Belgaum
Encyclopedia
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation
in Belgaum district
in the state of Karnataka
, India
. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore
, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad.
It is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level and is the headquarters of Belgaum district
, which borders the states of Maharashtra
and Goa
. Belgaum is also the headquarters
for the Belgaum division
. The division comprises the districts of Bagalkot
, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad
- Hubli, Gadag, Haveri
, and Uttara Kannada
. The Government of Karnataka has proposed making Belgaum the second capital of the State of Karnataka with the recently upcoming second state administrative building Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
who were based at nearby Saundatti
. The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 by a Ratta officer named Bichiraja. Belgaum served as the capital of that dynasty between 1210 and 1250, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri. Belgaum then briefly came under the sway of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The Khiljis
of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 14th century and succeeded in ruining both the indigenous powers of the region, the Yadava and the Hoysalas without providing a viable administration. This lacuna was supplied by the Vijayanagara Empire
, which had become the established power of the area by 1336. A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.
In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate
, then ruling from Bidar
, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterward, in 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. The Adilshahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals. However, the Mughal empire went into decline after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, and his principal detractors, the Maratha
confederacy, took control of the area during the rule of the Peshwa
s. In 1776, the country was overrun by Hyder Ali
of Mysore
, but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, the British deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.Kitturu Chennamma ( ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ) (1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka
. In 1824, 33 years before the 1857 War of Independence in Murree, she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence.
Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of Indian National Congress
in December 1924 under the Presidentship of Mahatma Gandhiji. The city served as a major military installation for the British Raj
, primarily due to its proximity to Goa
, which was then a Portuguese territory. Once the British left India
, the Indian Government continued and still continues to have Armed forces installations in Belgaum. In 1961, the Indian government, under the Prime Ministership of Nehru used forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.
When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district became part of Bombay State
. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the States Reorganisation Act
, and Belgaum District was transferred to Mysore State
, which was renamed Karnataka
in 1972.
In 2006, the Government of Karnataka
announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day session of the state legislature.
Velugrama, Kannada for Venugrama i.e. "Bamboo village" and the same, Belagavi in Kannada
, Belgaon in Marathi
.
Of late, the city has carved itself a new name as Kunda nagari because of its famous sweet dish Kunda
. The city is also known as Sugar City", and the district as Sakkare Jille" (Sugar District) because of its enormous sugarcane cultivation and sugar production.
The name Belgaum had been proposed to be changed to Belagaavi by the Karnataka government. However Central government has not agreed to rename the city, as Belgaum is caught between Karnataka and Maharashtra in the border dispute. One of the Centre's guidelines for renaming places is that the names should not hurt people's sentiments, not have political overtones and not already be in use in any other state.
(now Karnataka
) with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act
(1956),which reorganised India's states along linguistic
lines, despite having large Marathi-speaking population; about three fourths of total population(1956) Since then, Maharashtra
continues to claim the district, and the case is now in Supreme Court of India
.
The city is situated in the northwestern parts of Karnataka
and lies at the border of two states, Maharashtra
and Goa
on the western ghats (50 km from Goa
state border). It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying at a distance of 502 km from Bangalore
;515 km from Hyderabad and 500 km from Mumbai
. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of 13,415 km² with a population of around 48 lakhs or 4.8 million (47,78,439) according to the census 2011. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats
) at an altitude of about 779m, 100 km from the Arabian Sea
with the river Markandeya flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.
, Belgaum has a urban population of 12,10,700. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 65%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. Eleven percent of the population is under 6 years of age. Here majority of the population are Marathis followed by Kannadigas
and Urdu
speaking Muslims.
Belgaum is a cosmopolitan
as people from all over India
dwell here.
and even the Kannada spoken here is laced with a generous dose of Marathi.
Belgaum enjoys rich cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the states of Maharashtra and Goa. Kannada and Marathi
are the main languages spoken. The customs and traditions of Belgaum have been influenced by both the Kannada and Marathi
cultures. Traditional dressing in rural Belgaum is similar to the attires of people in the north Karnataka and Maharashtra; the men wear a turban with a long tailpiece at the rear and a dhoti (a sarong worn in a manner that allows easier movement) and the women wear saris. However, in the city, the costumes are very much in tune with modern urban India.
Second World Kannada Meet 2011 was held in the city on 11–13 March 2011 (First held at Mysore in the year 1985) to celebrate, enrich the tradition, culture and progress of the state.
and is mainly traded with Goa
along with major cities like Pune
, Bangalore
. Rich deposits of Bauxite
are found in Belgaum district
, and have led to the creation of the (HINDALCO) Indian Aluminium Company Birla Group for production of aluminium
. Additionally, uranium
deposits have recently been found in Deshnur, a small village near Bailhongal
town. Belgaum is a major producer of milk in the state, almost 1/3 or 30% of state's production and has the highest number of sugar factories; Belgaum, being home to Renuka Sugars, is also known as Sugar Bowl of Karnataka.
From the early 1970s, Belgaum began developing as an important centre for the manufacture of heavy machine tools, including the manufacture of high pressure oil Hydraulics
.
Its also a foundry
hub of the Karnataka state having about 200 foundries producing more than 70000 tons of automotive and industrial castings of ferrous base and the supporting ancillaries like CNC and conventional machine shops which finish the castings that are produced in Belgaum.
Belgaum is one of the major textile centre in the State with over 50,000 powerlooms (including unregistered units). Almost entire areas of old Belgaum at Vadagaon, Khasbagh, Shahpur are engaged in business with power looms. Belgaum is known for what are known as “Belgaum saris” which are sold under different brand names. Over 30,000 people are directly dependent on the powerlooms. There are also ready-made garment units, including export oriented, besides those manufacturing Khadi cotton products.
Trade flourishes in Belgaum, and many areas of the city are dedicated to certain kinds of trade. For example, almost all automobile-related trade and manufacture happens in the Fort Road area of the city and Udyambag. The Raviwarpeth area is known as the wholesale
market which sells commodities like grains, tea, etc.
Belgaum also is a strong industrial hub for machine shops catering to automotive manufacturing, Specially in Crankshaft
machining and castings. The geographical location of the city is an advantage since it is situated right in between Bangalore and Mumbai
–Pune
to support the major automotive and aerospace companies.
A 300 acres (1.2 km²) Special Economic Zone
is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore highway to cater to precision engineering
requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.
Goa
commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training center and cantonment
, which it continues to be today for the Indian Armed Forces
, along with an air force station of the Indian Air Force
. The British had a sizable infantry
post here, having realized the military importance of its geographical location. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for Belgaum's sobriquet
The Cradle of Infantry. Development of a Rail Network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the East India Company
and the British to exert control over India. Belgaum houses the Maratha Light Infantry
Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It also houses the Commando Training Wing which is a part of the Infantry School, Mhow, where the country's infantry commandos are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The Commando course at Belgaum is mandatory for all infantry officers. Officers of other arms and services and even some foreign officers undergo the course. In between the Military hospital and the commando training centre there lies an eminent school called Belgaum Military School
established in 1945 spread over an area of 64 acres (25.9 ha).
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
,
ITBP is building full fledge recreation and Training center In Belgaum at Halbhavi, Belgaum provides the best climate for recreation and ITBP will relocate the personal and will have large family bases in Belgaum for its soldiers after high altitude stressful duty.
CRPF,
Central Reserve Police Force
Institute of elite central paramilitary force is setting up a national-level training institution (jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum.
and 154 km from Panaji. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats
, it enjoys a cool, salubrious climate and is surrounded by natural beauty in the form of rivers, hills and dense evergreen forests covered tourists places like Amboli, Sindhudurg district
, jamboti
etc. Inside the city, A wide variety of historical sites, temples and churches exist in and around the city, most notably the fort Kamala Basti, Kapileshwar temple (South Kashi), the hills of Vaijyanath, Ramtirth in Kanbargi, the aerodrome at Sambra and others.
One can also visit Buthramanhatti park and Hidkal dam which are quite close to the city.
From the late 1970s onwards, Belagavi began seeing a substantial increase in the number of professional education institutions. While initially this was seen largely in the medical and engineering fields, Belagavi today hosts institutions from a number of other professional streams as well.
The establishment of the Visvesvaraya Technological University
in 1998, with the affiliation of more than 208 engineering colleges, raised the importance of Belgaum as a centre of education in Karnataka. Belgaum also hosts a number of medical college
s. The impact of this growth has considerably changed the cultural, linguistic and industrial profile of the city, due to the influx of students from across India (and even across the world), some of whom made Belgaum their home base after completion of their education there.
[Now part of the Golden Quadrilateral], Karnataka
, Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu
) and 4A (connecting Karnataka
and Goa
). NWKRTC run buses to all corners of karnataka as well as neighboring states. There are many prominent private buses which servers to all major destinations in karnataka and surrounding states.
. The airport currently serving the city is Belgaum Airport
at Sambra, located at 10 km from the city on SH20. Schedules have been erratic, as the air connectivity is primarily provided by feeder airlines.
Belgaum currently has regular flights to Mumbai and Bangalore (Kingfisher Airlines)
grid being part of south western division and is well connected by rail to major destinations such as Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa and New Delhi. Belgaum railway station is oldest in this region..
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 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...
in the 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...
, 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...
. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad.
It is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level and is the headquarters of 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...
, which borders the states of 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 Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. Belgaum is also the headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
for 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...
. The division comprises the districts of Bagalkot
Bagalkot district
Bāgalkot district is an administrative district in the Indian 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...
, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad
Dharwad District
Dharwad District is an administrative district of the state of Karnataka in southern India. Dharwad is the cultural headquarters of North Karnataka....
- Hubli, Gadag, Haveri
Haveri
Haveriis a town in Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Haveri District. The name Haveri is derived from the Kannada words havu and keri, which means place of snakes. Haveri is famous for its cardamom garlands. It is said that Haveri had around 1000 maths in ancient days. One of...
, and Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada also known as North Canara or North Kanara, is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is bordered by the state of Goa and Belgaum District to the north, Dharwad District and Haveri District to the east, Shimoga District and Udupi District to the south and the...
. The Government of Karnataka has proposed making Belgaum the second capital of the State of Karnataka with the recently upcoming second state administrative building Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
History
The Vadgoan and Madhavpur suburbs of Belgaum were important urban centres between 400 BC and 300 AD. The present city was built in the 12th century AD by the Ratta dynastyRatta dynasty
Ratta dynasty was the branch of Rashtrakutas. Savadatti , historically known as Sugandavarti was the capital of Ratta dynasty during 875-1250, later capital shifted to Belagavi historically known as Venugrama...
who were based at nearby Saundatti
Saundatti
Savadatti is one of the oldest towns in Belgaum district in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It is a celebrated pilgrimage centre located 78 kilometres from Belgaum. Savadatti is also the name of the taluk , which was previously named Parasgad. There are several ancient temples in...
. The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 by a Ratta officer named Bichiraja. Belgaum served as the capital of that dynasty between 1210 and 1250, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri. Belgaum then briefly came under the sway of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The Khiljis
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...
of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 14th century and succeeded in ruining both the indigenous powers of the region, the Yadava and the Hoysalas without providing a viable administration. This lacuna was supplied by 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...
, which had become the established power of the area by 1336. A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.
In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate
Bahmani Sultanate
The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the great medieval Indian kingdoms...
, then ruling from 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....
, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterward, in 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. The Adilshahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals. However, the Mughal empire went into decline after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, and his principal detractors, 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;...
confederacy, took control of the area during the rule of the 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. In 1776, the country was overrun by Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
of Mysore
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire...
, but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, the British deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.Kitturu Chennamma ( ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ) (1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in 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...
. In 1824, 33 years before the 1857 War of Independence in Murree, she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence.
Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in December 1924 under the Presidentship of Mahatma Gandhiji. The city served as a major military installation for 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...
, primarily due to its proximity to Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, which was then a Portuguese territory. Once the British left 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...
, the Indian Government continued and still continues to have Armed forces installations in Belgaum. In 1961, the Indian government, under the Prime Ministership of Nehru used forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.
When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district became part of Bombay State
Bombay State
The Bombay State was a state of India, dissolved with the formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat states on May 1, 1960.-History:During British rule, portions of the western coast of India under direct British rule were part of the Bombay Presidency...
. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by 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,...
, and Belgaum District was transferred to Mysore State
Mysore State
The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. Upon India gaining its independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Mysore merged his realm with the Union of India...
, which was renamed 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...
in 1972.
In 2006, the 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...
announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day session of the state legislature.
Etymology
Belgaum is anglicized name of Belgaavi/Belgaon. The names are from the SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Velugrama, Kannada for Venugrama i.e. "Bamboo village" and the same, Belagavi in Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
, Belgaon in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
.
Of late, the city has carved itself a new name as Kunda nagari because of its famous sweet dish Kunda
Kunda
Kunda is a town in Estonia, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. There is a pulp mill , a cement factory and a port. Its population is ca...
. The city is also known as Sugar City", and the district as Sakkare Jille" (Sugar District) because of its enormous sugarcane cultivation and sugar production.
The name Belgaum had been proposed to be changed to Belagaavi by the Karnataka government. However Central government has not agreed to rename the city, as Belgaum is caught between Karnataka and Maharashtra in the border dispute. One of the Centre's guidelines for renaming places is that the names should not hurt people's sentiments, not have political overtones and not already be in use in any other state.
Border dispute
Belgaum was incorporated into newly formed Mysore stateMysore State
The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. Upon India gaining its independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Mysore merged his realm with the Union of India...
(now 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...
) with the passage of 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,...
(1956),which reorganised India's states along linguistic
Natural language
In the philosophy of language, a natural language is any language which arises in an unpremeditated fashion as the result of the innate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A natural language is typically used for communication, and may be spoken, signed, or written...
lines, despite having large Marathi-speaking population; about three fourths of total population(1956) Since then, 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...
continues to claim the district, and the case is now in Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
.
Geography
Belgaum is located at 15.87°N 74.5°E. It has an average elevation of 751 metres (2463 feet).The city is situated in the northwestern parts 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...
and lies at the border of two states, 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 Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
on the western ghats (50 km from Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
state border). It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying at a distance of 502 km from Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
;515 km from Hyderabad and 500 km from Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of 13,415 km² with a population of around 48 lakhs or 4.8 million (47,78,439) according to the census 2011. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
) at an altitude of about 779m, 100 km from the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
with the river Markandeya flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.
Climate
Belgaum is known for its pleasant climate all round the year. Belgaum is at its coldest in winter (November - February temperatures dropping to 9 degrees Celsius), and experiences continuous monsoon during July to September. The annual average rainfall is over 200 cm", 2000 mm.Demographics
As per provisional 2011 India censusCensus
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...
, Belgaum has a urban population of 12,10,700. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 65%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. Eleven percent of the population is under 6 years of age. Here majority of the population are Marathis followed by Kannadigas
Kannadigas
Kannadiga , or Kannadati is a reference to the people who natively speak the Kannada language. Kannadigas are mainly located in the state of Karnataka in India and in the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
speaking Muslims.
Belgaum is a cosmopolitan
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
as people from all over 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...
dwell here.
Culture
The lingua franca of the region is mostly MarathiMarathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
and even the Kannada spoken here is laced with a generous dose of Marathi.
Belgaum enjoys rich cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the states of Maharashtra and Goa. Kannada and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
are the main languages spoken. The customs and traditions of Belgaum have been influenced by both the Kannada and Marathi
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
cultures. Traditional dressing in rural Belgaum is similar to the attires of people in the north Karnataka and Maharashtra; the men wear a turban with a long tailpiece at the rear and a dhoti (a sarong worn in a manner that allows easier movement) and the women wear saris. However, in the city, the costumes are very much in tune with modern urban India.
Second World Kannada Meet 2011 was held in the city on 11–13 March 2011 (First held at Mysore in the year 1985) to celebrate, enrich the tradition, culture and progress of the state.
Economy
Belgaum is the commercial hub and divisional headquarters of north Karnataka, standing second to Bangalore in terms of overall exports in the state (mainly automotive industry). Known as the "Bread Basket / Rice Bowl" of north Karnataka, it is an important location for vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, wood (due to heavy rainfall, rivers and water abundance), mining production, trading in north KarnatakaKarnataka
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...
and is mainly traded with Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
along with major cities like Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. Rich deposits of Bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
are found in 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...
, and have led to the creation of the (HINDALCO) Indian Aluminium Company Birla Group for production of aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. Additionally, uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
deposits have recently been found in Deshnur, a small village near Bailhongal
Bailhongal
Bailhongal is a town in Belgaum district of Karnataka state in southern India. It is also the name of the surrounding taluka....
town. Belgaum is a major producer of milk in the state, almost 1/3 or 30% of state's production and has the highest number of sugar factories; Belgaum, being home to Renuka Sugars, is also known as Sugar Bowl of Karnataka.
From the early 1970s, Belgaum began developing as an important centre for the manufacture of heavy machine tools, including the manufacture of high pressure oil Hydraulics
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
.
Its also a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
hub of the Karnataka state having about 200 foundries producing more than 70000 tons of automotive and industrial castings of ferrous base and the supporting ancillaries like CNC and conventional machine shops which finish the castings that are produced in Belgaum.
Belgaum is one of the major textile centre in the State with over 50,000 powerlooms (including unregistered units). Almost entire areas of old Belgaum at Vadagaon, Khasbagh, Shahpur are engaged in business with power looms. Belgaum is known for what are known as “Belgaum saris” which are sold under different brand names. Over 30,000 people are directly dependent on the powerlooms. There are also ready-made garment units, including export oriented, besides those manufacturing Khadi cotton products.
Trade flourishes in Belgaum, and many areas of the city are dedicated to certain kinds of trade. For example, almost all automobile-related trade and manufacture happens in the Fort Road area of the city and Udyambag. The Raviwarpeth area is known as the wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
market which sells commodities like grains, tea, etc.
Belgaum also is a strong industrial hub for machine shops catering to automotive manufacturing, Specially in Crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
machining and castings. The geographical location of the city is an advantage since it is situated right in between Bangalore and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
–Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
to support the major automotive and aerospace companies.
A 300 acres (1.2 km²) Special Economic Zone
Special Economic Zone
A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic and other laws that are more free-market-oriented than a country's typical or national laws...
is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore highway to cater to precision engineering
Precision engineering
Precision engineering is a subdiscipline of electrical engineering, electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, and optical engineering concerned with designing machines, fixtures, and other structures that have exceptionally low tolerances, are repeatable, and are stable over time...
requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.
Defence training centres
Its salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training center and cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
, which it continues to be today for the Indian Armed Forces
Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy and Air Force, supported by three paramilitary forces and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command.The President of India is...
, along with an air force station of the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
. The British had a sizable infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
post here, having realized the military importance of its geographical location. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for Belgaum's sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
The Cradle of Infantry. Development of a Rail Network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and the British to exert control over India. Belgaum houses the Maratha Light Infantry
Maratha Light Infantry
The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It also houses the Commando Training Wing which is a part of the Infantry School, Mhow, where the country's infantry commandos are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The Commando course at Belgaum is mandatory for all infantry officers. Officers of other arms and services and even some foreign officers undergo the course. In between the Military hospital and the commando training centre there lies an eminent school called Belgaum Military School
Belgaum Military School
Rashtriya Military School, Belgaum is one of five military schools in India. Entrance tests for the military schools are held each year in December. About 70,000 to 80,000 students attend this test and around 350 students are selected. The selected candidates have to go through a medical check up....
established in 1945 spread over an area of 64 acres (25.9 ha).
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is an Indian force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometres...
,
ITBP is building full fledge recreation and Training center In Belgaum at Halbhavi, Belgaum provides the best climate for recreation and ITBP will relocate the personal and will have large family bases in Belgaum for its soldiers after high altitude stressful duty.
CRPF,
Central Reserve Police Force
Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force also known as CRPF is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain...
Institute of elite central paramilitary force is setting up a national-level training institution (jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum.
Tourism and attractions
Belagavi is located 502 km from BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and 154 km from Panaji. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, it enjoys a cool, salubrious climate and is surrounded by natural beauty in the form of rivers, hills and dense evergreen forests covered tourists places like Amboli, Sindhudurg district
Amboli, Sindhudurg district
Amboli is a hill station in south Maharashtra, India. At an altitude of 690 meters it is the last hill station before the coastal highlands of Goa and a relatively unexplored one....
, jamboti
Jamboti
Jamboti is located 20 km south-west of Belgaum and 18 km west of Khanapur in the Belgaum District of Karnataka, India....
etc. Inside the city, A wide variety of historical sites, temples and churches exist in and around the city, most notably the fort Kamala Basti, Kapileshwar temple (South Kashi), the hills of Vaijyanath, Ramtirth in Kanbargi, the aerodrome at Sambra and others.
Tourist Attractions within and nearby the city
- The Handloom cottage industries, and Silk weavers located in Vadgaon and Angol are known for the exquisitely designed Saris.
- The CantonmentCantonmentA cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
Area with its lush cover of greenery, the MLIRC (Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre) is also based here. - JambotiJambotiJamboti is located 20 km south-west of Belgaum and 18 km west of Khanapur in the Belgaum District of Karnataka, India....
, 20 km south-west of Belagavi, is a popular tourist spot with its evergreen hilltop forests. - Vajrapoha FallsVajrapoha FallsVajrapoha Falls , a waterfall in the Belgaum district of Karnataka in South West India, is situated about in the mountainous forest from the village of Jamboti...
on the Mandovi river are located 26 km from Belgaum. - Godchanmalki falls is a popular destination at a distance of about 60 km from Belgaum. They are stepwise falls which are approximately 100 metres in length, with a step at every 30 metres.
- Gokak FallsGokak FallsThe Gokak Falls is a waterfall located on the Ghataprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka, India. The waterfall is six kilometers away from Gokak...
is yet another resplendent waterfall 62 km from Belgaum and 6 km from the Gokak town. - Amboli hill station (MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
) This little known coastal highland area, around 70 km from Belagavi, is fabulous during the monsoons. Thick forests, curving misty ghats and shades of vibrant greens. - Asha Kiran Planetarium, School of Astronomy and Audio-Visual Education Research Centre. This is a new Planetarium that has recently been started in Belagavi. It is located in Ganeshpur.
- Dudhsagar Water Falls, located around 75 km from Belagavi, is a scenic waterfall located on the Mandovi River. The spot also provides various options for trekkers. The best time to visit is during or soon after the MonsoonMonsoonMonsoon 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...
. - International Golf Course (18 hole) located at Desur, 10 km from the city.
One can also visit Buthramanhatti park and Hidkal dam which are quite close to the city.
Architecture
- Kamal Basati is a Jain temple located within the walls of the fort.
- Belagavi Fort is a huge construct present in the center of the town. It dates back to 1519. The foundation of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, a legislative administrative office complex, was laid in Belagavi in August 2007 to celebrate the golden jubilee celebrations of the unification of KarnatakaUnification of KarnatakaThe Unification of Karnataka refers to the formation of the Indian state of Karnataka, then called as Mysore State, in 1956 when several Indian states were created by redrawing borders based on linguistic demographics...
.
Cuisine
Belgaum is known for its cross culture food right from the Bombay chats to the Chinese delicacies. Belgaum is also famous for its "Kunda" (especially Purohit Kunda), and "Kalakand". A special sweet called "Mandige" or "Maande" is a must during weddings.Educational institutions
Belagavi is also an important educational center. Consisting of 8 engineering colleges, 5 medical colleges, and some of the dental colleges across the city and district.Vishweshwariah technological university is the biggest university of Karnataka for technical education (for BE,Mtech, MCA, MBA) is based in Belgaum. basic degree colleges,9 polytechnic colleges and 3 Law colleges are other educational institutions. KLE and KLS societies are two big educational giants based in Belagavi.From the late 1970s onwards, Belagavi began seeing a substantial increase in the number of professional education institutions. While initially this was seen largely in the medical and engineering fields, Belagavi today hosts institutions from a number of other professional streams as well.
The establishment of the Visvesvaraya Technological University
Visvesvaraya Technological University
Visvesvaraya Technological University is an affiliating state university in Karnataka, India. It was established on 1st April 1998 by the Government of Karnataka as per VTU Act 1994, to improve the quality of technical education in the state. Apart from a few notable exceptions, VTU has complete...
in 1998, with the affiliation of more than 208 engineering colleges, raised the importance of Belgaum as a centre of education in Karnataka. Belgaum also hosts a number of medical college
Medical college
A Medical College is a trade association that brings together practitioners of a particular geographical area . In common law countries often are grouped by medical specialties ....
s. The impact of this growth has considerably changed the cultural, linguistic and industrial profile of the city, due to the influx of students from across India (and even across the world), some of whom made Belgaum their home base after completion of their education there.
VTU Belagavi
Visvesvaraya Technological University or VTU, named after Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweshwariah, is located in Machche in Belagavi. It has more than 208 colleges affiliated to it. And more than 67000 students graduate from VTU every year.KLE Society
In 1916, Karnataka Lingayat Education (K. L. E.) Society was founded by the Seven Founder Life Members, who are also addressed as "Saptarishis" [Seven Saints]. On 13 November 1916, K.L.E. Society started an Anglo Vernacular (G A High school now)School in Belgaum. Lingaraj College came into existence in June 1933. In 1947, B.V.B. College of Engineering and Technology was started in Hubli. J.N. Medical College at Belgaum and G.H. College at Haveri was started in the year 1963. It also runs World famous KLE engineering college in Belgaum. From 1984 onwards, K.L.E. Society started Dental, Education, Nursing, Information Technology, Computer Applications, Hotel Management, Business Management, Tourism, Fashion Designing, Agriculture Colleges and Polytechnics across India. Today under the leadership of Mr. Prabhakar Kore, the KLE Society runs 207 institutions.Karnatak Law Society
Karnatak Law Society(KLS) was founded in 1939 by a group of diehard freedom fighters and eminent lawyers. Their distinguished vision and sheer service motto not only brought succor and solace to a large number of quality education aspirants but it also paved the way for the establishment of one of the greatest institutions of all times to come. KLS imparts unparallel quality education in Engineering, Management and other allied areas to more than 20,000 students through eleven institutes situated in various parts of Northern Karnataka. KLS is managed by an elite pool of Lawyers, Engineers.Rani Channamma University
It also recently got Rani Channamma University independent, which was earlier PG centre of Karnatak University, Dharwad.Road
Belgaum is connected by road via the National Highways 4 (connecting MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
[Now part of the Golden Quadrilateral], 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...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
) and 4A (connecting 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...
and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
). NWKRTC run buses to all corners of karnataka as well as neighboring states. There are many prominent private buses which servers to all major destinations in karnataka and surrounding states.
Air
Belgaum Airport was the only airport in north karnataka for decades (with an airforce base). Belgaum is directly connected with MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. The airport currently serving the city is Belgaum Airport
Belgaum Airport
Belgaum Airport also Sambra Air Force Station is an airport located of Belgaum, Karnataka, India on SH20. Its also a Air Force Station with basic Training Institute in Sambra...
at Sambra, located at 10 km from the city on SH20. Schedules have been erratic, as the air connectivity is primarily provided by feeder airlines.
Belgaum currently has regular flights to Mumbai and Bangalore (Kingfisher Airlines)
Rail
Belgaum is on the main Indian RailwaysIndian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
grid being part of south western division and is well connected by rail to major destinations such as Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa and New Delhi. Belgaum railway station is oldest in this region..