Gokak
Encyclopedia
Gokakis a town and taluk headquarters in the Belgaum District
of Karnataka
state, India
. It is located around 70 km from Belgaum
at the confluence of two rivers, the Ghataprabha
and the Markandeya
. The population of the city is approximately 1,50,000 and the common language in use is Kannada. The town contains old Hindu
temple
s with inscriptions.
Gokak city has its own history. Nature has been kind to this place with the ranges of hills on one side and the vast black soil on the other. The river Ghataprabha
rushes forth in a majestic manner on the north side of the city. Before she passes through Gokak city, she dashes down through a cleft of 167 ft, to form a famous Gokak Falls
. Her waters have been harnessed and hydroelectric power is generated to run the well-known Gokak Mills since long. The hanging bridge across the river adds to the dreamy charm of the beautiful picture painted by Mother Nature. Another dancing river Markendeya joins river Ghataprabha
to form “Holy Sangam” on north-west side of the Gokak city near Santosh Kulkarni's house. The river Markandeya
, near village Godachinmalaki, dashes down through 43 ft step wise hill plates to form another beautiful Godachinmalaki Falls.
The town is growing rapidly in terms of industries, business, as well as the fields of education, arts, literature and folk-art. It is associated with famous Kannada writers and thinkrs such as Shri Krishna Murty Puranik, Anand Kanda, Dr. S. B. Totad, Basavaraj Kattimani,Prof.Kundanagar Rngler D.C.Pawate and Raghavendra Patil Many popular folk-artists such as Padmashri Dr.Chandrashekar Kambar, Ningayya Swami Pujari, Ishwarappa Minachi, Yallappa Pujeri, Dr. Hatapaki and Ishwarachandra Betageri are also associated with the town. Gokak has a world famous waterfall known as Gokak Falls. Famous Tikare Typing Institute which educated many people from past 30 years who are now serving in Govt, is still operating, even after the computers took over Typewriter
.
Gokak is also renowned for its sweets, which are known all over India, such as karadantu
(a Kannada term, which literally means fried edible gum), a sweet richly stuffed with nuts and edible gum, and ladagi laadu.
The town also specialises in the manufacture of wooden toy fruits, flowers, etc. which are then painted, polished and encased in transparent boxes.
, Gokak had a population of 67,166. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Gokak has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 60%. In Gokak, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.the population of Gokak city is 1.5lakh
The Mallikarjun temple, also known affectionately as the "Maliksaab Temple", stands atop a hill, also called the Malik-saab hill. The tomb of the Raja
of Kittur Mallasarja is at the nearby Duradundeshwar temple in Arabhavi Math.
During the British rule in India
, the Forbes Spinning Mill (now owned by Gokak Textiles Limited of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group) was started here, and is functional to this day, providing jobs for thousands of people. A small scale hydroelectric power generation plant was also set up in Gokak Falls
, one of the oldest such projects in the whole of Asia. This plant is also in good working condition to this day, and is used by the Spinning Mill and the nearby area.
Riddi Shiddi Gluco Biols limited is another industry situated here that provides employment to thousand of people.
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...
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...
state, 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 located around 70 km from Belgaum
Belgaum
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....
at the confluence of two rivers, the Ghataprabha
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 the Markandeya
Markandeya
Markandeya is an ancient rishi from the Hindu tradition, born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas...
. The population of the city is approximately 1,50,000 and the common language in use is Kannada. The town contains old 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...
temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s with inscriptions.
Gokak city has its own history. Nature has been kind to this place with the ranges of hills on one side and the vast black soil on the other. The river Ghataprabha
Ghataprabha
Ghataprabha is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Gokak taluk of Belgaum district in Karnataka.-Demographics:As of the 2001 India census, Ghataprabha had a population of more than 20,000...
rushes forth in a majestic manner on the north side of the city. Before she passes through Gokak city, she dashes down through a cleft of 167 ft, to form a famous Gokak Falls
Gokak Falls
The Gokak Falls is a waterfall located on the Ghataprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka, India. The waterfall is six kilometers away from Gokak...
. Her waters have been harnessed and hydroelectric power is generated to run the well-known Gokak Mills since long. The hanging bridge across the river adds to the dreamy charm of the beautiful picture painted by Mother Nature. Another dancing river Markendeya joins river Ghataprabha
Ghataprabha
Ghataprabha is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Gokak taluk of Belgaum district in Karnataka.-Demographics:As of the 2001 India census, Ghataprabha had a population of more than 20,000...
to form “Holy Sangam” on north-west side of the Gokak city near Santosh Kulkarni's house. The river Markandeya
Markandeya
Markandeya is an ancient rishi from the Hindu tradition, born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas...
, near village Godachinmalaki, dashes down through 43 ft step wise hill plates to form another beautiful Godachinmalaki Falls.
The town is growing rapidly in terms of industries, business, as well as the fields of education, arts, literature and folk-art. It is associated with famous Kannada writers and thinkrs such as Shri Krishna Murty Puranik, Anand Kanda, Dr. S. B. Totad, Basavaraj Kattimani,Prof.Kundanagar Rngler D.C.Pawate and Raghavendra Patil Many popular folk-artists such as Padmashri Dr.Chandrashekar Kambar, Ningayya Swami Pujari, Ishwarappa Minachi, Yallappa Pujeri, Dr. Hatapaki and Ishwarachandra Betageri are also associated with the town. Gokak has a world famous waterfall known as Gokak Falls. Famous Tikare Typing Institute which educated many people from past 30 years who are now serving in Govt, is still operating, even after the computers took over Typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
.
Gokak is also renowned for its sweets, which are known all over India, such as karadantu
Karadantu
Karadantu is a sweet delicacy unique to the state of Karnataka, India. Karadantu means fried-edible gum in the local language, Kannada. It is made of edible gum mixed with dry fruits and has a chewy texture. The other ingredients used in its preparation are fried bengal gram flour, jaggery and...
(a Kannada term, which literally means fried edible gum), a sweet richly stuffed with nuts and edible gum, and ladagi laadu.
The town also specialises in the manufacture of wooden toy fruits, flowers, etc. which are then painted, polished and encased in transparent boxes.
IT/BPO
Trans Solutions is a BPO company that has IT enabled service center in Gokak. The company provides free training with stipend and employs hundreds of local people to meet the back office demands of its clients.Geography
Gokak is surrounded by three hills. The Ghataprabha, which has water almost throughout the year, is the chief source of water for local people living in the surrounding villages.Demographics
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...
, Gokak had a population of 67,166. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Gokak has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 60%. In Gokak, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.the population of Gokak city is 1.5lakh
History
Gokak is a place of philosophical and historical significance. There was once was a dispute and a battle between Rani Abbakka and Gokak Kotawals. A fort can still be seen at the western side of the city.The Mallikarjun temple, also known affectionately as the "Maliksaab Temple", stands atop a hill, also called the Malik-saab hill. The tomb of the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
of Kittur Mallasarja is at the nearby Duradundeshwar temple in Arabhavi Math.
During the British rule in India
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...
, the Forbes Spinning Mill (now owned by Gokak Textiles Limited of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group) was started here, and is functional to this day, providing jobs for thousands of people. A small scale hydroelectric power generation plant was also set up in Gokak Falls
Gokak Falls
The Gokak Falls is a waterfall located on the Ghataprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka, India. The waterfall is six kilometers away from Gokak...
, one of the oldest such projects in the whole of Asia. This plant is also in good working condition to this day, and is used by the Spinning Mill and the nearby area.
Riddi Shiddi Gluco Biols limited is another industry situated here that provides employment to thousand of people.