Karnataka
Template:Short description Template:Other uses Template:Pp-semi-indef Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Indian state or territory Karnataka (Template:Indic Transl Template:Respell) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, and renamed Karnataka in 1973. The state is bordered by the Lakshadweep Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Telangana to the northeast, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. With 61,130,704 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Karnataka is the eighth-largest state by population, comprising 31 districts. With 15,257,000 residents, the state capital Bengaluru is the largest city of Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The economy of Karnataka is among the most productive in the country with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Template:INRconvert and a per capita GSDP of Template:INRconvert for the financial year 2023–24.<ref name="GSDP"/><ref name="NSDP"/> The state experience a GSDP growth of 10.2% for the same fiscal year.<ref name="GSDP"/> After Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada, Hubli–Dharwad, and Belagavi districts contribute the highest revenue to the state respectively. The capital of the state, Bengaluru, is known as the Silicon Valley of India, for its immense contributions to the country's information technology sector. A total of 1,973 companies in the state were found to have been involved in the IT sector as of 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka is the only southern state to have land borders with all of the other four southern Indian sister states. The state covers an area of Template:Cvt, or 5.83 per cent of the total geographical area of India.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the sixth-largest Indian state by area.<ref name=":3" /> Kannada, one of the classical languages of India, is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. Other minority languages spoken include Urdu, Konkani, Marathi, Tulu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kodava and Beary. Karnataka also contains some of the only villages in India where Sanskrit is primarily spoken.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka is derived from the Kannada words karu and nādu, meaning "elevated land". Karu Nadu may also be read as karu, meaning "black" and nadu, meaning "region", as a reference to the black cotton soil found in the Bayalu Seeme region of the state. The British used the word Carnatic, sometimes Karnatak, to describe both sides of peninsular India, south of the Krishna.<ref>See Lord Macaulay's life of Clive and James Talboys Wheeler: Early History of British India, London (1878) p.98. The principal meaning is the western half of this area, but the rulers there controlled the Coromandel Coast as well.</ref> With an antiquity that dates to the Paleolithic, Karnataka has been home to some of the most powerful empires of ancient and medieval India. The philosophers and musical bards patronised by these empires launched socio-religious and literary movements which have endured to the present day. Karnataka has contributed significantly to both forms of Indian classical music, the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.
Etymology
[edit]History
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Karnataka's pre-history goes back to a Paleolithic hand-axe culture evidenced by discoveries of, among other things, hand axes and cleavers in the region.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Evidence of Neolithic and megalithic cultures have also been found in the state. Gold discovered in Harappa was found to be imported from mines in Karnataka, prompting scholars to hypothesise about contacts between ancient Karnataka and the Indus Valley Civilisation Template:Circa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Prior to the third century BCE, most of Karnataka formed part of the Mauryan Empire of Emperor Ashoka. Four centuries of Satavahana rule followed, allowing them to control large areas of Karnataka. The decline of Satavahana power led to the rise of the earliest native kingdoms, the Kadambas and the Western Gangas, marking the region's emergence as an independent political entity. The Kadamba Dynasty, founded by Mayurasharma, had its capital at Banavasi;<ref name="origin">From the Talagunda inscription (B. L. Rice in Kamath (2001), p. 30.)</ref><ref name="origin1">Moares (1931), p. 10.</ref> the Western Ganga Dynasty was formed with Talakad as its capital.<ref name="gan">Adiga and Sheik Ali in Adiga (2006), p. 89.</ref><ref name="gan1">Ramesh (1984), pp. 1–2.</ref>
These were also the first kingdoms to use Kannada in administration, as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription and a fifth-century copper coin discovered at Banavasi.<ref name="first">From the Halmidi inscription (Ramesh 1984, pp. 10–11.)</ref><ref name="hal">Kamath (2001), p. 10.</ref> These dynasties were followed by imperial Kannada empires such as the Badami Chalukyas,<ref name="cha">The Chalukyas hailed from present-day Karnataka (Keay (2000), p. 168.)</ref><ref name="cha1">The Chalukyas were native Kannadigas (N. Laxminarayana Rao and S. C. Nandinath in Kamath (2001), p. 57.)</ref> the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta<ref name="rash">Altekar (1934), pp. 21–24.</ref><ref name="rash1">Masica (1991), pp. 45–46.</ref> and the Western Chalukya Empire,<ref name="west">Balagamve in Mysore territory was an early power centre (Cousens (1926), pp. 10, 105.)</ref><ref name="west1">Tailapa II, the founder king was the governor of Tardavadi in modern Bijapur district, under the Rashtrakutas (Kamath (2001), p. 101.).</ref> which ruled over large parts of the Deccan and had their capitals in what is now Karnataka. The Western Chalukyas patronised a unique style of architecture and Kannada literature which became a precursor to the Hoysala art of the 12th century.<ref name="unique">Kamath (2001), p. 115.</ref><ref name="flow">Foekema (2003), p. 9.</ref> Parts of modern-day Southern Karnataka (Gangavadi) were occupied by the Chola Empire at the turn of the 11th century.<ref name="A History of South India">Sastri (1955), p.164</ref> The Cholas and the Hoysalas fought over the region in the early 12th century before it eventually came under Hoysala rule.<ref name="A History of South India" />
At the turn of the first millennium, the Hoysalas gained power in the region. Literature flourished during this time, which led to the emergence of distinctive Kannada literary metres, and the construction of temples and sculptures adhering to the Vesara style of architecture.<ref name="sang1">Kamath (2001), pp. 132–134.</ref><ref name="sang">Sastri (1955), pp. 358–359, 361.</ref><ref name="chenna">Foekema (1996), p. 14.</ref><ref name="chenna1">Kamath (2001), pp. 122–124.</ref> The expansion of the Hoysala Empire brought minor parts of modern Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu under its rule. In the early 14th century, Harihara and Bukka Raya established the Vijayanagara empire with its capital, Hosapattana (later named Vijayanagara), on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the modern Bellary district. Under the rule of Krishnadevaraya, a distinct form of literature and architecture evolved.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Prof K.A.N. Sastri, History of South India pp 355–366</ref> The empire rose as a bulwark against Muslim advances into South India, which it completely controlled for over two centuries.<ref name="vij">Kamath (2001), pp. 157–160.</ref><ref name="vij1">Kulke and Rothermund (2004), p. 188.</ref> In 1537, Kempe Gowda I, a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire, widely held as the founder of modern Bengaluru, built a fort and established the area around it as Bengaluru Pete.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1565, Karnataka and the rest of South India experienced a major geopolitical shift when the Vijayanagara empire fell to a confederation of Islamic sultanates in the Battle of Talikota.<ref name="bin">Kamath (2001), pp. 190–191.</ref> The Bijapur Sultanate, which had risen after the demise of the Bahmani Sultanate of Bidar, soon took control of much of the Deccan; it was defeated by the Mughals in the late 17th century.<ref name="conf">Kamath (2001), p. 201.</ref><ref name="erst">Kamath (2001), p. 202.</ref> The Bahmani and Bijapur rulers encouraged Urdu and Persian literature and Indo-Saracenic architecture, the Gol Gumbaz being one of the high points of this style.<ref name="gol">Kamath (2001), p. 207.</ref> During the sixteenth century, Konkani Hindus migrated to Karnataka, mostly from Salcette, Goa,<ref name="konk">Template:Cite book</ref> while during the seventeenth and eighteenth century, Goan Catholics migrated to North Canara and South Canara, especially from Bardes, Goa, as a result of food shortages, epidemics and heavy taxation imposed by the Portuguese.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In the period that followed, parts of northern Karnataka were ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Maratha Empire, the British, and other powers.<ref>A History of India by Burton Stein p.190</ref> In the south, the Mysore Kingdom, a former vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire, was briefly independent.<ref name="ind">Kamath (2001), p. 171.</ref> With the death of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, Haidar Ali, the commander-in-chief of the Mysore army, gained control of the region. After his death, the kingdom was inherited by his son Tipu Sultan.<ref name="tip">Kamath (2001), pp. 171, 173, 174, 204.</ref> To contain European expansion in South India, Haidar Ali and later Tipu Sultan fought four significant Anglo-Mysore Wars, the last of which resulted in Tippu Sultan's death and the incorporation of Mysore into British India in 1799.<ref name="tip1">Kamath (2001), pp. 231–234.</ref> Mysore was restored to the Wodeyars, and the Kingdom of Mysore became a princely state outside but in a subsidiary alliance with British India.<ref name="tip" />
As the "doctrine of lapse" gave way to dissent and resistance from princely states across the country, Kittur Chennamma, Queen of Kittur, her military leader Sangolli Rayanna, and others, spearheaded rebellions in part of what is now Karnataka in 1830, nearly three decades before the Indian Rebellion of 1857. However, Kitturu was taken over by the British East India Company even before the doctrine was officially articulated by Lord Dalhousie in 1848.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other uprisings followed, such as the ones at Supa, Bagalkot, Shorapur, Nargund and Dandeli. These rebellions—which coincided with the Indian Rebellion of 1857—were led by Mundargi Bhimarao, Bhaskar Rao Bhave, the Halagali Bedas, Raja Venkatappa Nayaka and others. By the late 19th century, the independence movement had gained momentum; Karnad Sadashiva Rao, Aluru Venkata Raya, S. Nijalingappa, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Nittoor Srinivasa Rau and others carried on the struggle into the early 20th century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After the independence of British India, the Maharaja, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, signed an instrument of accession to accede his state to the new India. In 1950, Mysore became an Indian state of the same name; the former Maharaja served as its Rajpramukh (head of state) until 1975. Following the long-standing demand of the Ekikarana Movement, Kodagu- and Kannada-speaking regions from the adjoining states of Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay were incorporated into the Mysore state, under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The thus expanded state was renamed Karnataka, seventeen years later, on 1 November 1973.<ref name="Unification">Template:Cite news</ref> In the early 1900s through the post-independence era, industrial visionaries such as Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, played an important role in the development of Karnataka's strong manufacturing and industrial base.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Gupta, Jyoti Bhusan Das, ed. (2007). Science, Technology, Imperialism and War. History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization. XV(1). Pearson Longman. p. 247.</ref>
Geography
[edit]The state has three principal geographical zones:
- The coastal region of Karavali and Tulu Nadu
- The hilly Malenadu region comprising the Western Ghats
- The Bayaluseeme region comprising the plains of the Deccan Plateau
The bulk of the state is in the Bayaluseeme region, the northern part of which is the second-largest arid region in India.<ref name="arid">Template:Cite web</ref> The highest point in Karnataka is the Mullayanagiri hills in Chikmagalur district which has an altitude of Template:Cvt. The two main river systems of the state are the Krishna and its tributaries, the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Vedavathi, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra in North Karnataka, and the Kaveri and its tributaries, the Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati, Lakshmana Thirtha and Kabini, in South Karnataka. Most of these rivers flow out of Karnataka eastward, reaching the sea at the Bay of Bengal. Other prominent rivers such as the Sharavati in Shimoga and Netravati in Dakshina Kannada flow westward to the Lakshadweep Sea. A large number of dams and reservoirs are constructed across these rivers which richly add to the irrigation and hydroelectricity power generation capacities of the state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka consists of four main types of geological formations<ref name="geology">Template:Cite web</ref> – the Archean complex made up of Dharwad schists and granitic gneisses,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the Proterozoic non-fossiliferous sedimentary formations of the Kaladgi and Bhima series,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the Deccan trappean and intertrappean deposits and the tertiary and recent laterites and alluvial deposits.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Laterite cappings that are found in many districts over the Deccan Traps were formed after the cessation of volcanic activity in the early tertiary period. Eleven groups of soil orders are found in Karnataka, viz. Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Spodosols, Alfisols, Ultisols, Oxisols, Aridisols, Vertisols, Andisols and Histosols.<ref name="geology" /><ref name=":1">National Informatics Centre. "Traditional Soil Groups of Karnataka and their Geographic Distribution". Official Website of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Karnataka. Govt. of Karnataka. Retrieved 25 March 2007.</ref> Depending on the agricultural capability of the soil, the soil types are divided into six types, viz. red, lateritic, black, alluvio-colluvial, forest and coastal soils.<ref name=":1"/>
About Template:Cvt of Karnataka (i.e. 16% of the state's geographic area) is covered by forests.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The forests are classified as reserved, protected, unclosed, village and private forests.<ref name=":2"/> The percentage of forested area is slightly less than the all-India average of about 23%,<ref name=":2"/> and significantly less than the 33% prescribed in the National Forest Policy.<ref name="forest_area">Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
[edit]Karnataka experiences four seasons. The winter in January and February is followed by summer between March and May, the monsoon season between June and September and the post-monsoon season from October till December. Meteorologically, Karnataka is divided into three zones – coastal, north interior and south interior. Of these, the coastal zone receives the heaviest rainfall with an average rainfall of about Template:Cvt per annum, far in excess of the state average of Template:Cvt. Amagaon in Khanapura taluka of Belgaum district received Template:Cvt of rainfall in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014 Kokalli in Sirsi taluka of Uttara Kannada district received Template:Cvt of rainfall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluka and Hulikal of Hosanagara taluka in Shimoga district were the rainiest cities in Karnataka, situated in one of the wettest regions in the world.<ref name="second">Agumbe's receiving the second highest rainfall in India is mentioned by Template:Cite web</ref>
The state is projected to warm about Template:Cvt by 2030. The monsoon is set to provide less rainfall. Agriculture in Karnataka is mostly rainfed as opposed to irrigated, making it highly vulnerable to expected changes in the monsoon.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The highest recorded temperature was Template:Cvt in Raichuru district. The lowest recorded temperature was Template:Cvt at Bidar district.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Flora and fauna
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Karnataka is home to a variety of wildlife. It has a recorded forest area of Template:Cvt which constitutes 12.3% of the total geographical area of the state.<ref name="forestdept">Statistics related to forests in Karnataka is provided by Template:Cite web</ref> These forests support 25% of the elephant and 10% of the tiger population of India. Many regions of Karnataka are as yet unexplored, so new species of flora and fauna are found periodically. The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, includes the western region of Karnataka. The Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks were included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986, a UNESCO designation.<ref name="unesco1">Template:Cite web</ref> The Indian roller and the Indian elephant are recognised as the state bird and animal while sandalwood and the lotus are recognised as the state tree and flower respectively. Karnataka has five national parks: Anshi, Bandipur, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh and Nagarhole.<ref name="book">A Walk on the Wild Side, An Information Guide to National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Karnataka, Compiled and Edited by Nima Manjrekar, Karnataka Forest Department, Wildlife Wing, October 2000</ref> It also has 27 wildlife sanctuaries of which seven are bird sanctuaries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="forestdept" />
Wild animals that are found in Karnataka include the elephant, the tiger, the leopard, the gaur, the sambar deer, the chital or spotted deer, the muntjac, the bonnet macaque, the slender loris, the common palm civet, the small Indian civet, the sloth bear, the dhole, the striped hyena, the Bengal fox and the golden jackal. Some of the birds found here are the great hornbill, the Malabar pied hornbill, the Ceylon frogmouth, herons, ducks, kites, eagles, falcons, quails, partridges, lapwings, sandpipers, pigeons, doves, parakeets, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, kingfishers, bee-eaters and munias.<ref name="book" /><ref>Threatened Fauna of Karnataka Template:Webarchive By the Karnataka Forest Department</ref><ref>Endemic fauna of Karnataka Template:Webarchive By the Karnataka Forest Department</ref> Some species of trees found in Karnataka are Calophyllum tomentosum, Calophyllum apetalum, Garcinia cambogia, Garcinia morella, Alstonia scholaris, Flacourtia montana, Artocarpus hirsutus, Artocarpus lacucha, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Grewia tiliifolia, Santalum album, Shorea talura, Emblica officinalis, Vitex altissima and Wrightia tinctoria. Wildlife in Karnataka is threatened by poaching, habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict and pollution.<ref name="book" />
Sub-divisions
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There are 31 districts in Karnataka. Each district (zila) is governed by a district commissioner (ziladar). The districts are further divided into sub-districts (talukas), which are governed by sub-commissioners (talukdars); sub-divisions comprise blocks (tehsils/hobli), which are governed by block development officers (tehsildars), which contain village councils (panchayats), town municipal councils (purasabhe), city municipal councils (nagarasabhe), and city municipal corporations (mahanagara palike).
| Sl. no. | Divisions | Capital | Sl. no. | Districts | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kitturu Karnataka | Belgaum | 1 | Bagalkot | Bagalkot |
| 2 | Belgaum | Belgaum | |||
| 3 | Dharwad | Dharwad | |||
| 4 | Gadag | Gadag-Betageri | |||
| 5 | Haveri | Haveri | |||
| 6 | Uttara Kannada | Karwar | |||
| 7 | Bijapur | Bijapur | |||
| 2 | Bengaluru | Bengaluru | 8 | Bengaluru Urban | Bengaluru |
| 9 | Bengaluru Rural | Bengaluru | |||
| 10 | Chikkaballapura | Chikkaballapur | |||
| 11 | Chitradurga | Chitradurga | |||
| 12 | Davanagere | Davanagere | |||
| 13 | Kolar | Kolar | |||
| 14 | Ramanagara | Ramanagara | |||
| 15 | Shimoga | Shimoga | |||
| 16 | Tumakuru | Tumkur | |||
| 3 | Kalyana Karnataka | Kalabuargi | 17 | Ballari | Ballari |
| 18 | Bidar | Bidar | |||
| 19 | Kalabuargi | Kalabuargi | |||
| 20 | Koppal | Koppal | |||
| 21 | Raichur | Raichur | |||
| 22 | Yadagiri | Yadagiri | |||
| 23 | Vijayanagara | Hospet | |||
| 4 | Mysore | Mysore | 24 | Chamarajanagara | Chamarajanagar |
| 25 | Chikmagalur | Chikmagalur | |||
| 26 | Dakshina Kannada | Mangaluru | |||
| 27 | Hassan | Hassan | |||
| 28 | Kodagu | Madikeri | |||
| 29 | Mandya | Mandya | |||
| 30 | Mysore | Mysore | |||
| 31 | Udupi | Udupi |
Demographics
[edit]| Rank | City | District | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru | Bengaluru Urban | 10,456,000 |
| 2 | Hubli–Dharwad | Dharwad | 943,857 |
| 3 | Mysore | Mysore | 920,550 |
| 4 | Belgaum | Belagavi | 610,350 |
| 5 | Kalaburagi | Kalaburagi | 543,147 |
| 6 | Mangaluru | Dakshina Kannada | 484,785 |
| 7 | Davanagere | Davanagere | 435,128 |
| 8 | Ballari | Ballari | 409,444 |
| 9 | Bijapur | Bijapur | 330,143 |
| 10 | Shimoga | Shimoga | 322,650 |
| 11 | Tumkur | Tumakuru | 305,821 |
According to the 2011 census of India,<ref name="LiteracyandSexCensus">Template:Cite web</ref> the total population of Karnataka was 61,095,297 of which 30,966,657 (50.7%) were male and 30,128,640 (49.3%) were female, or 1000 males for every 973 females. This represents a 15.60% increase over the population in 2001. The population density was 319 per km2 and 38.67% of the people lived in urban areas. The literacy rate was 75.36% with 82.47% of males and 68.08% of females being literate.<ref name="LiteracyandSexCensus" />
In 2007 the state had a birth rate of 2.2%, a death rate of 0.7%, an infant mortality rate of 5.5% and a maternal mortality rate of 0.2%. The total fertility rate was 2.2.<ref name="health">Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka's private sector speciality health care competes with the best in the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="healthcare">Template:Cite web</ref> Karnataka has also established a modicum of public health services having a better record of health care and child care than most other states of India. In spite of these advances, some parts of the state still suffer from the lack of primary health care.<ref name="childcare">Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka ranked tenth in the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025, with a score of 40.8.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Religion
[edit]Template:Main Template:Pie chart
Adi Shankara (788–820 CE) chose Sringeri in Karnataka to establish the first of his four mathas (monastery). Madhvacharya (1238–1317) was the chief proponent of Tattvavada (philosophy of reality), popularly known as Dvaita or Dualistic school of Hindu philosophy – one of the three most influential Vedanta philosophies. Madhvacharya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in many ways, going against standard conventions and norms. According to tradition, Madhvacharya is believed to be the third incarnation of Vayu (Mukhyaprana), after Hanuman and Bhima. The Haridasa devotional movement is considered one of the turning points in the cultural history of India. Over a span of nearly six centuries, several saints and mystics helped shape the culture, philosophy, and art of South India and Karnataka in particular by exerting considerable spiritual influence over the masses and kingdoms that ruled South India.Template:Citation needed
This movement was ushered in by the Haridasas (literally "servants of Hari") and took shape in the 13th century – 14th century CE, period, prior to and during the early rule of the Vijayanagara empire. The main objective of this movement was to propagate the Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya (Madhva Siddhanta) to the masses through a literary medium known as Dasa Sahitya. Purandara dasa is widely recognised as the "Pithamaha" of Carnatic Music for his immense contribution. Ramanuja, the leading expounder of Vishishtadvaita, spent many years in Melkote. He came to Karnataka in 1098 CE and lived here until 1122 CE. He first lived in Tondanur and then moved to Melkote where the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and a well-organised matha were built. He was patronised by the Hoysala king, Vishnuvardhana.<ref name="Kamath">Kamath (2001), pp. 150–152</ref>
In the twelfth century, Lingayatism emerged in northern Karnataka as a protest against the rigidity of the prevailing social and caste system. Leading figures of this movement were Basava, Akka Mahadevi and Allama Prabhu, who established the Anubhava Mantapa which was the centre of all religious and philosophical thoughts and discussions pertaining to Lingayats. These three social reformers did so by the literary means of "Vachana Sahitya" which is very famous for its simple, straight forward and easily understandable Kannada language. Lingayatism preached women equality by letting women wear Ishtalinga i.e. Symbol of god around their neck. Basava shunned the sharp hierarchical divisions that existed and sought to remove all distinctions between the hierarchically superior master class and the subordinate, servile class. He also supported inter-caste marriages and Kaay Ta tTatva of Basavanna. This was the basis of the Lingayat faith which today counts millions among its followers.<ref name="basava">Kamath (2001), pp. 152–154.</ref>
The Jain philosophy and literature have contributed immensely to the religious and cultural landscape of Karnataka.Template:Citation needed
Islam, which had an early presence on the west coast of India as early as the tenth century, gained a foothold in Karnataka with the rise of the Bahamani and Bijapur sultanates that ruled parts of Karnataka.<ref name="bam">Sastri (1955), p. 396.</ref> Christianity reached Karnataka in the sixteenth century with the arrival of the Portuguese and St. Francis Xavier in 1545.<ref name="chris">Sastri (1955), p. 398.</ref>
Buddhism was popular in Karnataka during the first millennium in places such as Gulbarga and Banavasi. A chance discovery of edicts and several Mauryan relics at Sannati in Kalaburagi district in 1986 has proven that the Krishna River basin was once home to both Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism. There are Tibetan refugee camps in Karnataka.Template:Citation needed
Festivals
[edit]Mysore Dasara is celebrated as the Nada habba (state festival) and this is marked by major festivities at Mysore. Bengaluru Karaga, celebrated in the heart of Bengaluru, is the second most important festival celebrated in Karnataka.<ref name="nada-habba">Template:Cite news</ref> Ugadi (Kannada New Year), Makara Sankranti (the harvest festival), Ganesh Chaturthi, Gowri Habba, Ram Navami, Nagapanchami, Basava Jayanthi, Deepavali, and Balipadyami are the other major festivals of Karnataka.Template:Citation needed
Language
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Template:Pie chart Kannada is the official language of the state of Karnataka, as the native language of 66.46% of its population as of 2011 and is one of the classical languages of India. Urdu is the second largest language, spoken by 10.83% of the population, and is the language of Muslims outside the coastal region. Telugu (5.84%) is a major language in areas bordering Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as well as Bengaluru, while Tamil (3.45%) is a major language of Bengaluru and in the Kolar district. Marathi (3.29%) is concentrated in areas of Uttara Kannada, Belgaum and Bidar districts bordering Maharashtra. Lambadi is spoken by the Lambadis scattered throughout North Karnataka, while Hindi is spoken in Bengaluru. Tulu (2.61%), Konkani (1.29%), and Malayalam (1.27%) are all found in linguistically diverse Coastal Karnataka, where a number of mixed and distinct dialects such as Are Bhashe, Beary Bhashe, and Nawayathi are found. Kodava Takk is the language of Kodagu.<ref name="census2011-langreport" /><ref name="OfficialLang">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="antiquity">Template:Cite web</ref>
Kannada played a crucial role in the creation of Karnataka: linguistic demographics played a major role in defining the new state in 1956. Tulu, Konkani and Kodava are other minor native languages that share a long history in the state. Urdu is spoken widely by the Muslim population. Less widely spoken languages include Beary bashe and certain languages such as Sankethi. Some of the regional languages in Karnataka are Tulu, Kodava, Konkani and Beary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kannada features a rich and ancient body of literature including religious and secular genre, covering topics as diverse as Jainism (such as Puranas), Lingayatism (such as Vachanas), Vaishnavism (such as Haridasa Sahitya) and modern literature. Evidence from edicts during the time of Ashoka (reigned 274–232 BCE) suggest that Buddhist literature influenced the Kannada script and its literature. The Halmidi inscription, the earliest attested full-length inscription in the Kannada language and script, dates from 450 CE, while the earliest available literary work, the Kavirajamarga, has been dated to 850 CE. References made in the Kavirajamarga, however, prove that Kannada literature flourished in the native composition metres such as Chattana, Beddande and Melvadu during earlier centuries. The classic refers to several earlier greats (purvacharyar) of Kannada poetry and prose.<ref name="kavi5">Narasimhacharya (1988), pp. 12, 17.</ref> Kuvempu, the renowned Kannada poet and writer who wrote Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate, the state anthem of Karnataka<ref name="anthem">Template:Cite web</ref> was the first recipient of the Karnataka Ratna, the highest civilian award bestowed by the Government of Karnataka. Contemporary Kannada literature has received considerable acknowledgement in the arena of Indian literature, with eight Kannada writers winning India's highest literary honour, the Jnanpith award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tulu is the majority language in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada and is the second most spoken in the Udupi district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This region is also known as Tulu Nadu.<ref> Template:Cite book</ref> Tulu Mahabharato, written by Arunabja in the Tigalari script, is the oldest surviving Tulu text.<ref name="tuluold">Template:Cite news</ref> Tigalari script was used by Brahmins to write Sanskrit language. The use of the Kannada script for writing Tulu and non-availability of print in Tigalari script contributed to the marginalisation of Tigalari script.Template:Citation needed In Karnataka Konkani is mostly spoken in the Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts and in parts of Udupi, Konkani use the Devanagari Script (which is official)/Kannada script (Optional) for writing as identified by government of Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Kodavas who mainly reside in the Kodagu district, speak Kodava Takk. Kodagu was a separate State with its own Chief Minister and Council of Ministers till 1956. Two regional variations of the language exist, the northern Mendale Takka and the southern Kiggaati Takka.<ref name="takk">Template:Cite web</ref> Kodava Takk has its own script, Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has accepted I. M. Muthanna's script which was developed in 1970 as the official script of Kodava Thakk. English is the medium of education in many schools and widely used for business communication in most private companies.Template:Citation needed All of the state's languages are patronised and promoted by governmental and quasi-governmental bodies. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat and the Kannada Sahitya Akademi are responsible for the promotion of Kannada while the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi,<ref name="konkani">Template:Cite web</ref> the Tulu Sahitya Akademi and the Kodava Sahitya Akademi promote their respective languages.Template:Citation needed
Government and administration
[edit]Template:Main Karnataka has a parliamentary system of government with two democratically elected houses, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. The Legislative Assembly consists of 224 members who are elected for five-year terms.<ref name="legi">Template:Cite web</ref> The Legislative Council is a permanent body of 75 members with one-third (25 members) retiring every two years.<ref name="legi" />
The government of Karnataka is headed by the Chief Minister who is chosen by the ruling party members of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister, along with the council of ministers, executes the legislative agenda and exercises most of the executive powers.<ref>Pylee, M. V. 2003. Constitutional government in India. New Delhi: S. Chand & Co, p. 365.</ref> However, the constitutional and formal head of the state is the Governor who is appointed for a five-year term by the President of India on the advice of the Union government.<ref>"The Head of the State is called the Governor who is the constitutional head of the state as the President is for the whole of India", Pylee, M. V. 2003. Constitutional government in India. New Delhi: S. Chand & Co, p. 357.</ref> The people of Karnataka also elect 28 members to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament.<ref name="loksabha">Template:Cite web</ref> The members of the state Legislative Assembly elect 12 members to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.Template:Citation needed
For administrative purposes, Karnataka has been divided into four revenue divisions, 49 sub-divisions, 31 districts, 175 taluks and 745 hoblies / revenue circles.<ref name="split">Template:Cite web</ref> The administration in each district is headed by a Deputy Commissioner who belongs to the Indian Administrative Service and is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Karnataka state services. The Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service and assisted by the officers of the Karnataka Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues in each district. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of managing forests, environment and wildlife of the district, he will be assisted by the officers belonging to Karnataka Forest Service and officers belonging to Karnataka Forest Subordinate Service. Sectoral development in the districts is looked after by the district head of each development department such as Public Works Department, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, etc. The judiciary in the state consists of the Karnataka High Court (Attara Kacheri) in Bengaluru, Hubli–Dharwad, and Kalaburagi, district and session courts in each district and lower courts and judges at the taluk level.Template:Citation needed
Politics in Karnataka has been dominated by three political parties, the Indian National Congress, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref name="politics">Template:Cite web</ref> Politicians from Karnataka have played prominent roles in federal government of India with some of them having held the high positions of Prime Minister and Vice-President. Border disputes involving Karnataka's claim on the Kasaragod<ref name="kasaragod-dispute">Template:Cite news</ref> and Solapur<ref name="solapur-dispute">Template:Cite news</ref> districts and Maharashtra's claim on Belagavi are ongoing since the states reorganisation.<ref name="belgaummajority1">Template:Cite news</ref> The official emblem of Karnataka has a Ganda Berunda in the centre. Surmounting this are four lions facing the four directions, taken from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. The emblem also carries two Sharabhas with the head of an elephant and the body of a lion.Template:Citation needed
Economy
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Karnataka had an estimated GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of about US$115.86 billion in the 2014–15 fiscal year.<ref name="IBEF">Template:Cite web</ref> The state registered a GSDP growth rate of 7% for the year 2014–2015.<ref name="DES">Template:Cite web</ref> Karnataka's contribution to India's GDP in the year 2014–15 was 7.54%.<ref name="IBEF" /> With GDP growth of 17.59% and per capita GDP growth of 16.04%, Karnataka is on the 6th position among all states and union territories.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In an employment survey conducted for the year 2013–2014, the unemployment rate in Karnataka was 1.8% compared to the national rate of 4.9%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011–2012, Karnataka had an estimated poverty ratio of 20.91% compared to the national ratio of 21.92%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, Karnataka had a multi-dimensional poverty rate of 5.67%, compared to the all India average of 11.28%.<ref>List of Indian states and union territories by poverty rate#:~:text=Mobile view-,"MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY IN INDIA SINCE 2005-06",-(PDF).</ref>
Nearly 56% of the workforce in Karnataka is engaged in agriculture and related activities.<ref name="excel">Template:Cite web</ref> A total of 12.31 million hectares of land, or 64.6% of the state's total area, is cultivated.<ref name="stats">Template:Cite web</ref> Much of the agricultural output is dependent on the southwest monsoon as only 26.5% of the sown area is irrigated.<ref name="stats" />
According to most recent data, Karnataka is considered the third richest state in India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Karnataka is the manufacturing hub for some of the largest public sector industries in India, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited and HMT (formerly Hindustan Machine Tools), which are based in Bengaluru. Many of India's premier science and technology research centres, such as Indian Space Research Organisation, Central Power Research Institute, Bharat Electronics Limited and the Central Food Technological Research Institute, are also headquartered in Karnataka. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited is an oil refinery, located in Mangalore.Template:Citation needed
The state has also begun to invest heavily in solar power centered on the Pavagada Solar Park. As of December 2017, the state has installed an estimated 2.2 gigawatts of block solar panelling and in January 2018 announced a tender to generate a further 1.2 gigawatts in the coming years: Karnataka Renewable Energy Development suggests that this will be based on 24 separate systems (or 'blocks') generating 50 megawatts each.<ref>Template:Cite web, KREDL tenders 1.2GW of solar PV</ref><ref>"Juwi baut 40-Megawatt-Park in Indien Template:Webarchive". Energie-Allee, issue of 2017, september. Retrieved 4 February 2019. (german) (pdf)</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Since the 1980s, Karnataka has emerged as the pan-Indian leader in the field of IT (information technology). In 2007, there were nearly 2,000 firms operating in Karnataka. Many of them, including two of India's biggest software firms, Infosys and Wipro, are also headquartered in the state.<ref name="it" /> Exports from these firms exceeded Template:INRConvert in 2006–07, accounting for nearly 38% of all IT exports from India.<ref name="it">Template:Cite web</ref> The Nandi Hills area in the outskirts of Devanahalli is the site of the upcoming $22 billion, 50 km2 BIAL IT Investment Region, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> All this has earned the state capital, Bengaluru, the sobriquet Silicon Valley of India.<ref name="business">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Karnataka also leads the nation in biotechnology. It is home to India's largest biocluster, with 60% of the country's biotechnology firms being based here.<ref name="biotech">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The state has 18,000 hectares of land under flower cultivation, an upcoming industry which supplies flowers and ornamental plants worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Seven of India's banks, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Corporation Bank, Vijaya Bank, Karnataka Bank, ING Vysya Bank and the State Bank of Mysore originated in this state.<ref name="cradle">Template:Cite web</ref> The coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have a branch for every 500 persons—the best distribution of banks in India.<ref name="fl">Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2002, Karnataka had 4767 branches of different banks with each branch serving 11,000 persons, which is lower than the national average of 16,000.<ref name="rbi">Template:Cite web</ref>
A majority of the silk industry in India is headquartered in Karnataka, much of it in Doddaballapura in Bengaluru Rural district and the state government intends to invest Template:INRConvert in a "Silk City" at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapura district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Karnataka also produces silver. The silver production of the state in 2018–19 was 214 kg whereas in 2019–20 it was 187 kg and in 2020–21 the silver production was 120 kg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka has the only village in the country which produces authentic Indian national flags according to manufacturing process and specifications for the flag are laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards at Hubli.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transport
[edit]Template:Main Air transport in Karnataka, as in the rest of the country, is still a fledgling but fast expanding sector. Karnataka has airports at Bengaluru, Mangalore, Belgaum, Hubli, Hampi, Bellary, Gulbarga, and Mysore with international operations from Bengaluru and Mangalore airports.<ref name="5airports">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> Shimoga and Bijapur airports are being built under the UDAN Scheme.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="TNIE1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4" />
Karnataka has a railway network with a total length of approximately Template:Cvt. Until the creation of the South-Western Railway Zone headquartered at Hubli in 2003, the railway network in the state was in the Southern Railway zone, South-Central Railway Zone and Western Railway zone. Several parts of the state now come under the South Western Railway zone with 3 Railway Divisions at Bengaluru, Mysore, Hubli, with the remainder under the Southern Railway zone and Konkan Railway Zone, which is considered one of India's biggest railway projects of the century due to the difficult terrain.<ref name="konkan">Template:Cite web</ref> Bengaluru and other cities in the state are well-connected with intrastate and inter-state destinations.Template:Citation needed
Karnataka has 11 ports, including the New Mangalore Port, a major port and ten minor ports, of which three were operational in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The New Mangalore port was incorporated as the ninth major port in India on 4 May 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This port handled 32.04 million tonnes of traffic in the fiscal year 2006–07 with 17.92 million tonnes of imports and 14.12 million tonnes of exports. The port also handled 1015 vessels including 18 cruise vessels during the year 2006–07. Foreigners can enter Mangalore through the New Mangalore Port with the help of Electronic visa (e-visa).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cruise ships from Europe, North America and UAE arrive at New Mangalore Port to visit the tourist places across Coastal Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The port of Mangalore is among the 4 major ports of India that receive over 25 international cruise ships every year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The total lengths of National Highways and State Highways in Karnataka are Template:Cvt, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The state transport corporations, transports an average of 2.2 million passengers daily and employs about 25,000 people.<ref name="ksrtc">Template:Cite web</ref> The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) headquartered in Bengaluru, The Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) headquartered in Gulbarga, and The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) headquartered in Hubli are the 4 state-owned transport corporations.Template:Citation needed
Culture
[edit]Template:Main Template:Multiple image The diverse linguistic and religious ethnicities that are native to Karnataka, combined with their long histories, have contributed immensely to the varied cultural heritage of the state. Apart from Kannadigas, Karnataka is home to Tuluvas, Kodavas and Konkanis. Minor populations of Tibetan Buddhists and tribes like the Soligas, Yeravas, Todas and Siddhis also live in Karnataka. The traditional folk arts cover the entire gamut of music, dance, drama, storytelling by itinerant troupes, etc. Yakshagana of Tulu Nadu, Uttara Kannada, and Malnad regions Karnataka, a classical dance drama, is one of the major theatrical forms of Karnataka. Contemporary theatre culture in Karnataka remains vibrant with organisations like Ninasam, Ranga Shankara, Rangayana and Prabhat Kalavidaru continuing to build on the foundations laid by Gubbi Veeranna, T. P. Kailasam, B. V. Karanth, K V Subbanna, Prasanna and others.<ref>Chief Editor:H Chittaranjan. 2005. Handbook of Karnataka, Gazetteer Department of the Government of Karnataka, Chapter XIII, pp. 332–337.</ref> Veeragase, Kamsale, Kolata and Dollu Kunitha are popular dance forms. The Mysore style of Bharatanatya, nurtured and popularised by the likes of the legendary Jatti Tayamma, continues to hold sway in Karnataka, and Bengaluru also enjoys an eminent place as one of the foremost centres of Bharatanatya.<ref>H Chittaranjan (chief editor). 2005. Handbook of Karnataka, Gazetteer Department of the Government of Karnataka, Chapter XIII, pp. 350–352.</ref>
Karnataka also has a special place in the world of Indian classical music, with both Karnataka<ref>Karnataka Music as Aesthetic Form/R. Sathyanarayana. New Delhi, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, 2004, xiii, 185 p., Template:ISBN.</ref> (Carnatic) and Hindustani styles finding place in the state, and Karnataka has produced a number of stalwarts in both styles. The Haridasa movement of the sixteenth century contributed significantly to the development of Karnataka (Carnatic) music as a performing art form. Purandara Dasa, one of the most revered Haridasas, is known as the Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha ('Father of Karnataka a.k.a. Carnatic music').<ref name="father">Template:Cite web</ref> Celebrated Hindustani musicians like Gangubai Hangal, Mallikarjun Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Basavaraja Rajaguru, Sawai Gandharva and several others hail from Karnataka, and some of them have been recipients of the Kalidas Samman, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards. Noted Carnatic musicians include Violin T. Chowdiah, Veena Sheshanna, Mysore Vasudevachar, Doreswamy Iyengar and Thitte Krishna Iyengar.Template:Citation needed
Gamaka is another classical music genre based on Carnatic music that is practised in Karnataka. Kannada Bhavageete is a genre of popular music that draws inspiration from the expressionist poetry of modern poets. The Mysore school of painting has produced painters like Sundarayya, Tanjavur Kondayya, B. Venkatappa and Keshavayya.<ref name="play2">Kamath (2001), p. 283.</ref> Chitrakala Parishat is an organisation in Karnataka dedicated to promoting painting, mainly in the Mysore painting style.Template:Citation needed
Saree is the traditional dress of women in Karnataka. Women in Kodagu have a distinct style of wearing the saree, different from the rest of Karnataka. Dhoti, known as Panche in Karnataka, is the traditional attire of men. Shirt, Trousers and Salwar kameez are widely worn in Urban areas. Mysore Peta is the traditional headgear of southern Karnataka, while the pagadi or pataga (similar to the Rajasthani turban) is preferred in the northern areas of the state.Template:Citation needed
Rice and Ragi form the staple food in South Karnataka, whereas Jolada rotti, Sorghum is staple to North Karnataka. Bisi bele bath, Jolada rotti, Ragi mudde, Uppittu, Benne Dose, Masala Dose and Maddur Vade are some of the popular food items in Karnataka. Among sweets, Mysore Pak, Karadantu of Gokak and Amingad, Belgaavi Kunda and Dharwad pedha are popular. Apart from this, coastal Karnataka and Kodagu have distinctive cuisines of their own. Udupi cuisine of coastal Karnataka is popular all over India.Template:Citation needed
Education
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As per the 2011 census, Karnataka had a literacy rate of 75.60%, with 82.85% of males and 68.13% of females in the state being literate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Indian Institute of Science and Manipal Academy of Higher Education were ranked within the top 10 universities of India by NIRF 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The state is home to some of the premier educational and research institutions of India such as the Indian Institute of Management – Bengaluru, the Indian Institute of Technology – Dharwad the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences – Bengaluru, the National Institute of Technology Karnataka – Surathkal and the National Law School of India University – Bengaluru.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2006, Karnataka had 54,529 primary schools with 252,875 teachers and 8.495 million students,<ref name="school">Template:Cite web</ref> and 9498 secondary schools with 92,287 teachers and 1.384 million students.<ref name="school" /> There are three kinds of schools in the state, viz., government-run, private aided (financial aid is provided by the government) and private unaided (no financial aid is provided). The primary languages of instruction in most schools are Kannada and English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The syllabus taught in the schools is either of KSEEB (SSLC) and Pre-University Course (PUC) of the State Syllabus, the CBSE of the Central Syllabus, CISCE, IGCSE, IB, NIOS, etc., are all defined by the Department of Public Instruction of the Government of Karnataka. The state has two Sainik Schools – Kodagu Sainik School in Kodagu and Bijapur Sainik School in Bijapur.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
To maximise attendance in schools, the Karnataka Government has launched a mid-day meal scheme in government and aided schools in which free lunch is provided to the students.<ref name="lunch">Template:Cite news</ref>
Statewide board examinations are conducted at the end of secondary education. Students who qualify are allowed to pursue a two-year pre-university course, after which they become eligible to pursue under-graduate degrees.<ref name=":5" />
There are 481-degree colleges affiliated with one of the universities in the state, viz. Bengaluru University, Rani Channamma University, Belagavi, Gulbarga University, Karnatak University, Kuvempu University, Mangalore University and Mysore University.<ref name="degree">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1998, the engineering colleges in the state were brought under the newly formed Visvesvaraya Technological University headquartered in Belgaum, whereas the medical colleges are run under the jurisdiction of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences headquartered in Bengaluru. Some of these baccalaureate colleges are accredited with the status of a deemed university. There are 186 engineering, 39 medical and 41 dental colleges in the state.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Udupi, Sringeri, Gokarna and Melkote are well-known places of Sanskrit and Vedic learning. In 2015 the Central Government decided to establish the first Indian Institute of Technology in Karnataka at Dharwad.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tulu and Konkani<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> languages are taught as an optional subject in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Christ University, Jain University, CMR University, Dayananda Sagar University, PES University and REVA University are notable private universities in Karnataka.Template:Citation needed
On 9 February 2022, Karnataka shut its schools for three days after the regional administration-backed schools imposed a hijab ban, leading to widespread protests and violence. Other universities in the state began enforcing prohibitions after Hindu students, supported by right-wing Hindu groups, argued that if hijabs were allowed in classrooms, they should wear saffron shawls. On 5 February 2022, the Karnataka state government advised colleges to guarantee that "clothes which disturb equality, integrity, and public law and order should not be worn" in apparent support of schools' ability to enforce a ban.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Media
[edit]The era of Kannada newspapers started in the year 1843 when Hermann Mögling, a missionary from Basel Mission, published the first Kannada newspaper called Mangaluru Samachara in Mangalore. The first Kannada periodical, Mysuru Vrittanta Bodhini was started by Bhashyam Bhashyacharya in Mysore. Shortly after Indian independence in 1948, K. N. Guruswamy founded The Printers (Mysuru) Private Limited and began publishing two newspapers, Deccan Herald and Prajavani. Presently The Times of India and Vijaya Karnataka are the largest-selling English and Kannada newspapers respectively.<ref name="toi">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="vk">Template:Cite news</ref> A vast number of weekly, biweekly and monthly magazines are under publication in both Kannada and English. Vijay Karnataka, Vijayvani, Prajavani, Udaywani, Kannada Prabha are some popular dailies published from Karnataka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Doordarshan is the broadcaster of the Government of India and its channel DD Chandana is dedicated to Kannada. Prominent Kannada channels include Colors Kannada, Zee Kannada, Star Suvarna and Udaya TV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka occupies a special place in the history of Indian radio. In 1935, Aakashvani, the first private radio station in India, was started by Prof. M.V. Gopalaswamy in Mysore.<ref name="gs">Named by Na. Kasturi, a popular Kannada writer Template:Cite news</ref> The popular radio station was taken over by the local municipality and later by All India Radio (AIR) and moved to Bengaluru in 1955. Later in 1957, AIR adopted the original name of the radio station, Aakashavani as its own. Some of the popular programs aired by AIR Bengaluru included Nisarga Sampada and Sasya Sanjeevini which were programs that taught science through songs, plays, and stories. These two programs became so popular that they were translated and broadcast in 18 different languages and the entire series was recorded on cassettes by the Government of Karnataka and distributed to thousands of schools across the state.<ref name="gs" /> Karnataka has witnessed a growth in FM radio channels, mainly in the cities of Bengaluru, Mangalore and Mysore, which has become hugely popular.<ref name="fm">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="popfm">Template:Cite news</ref>
Sports
[edit]Template:Main Karnataka's smallest district, Kodagu, is a major contributor to Indian field hockey, producing numerous players who have represented India at the international level.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The annual Kodava Hockey Festival is the largest hockey tournament in the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bengaluru has hosted a WTA tennis event and, in 1997, it hosted the fourth National Games of India.<ref name="natlgam">Template:Cite news</ref> The Sports Authority of India, the premier sports institute in the country, and the Nike Tennis Academy are also situated in Bengaluru. Karnataka has been referred to as the cradle of Indian swimming because of its high standards in comparison to other states.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
One of the most popular sports in Karnataka is cricket. The state cricket team has won the Ranji Trophy seven times, second only to Mumbai in terms of success.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru regularly hosts international Cricket matches and is also the home of the National Cricket Academy, which was opened in 2000 to nurture potential international players. Many cricketers have represented India and in one international match held in the 1990s; players from Karnataka composed the majority of the national team.<ref name="odi">Sujith Somasunder, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath, Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, all from Karnataka played in this match: Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="test">Vijay Bharadwaj, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath, Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, all from Karnataka played in this match: Template:Cite web</ref> The Royal Challengers Bengaluru, an Indian Premier League franchise, the Bengaluru Football Club, an Indian Super League franchise, the Bengaluru Yodhas, a Pro Wrestling League franchise, the Bengaluru Blasters, a Premier Badminton League franchise and the Bengaluru Bulls, a Pro Kabaddi League franchise are based in Bengaluru. The Karnataka Premier League is an inter-regional Twenty20 cricket tournament played in the state for eight seasons till 2019.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite magazine</ref> After 2019, it was replaced by Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament.<ref name=":6" />
Notable sportsmen from Karnataka include B.S. Chandrasekhar, Roger Binny, E. A. S. Prasanna, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid, Venkatesh Prasad, Robin Uthappa, Vinay Kumar, Gundappa Vishwanath, Syed Kirmani, Stuart Binny, K. L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, Ashwini Ponnappa, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, Prakash Padukone who won the All England Badminton Championships in 1980 and Pankaj Advani who has won three world titles in cue sports by the age of 20 including the amateur World Snooker Championship in 2003 and the World Billiards Championship in 2005.<ref name="prak">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="cue">Template:Cite news</ref>
Bijapur district has produced some of the best-known road cyclists in the national circuit. Premalata Sureban was part of the Indian contingent at the Perlis Open '99 in Malaysia. In recognition of the talent of cyclists in the district, the state government laid down a cycling track at the B.R. Ambedkar Stadium at a cost of Template:INRConvert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Tourism
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By virtue of its varied geography and long history, Karnataka hosts numerous spots of interest for tourists. There is an array of ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, scenic hill ranges, forests and beaches. Karnataka has been ranked as the fourth most popular destination for tourism among the states of India.<ref name="toptour">Template:Cite web</ref> Karnataka has the second highest number of nationally protected monuments in India, second only to Uttar Pradesh,<ref name="protect">Template:Cite web</ref> in addition to 752 monuments protected by the State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. Another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection.<ref name="protected_monuments">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="mp">Template:Cite news</ref>
The districts of the Western Ghats and the southern districts of the state have popular eco-tourism locations including Kudremukh, Madikeri and Agumbe. Karnataka has 25 wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks. Popular among them are Bandipura National Park, Bannerghatta National Park and Nagarhole National Park. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire at Hampi and the monuments of Pattadakal are on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The cave temples at Badami and the rock-cut temples at Aihole representing the Badami Chalukyan style of architecture are also popular tourist destinations. The Hoysala temples at Beluru and Halebidu, which were built with Chloritic schist (soapstone) are proposed UNESCO World Heritage sites.<ref name="heritage">Template:Cite news</ref> The Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim Rauza are famous examples of the Deccan Sultanate style of architecture. The monolith of Gomateshwara Bahubali at Shravanabelagola is the tallest sculpted monolith in the world, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims during the Mahamastakabhisheka festival.<ref name="mono">Keay (2000), p. 324.</ref>
The waterfalls of Karnataka and Kudremukh are considered by some to be among the "1001 Natural Wonders of the World".<ref name=":0">Michael Bright, 1001 Natural Wonders of the World by Barrons Educational Series Inc., published by Quinted Inc., 2005.</ref> Jog Falls is India's tallest single-tiered waterfall with Gokak Falls, Unchalli Falls, Magod Falls, Abbey Falls and Shivanasamudra Falls among other popular waterfalls.<ref name=":0" />
Several popular beaches dot the coastline, including Murudeshwara, Gokarna, Malpe and Karwar. In addition, Karnataka is home to several places of religious importance. Several Hindu temples including the famous Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, the Marikamba Temple at Sirsi, the Kollur Mookambika Temple, the Sri Manjunatha Temple at Dharmasthala, Kukke Subramanya Temple, Janardhana and Mahakali Temple at Ambalpadi, Sharadamba Temple at Shringeri attract pilgrims from all over India. Most of the holy sites of Lingayatism, like Kudalasangama and Basavana Bagewadi, are found in northern parts of the state. Shravanabelagola, Mudabidri and Karkala are famous for Jain history and monuments. Jainism had a stronghold in Karnataka in the early medieval period with Shravanabelagola as its most important centre. The Shettihalli Rosary Church near Shettihalli, an example of French colonial Gothic architecture, is a rare example of a Christian ruin, is a popular tourist site.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Karnataka has become a center of health care tourism and has the highest number of approved health systems and alternative therapies in India. Along with some ISO certified government-owned hospitals, private institutions which provide international-quality services, Hospitals in Karnataka treat around 8,000 health tourists every year.<ref name=autogenerated1>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear
See also
[edit]- Outline of Karnataka
- Media in Karnataka
- List of governors of Karnataka
- List of districts of Karnataka
- List of people from Karnataka
- List of butterflies of Karnataka
- List of airports in Karnataka
References
[edit]General sources
[edit]- John Keay, India: A History, 2000, Grove publications, New York, Template:ISBN
- Suryanath U. Kamath, Concise history of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002) Template:OCLC
- Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002) Template:ISBN.
- R. Narasimhacharya, History of Kannada Literature, 1988, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, Madras, 1988, Template:ISBN.
- K.V. Ramesh, Chalukyas of Vātāpi, 1984, Agam Kala Prakashan, Delhi. Template:OCLC. Template:OL. Template:LCCN. . Template:OCLC.
- Malini Adiga (2006), The Making of Southern Karnataka: Society, Polity and Culture in the Early Medieval Period, AD 400–1030, Orient Longman, Chennai, Template:ISBN
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- Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, A History of India, fourth edition, Routledge, 2004, Template:ISBN
- Foekema, Gerard [2003] (2003). Architecture Decorated with Architecture: Later Medieval Temples of Karnataka, 1000–1300 AD. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Template:ISBN.
External links
[edit]- Government
- General information
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