of the cave-temples at this site, three are Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
ical while one is Jain. The Badami fort, previously used by the Chalukyas as well as by Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
also contains a prominent but now dilapidated Dravidian
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
tower. Aihole, the former capital of the Chalukyan empire, is a popular destination for Chalukyan and pre-Chalukyan art and architecture. Pattadakal contains a group of ten major temples surrounded by minor shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
s and plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
s each depicting the architecture of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
sanctioned a pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
centre in the town of Koodalasangama in honour of the social reformist Basavanna. Prasanna Venkata Dasa, widely regarded as the founder of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
and prominent member of the Bhakti Movement
Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement is a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice is loving devotion among the Shaivite and Vaishnava saints. The Bhakti movement originated in ancient Tamil Nadu and began to spread to the north during the late medieval ages when north India was under Islamic...
, lived in Bagalkot and composed his music in Kannada.