177-527: Kolar district ( pronunciation ) is a district in the state of Karnataka , India . Kolar (ಕೋಲಾರ) is the district headquarters. Located in southern Karnataka, it is the state's easternmost district. The district is surrounded by the Bangalore Rural district on the west, Chikballapur district on the north, the Chittoor district and Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh on the east and
354-465: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka. The wealth and fame of the empire inspired visits by and writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes , Fernão Nunes , and Nicolò de' Conti . These travelogues, contemporary literature and epigraphy in the local languages, and modern archeological excavations at Vijayanagara have provided ample information about the history and power of
531-729: 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. 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 . It also has 27 wildlife sanctuaries of which seven are bird sanctuaries. Wild animals that are found in Karnataka include
708-431: A growth rate of 11.04 percent from 2001 to 2011. Kolar's sex ratio is 976 females per 1,000 males. Its literacy rate is 74.33 percent. 31.25% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 30.32% and 5.13% of the population respectively. The district has 15 towns and a total of 3,321 villages (2,889 inhabited villages and 432 uninhabited). Languages of Kolar district (2011) At
885-551: A paleolithic hand-axe culture evidenced by discoveries of, among other things, hand axes and cleavers in the region. 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 c. 3300 BCE . Prior to
1062-518: A wax seal imprinted with the ring of the monarch. At the lower administrative levels, wealthy feudal landlords ( Gowdas ) supervised accountants ( Karanikas or Karnam ) and guards ( Kavalu ). The palace administration was divided into 72 departments ( Niyogas ), each having several female attendants chosen for their youth and beauty (some imported or captured in victorious battles) who were trained to handle minor administrative matters and to serve men of nobility as courtesans or concubines. The empire
1239-649: A Telugu-narrative, the founders were supported and inspired by Vidyaranya , a saint at the Sringeri monastery, to fight the Muslim invasion of South India, but the role of Vidyaranya in the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire is not certain. In the first two decades after the founding of the empire, Harihara I gained control over most of the area south of the Tungabhadra River and earned
1416-514: A chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire, widely held as the founder of modern Bangalore, built a fort and established the area around it as Bengaluru Pete . 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 . The Bijapur Sultanate , which had risen after
1593-519: A curse on those who do not honor the grant. Most Vijayanagara inscriptions recovered so far are in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil, and a few in Sanskrit. According to Suryanath U. Kamath about 7000 stone inscriptions, half of which are in Kannada, and about 300 copper plates which are mostly in Sanskrit, have been recovered. Bilingual inscriptions had lost favor by the 14th century. According to Mack,
1770-557: A family could have different social status based on their occupation and the upward movement of a caste or sub-caste was not uncommon based on the breakthroughs achieved by an individual or a group of individuals from the community. Caste affiliation was closely tied to craft production and members of a common craft formed collective memberships. Often members of related crafts formed inter-caste communities. This helped them consolidate strength and gain political representation and trade benefits. According to Talbot, terminology such as Setti
1947-681: A former vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire, was briefly independent. 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 . 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
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#17327986290932124-465: A greater reach, and their archers used metal crossbows which enabled their arrows to reach longer distances. In comparison, the Vijayanagara army depended on slow-moving war elephants , a cavalry riding mostly locally bred weaker horses wielding shorter-reach javelins, and their archers used traditional bamboo bows with a shorter range. Richard Eaton argues that Vijayanagara's inferiority was due to Krishna Raya's failure to invest in military technology in
2301-494: A large scale. Dye crops of indigo and chay root were produced for the weaving industry. A mineral rich region, Machilipatnam was the gateway for high quality iron and steel exports. Diamond mining was active in the Kollur region. The cotton weaving industry produced two types of cottons, plain calico and muslin (brown, bleached or dyed). Cloth printed with coloured patterns crafted by native techniques were exported to Java and
2478-399: A many obstacles including dissatisfied nobles, the rebellious chief of Ummattur in the south, a resurgent Gajapati kingdom under King Prataparudra, a growing threat from the newly formed Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur under Yusuf Adil Khan and Portuguese interest in controlling the west coast. Not one to be unnerved by these pressures he strengthened and consolidated the empire, one victory at
2655-535: A monthly basis by each governor was created under royal decree. Temples were taxed for land ownership to cover military expenses. In the Telugu districts the temple tax was called Srotriyas , in the Tamil speaking districts it was called as Jodi . Taxes such as Durgavarthana , Dannayivarthana and Kavali Kanike were collected towards protection of movable and immovable wealth from robbery and invasions. Jeevadhanam
2832-401: A number of mixed and distinct dialects such as Are Bhashe , Beary Bhashe , and Nawayathi are found. Kodava Takk is the language of Kodagu. 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
3009-542: A permanent body of 75 members with one-third (25 members) retiring every two years. 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. However, the constitutional and formal head of
3186-682: A place. The Tottiyans were shepherds who later gained marginal ruling status ( poligars ), Saurashtrans were traders who came from present-day Gujarat and rivalled the Brahmins for some benefits, the Reddys were agriculturists and the Uppilia were salt farmers . According to Chopra et al., in addition to their monopoly over priestly duties, Brahmins occupied high positions in political and administrative fields. The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes observed an increasing presence of Brahmins in
3363-557: A price on the bride was a possible influence of the Islamic Mahr system. To oppose this influence, in the year 1553, the Brahmin community passed a mandate under royal decree and popularized the kanyadana within the community. According to this practice money could not be paid or received during marriage and those who did were liable for punishment. There is a mention of Streedhana ("woman's wealth") in an inscription and that
3540-578: A result of trade between the Southern kingdoms and Arab lands. Jumma Masjids existed in the Rashtrakuta empire by the tenth century and many mosques flourished on the Malabar coast by the early 14th century. Muslim settlers married local women; their children were known as Mappillas ( Moplahs ) and were actively involved in horse trading and manning shipping fleets. The interactions between
3717-518: A sister of Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur was married to Burhan Nizam Shah I of Ahmednagar , the town of Sholapur was given to the bride by her family. Ayyangar notes that when the Gajapati King of Kalinga gave his daughter in marriage honoring the victorious Krishnadevaraya he included several villages as dowry. Inscriptions of the 15th and 16th centuries record the practice of dowry among commoners as well. The practice of putting
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#17327986290933894-495: 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. 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
4071-408: A time. He was an astute ruler who hired both Hindus and Muslims into his army. In the following decades, the empire covered Southern India and successfully defeated invasions from the five established Deccan sultanates to its north. The empire reached its peak during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529) when Vijayanagara armies were consistently victorious. The empire gained territory from
4248-656: A while but eventually made him very unpopular among his people and the Muslim rulers. He made a commercial treaty with the Portuguese to stop the supply of horses to Bijapur , then defeated the Bijapur sultan and inflicted humiliating defeats on Golconda and Ahmadnagar . Eventually the Deccan sultanates to the north of Vijayanagara united and attacked Rama Raya's army in January 1565 in the Battle of Talikota . Regarding
4425-574: Is a major language of Bangalore 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 Bangalore. Tulu (2.61%), Konkani (1.29%), and Malayalam (1.27%) are all found in linguistically diverse Coastal Karnataka, where
4602-532: 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 . With an antiquity that dates to
4779-706: 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
4956-449: Is marked by major festivities at Mysore. Bangalore Karaga , celebrated in the heart of Bangalore, is the second most important festival celebrated in Karnataka. 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. Languages of Karnataka ( 2011 census ) Kannada
5133-603: 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. 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 ,
5310-576: 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 . 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
5487-466: 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 . Though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka
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5664-426: 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 Bangalore, while Tamil (3.45%)
5841-1014: Is the second-largest arid region in India. The highest point in Karnataka is the Mullayanagiri hills in Chikmagalur district which has an altitude of 1,925 m (6,316 ft). 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
6018-651: Is threatened by poaching , habitat destruction , human-wildlife conflict and pollution . 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 ). According to
6195-645: The Archean complex made up of Dharwad schists and granitic gneisses , the Proterozoic non-fossiliferous sedimentary formations of the Kaladgi and Bhima series, the Deccan trappean and intertrappean deposits and the tertiary and recent laterites and alluvial deposits. Laterite cappings that are found in many districts over the Deccan Traps were formed after the cessation of volcanic activity in
6372-641: The Aravidu dynasty , founded a new capital of Penukonda to replace the destroyed Hampi, and attempted to reconstitute the remains of Vijayanagara Empire. Tirumala abdicated in 1572, dividing the remains of his empire to his three sons. The Aravidu dynasty successors ruled the region but the empire collapsed in 1614, and the final remains ended in 1646, from continued wars with the Bijapur sultanate and others. During this period, more kingdoms in South India became independent and separate from Vijayanagara, including
6549-640: The Central Food Technological Research Institute , are also headquartered in Karnataka. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited is an oil refinery , located in Mangalore. The state has also begun to invest heavily in solar power centred 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
6726-613: The Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and a well-organised matha were built. He was patronised by the Hoysala king, Vishnuvardhana . 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
6903-576: The Cholas , King Sridhar kora (ruled 970–985) reportedly built the temple for Renuka and founded the city of Kolaahalapuram. Veera Chola , Vikrama Chola and Rajendra Chola I built stone structures with inscriptions at Avani , Mulbagal , Sitti Bettta and elsewhere. Chola inscriptions, which document the rule of Adithya Chola I (871-907), Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I of Kolar, refer to Kolar as Nikarili Cholamandalam and Jayam Konda Chola Manadalam. Inscriptions from Rajendra Chola I also appear on
7080-641: 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. Parts of modern-day Southern Karnataka (Gangavadi) were occupied by the Chola Empire at the turn of the 11th century. The Cholas and the Hoysalas fought over the region in the early 12th century before it eventually came under Hoysala rule. At
7257-565: The Deccan sultanates , including Raichur in 1520 and Gulbarga in the central Deccan, and from wars with Sultan Quli Qutb Shah of Golconda in the eastern Deccan; the Kalinga region as well was gained from the Gajapatis of Odisha . This was in addition to the already established presence in the southern Deccan. Many important monuments were either completed or commissioned during the time of Emperor Krishna Deva Raya. Krishna Deva Raya
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7434-513: The Far East . Golkonda specialised in plain cotton and Pulicat in printed. The main imports on the east coast were non-ferrous metals , camphor , porcelain, silk and luxury goods. Mahanavami festival marked the beginning of a financial year from when the state treasury accounted for and reconciled all outstanding dues within nine days. At this time, an updated annual assessment record of provincial dues, which included rents and taxes, paid on
7611-621: 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 . Tulu is the majority language in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada and is the second most spoken in the Udupi district . This region is also known as Tulu Nadu . Tulu Mahabharato , written by Arunabja in
7788-862: The Hindu god Shiva ) but made grants to Vishnu temples. Their patron saint Vidyaranya was from the Advaita order at Sringeri . The Varaha (the boar avatar of Vishnu) was the emblem of the empire. Over one-fourth of the archaeological dig found an "Islamic Quarter" not far from the "Royal Quarter". Nobles from Central Asia's Timurid kingdoms also came to Vijayanagara. The later Saluva and Tuluva kings were Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu) by faith, but also worshipped Venkateshwara (Vishnu) at Tirupati as well as Virupaksha (Shiva) at Hampi. A Sanskrit work, Jambavati Kalyanam by Emperor Krishnadevaraya, refers to Virupaksha as Karnata Rajya Raksha Mani ("protective jewel of Karnata Empire"). The kings patronised
7965-549: 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
8142-596: The Jain Western Ganga Dynasty by the Cholas in the early 11th century and the rising numbers of followers of Vaishnava Hinduism and Virashaivism in the 12th century was mirrored by a decreased interest in Jainism. Two notable locations of Jain worship in the Vijayanagara territory were Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli . Islamic contact with South India began as early as the seventh century,
8319-461: The Kampili kingdom near Gulbarga and Tungabhadra River in the northeastern parts of present-day Karnataka state. The kingdom collapsed after a defeat by the armies of Delhi Sultanate and upon their defeat, the populace committed a jauhar (ritual mass suicide) in c. 1327–28 . The Vijayanagara Kingdom was founded in 1336 as a successor to the hitherto prosperous Hindu kingdoms of
8496-518: The Karnata Kingdom was a late medieval Hindu empire that ruled much of southern India . It was established in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty , members of a pastoralist cowherd community that claimed Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Muslim invasions by the end of
8673-777: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi , the Tulu Sahitya Akademi and the Kodava Sahitya Akademi promote their respective languages. 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. The Legislative Council is
8850-730: The Kolaramma Temple. Many Siva temples were built in Kolar during the reign of the Cholas, including the Someshwarar and Sri Uddhandeshwari Temples at Maarikuppam Village, the Eswaran Temple at Oorugaumpet and the Sivan Temple at Madivala Village. Chola rule of Kolar lasted until 1116. The inscriptions are neglected, and some have been vandalised. In 1117 Kolar became part of the Hoysala Empire ; in 1254 it
9027-665: The Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu on the south. On 10 September 2007, it was bifurcated to form the new district of Chikballapur. Due to the discovery of the Kolar Gold Fields , the district has become known as the "Golden Land" of India. People are citing that still gold is present in Kolar Gold Fields mines abundantly and also exists in Mulbagal , Kolar, Bangarapet , Malur , Srinivasapura taluks of Kolar District . However it must have to be confirmed by
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#17327986290939204-456: The Nayakas of Chitradurga , Keladi Nayaka , Mysore Kingdom , Nayak Kingdom of Gingee , Nayaks of Tanjore , and Nayaks of Madurai . The rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire maintained the administrative methods developed by their predecessors, the Hoysala, Kakatiya and Pandya kingdoms. The emperor, ministry, territory, fort, treasury, military , and ally formed the seven critical elements that influenced every aspect of governance. The emperor
9381-457: The State Bank of Mysore originated in this state. The coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have a branch for every 500 persons—the best distribution of banks in India. 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. Vijayanagara Empire The Vijayanagara Empire ( / v ɪ ˌ dʒ ə j ə ˈ n ə ɡ ə r ə / ) or
9558-413: The Tigalari script, is the oldest surviving Tulu text. 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. In Karnataka Konkani is mostly spoken in the Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts and in parts of Udupi , Konkani use
9735-446: The Western Ganga Dynasty was formed with Talakad as its capital. 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. These dynasties were followed by imperial Kannada empires such as the Badami Chalukyas , the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta and the Western Chalukya Empire , which ruled over large parts of
9912-1041: 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 . 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
10089-461: The guru (teacher) of Vadirajatirtha, Purandaradasa ( Pitamaha or "Father of Carnatic music" ) and Kanakadasa earned the devotion of Emperor Krishnadevaraya. The emperor considered the saint his Kuladevata (family deity) and honoured him in his writings. During this time, another great composer of early carnatic music, Annamacharya composed hundreds of Kirthanas in Telugu at Tirupati in present-day Andhra Pradesh . The defeat of
10266-737: 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 3,638.5 mm (143 in) per annum, far in excess of the state average of 1,139 mm (45 in). Amagaon in Khanapura taluka of Belgaum district received 10,068 mm (396 in) of rainfall in 2010. In 2014 Kokalli in Sirsi taluka of Uttara Kannada district received 8,746 mm (344 in) of rainfall. Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluka and Hulikal of Hosanagara taluka in Shimoga district were
10443-426: 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. Karnataka's pre-history goes back to
10620-407: The 13th century. At its peak in the early 16th century under Krishnadevaraya , it subjugated almost all of Southern India's ruling dynasties and pushed the Deccan sultanates beyond the Tungabhadra - Krishna River doab region, in addition to annexing the Gajapati Empire ( Odisha ) up to the Krishna River, becoming one of the most prominent states in India. The empire's territory covered most of
10797-434: The 2011 census of India, 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 km 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. In 2007
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#173279862909310974-405: The 2011 census, Karnataka is the eighth-largest state by population , comprising 31 districts . With 15,257,000 residents, the state capital Bangalore is the largest city of Karnataka. The economy of Karnataka is amongst the most productive in the country with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹ 25.01 trillion (US$ 300 billion) and a per capita GSDP of ₹ 332,926 (US$ 4,000) for
11151-462: The 6th position among all states and union territories. 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%. In 2011–2012, Karnataka had an estimated poverty ratio of 20.91% compared to the national ratio of 21.92%. Nearly 56% of the workforce in Karnataka is engaged in agriculture and related activities. A total of 12.31 million hectares of land, or 64.6% of
11328-403: The Bahmani Sultanate. His governor Saluva Narasimha reduced the loss of territory by holding almost all of coastal Andhra Pradesh south of the Krishna river, Chittoor, the two Arcots and Kolar. Saluva Narashimha defeated the Gajapatis and held Udayagiri, drove out the Pandyas from Tanjore, and took procession of Machilipatnam and Kondaveedu . He later defeated Bahmani forces and recovered most of
11505-466: The Cholas and, to commemorate his victory, built the Chennakesava Temple at Belur . Kolaramma and Someshwara are notable temples in Kolar. The Kolaramma temple, built in Dravida Vimana style during the second century, is dedicated to Shakti . It underwent renovations under Rajendra Chola I in the 10th century and the Vijayanagara kings in the 15th century. Someswara Temple is an example of 14th-century Vijayanagara art. Kolar's early history
11682-432: The Deccan sultanates and called himself "Sultan of the World". This included both Deccani Muslims recruited from anywhere in the Deccan or Westerners from beyond the Persian Gulf. He was keenly interfering in the internal affairs of the various sultanates in the Deccan and on playing off the Muslim powers against one another, while making himself the ruler of the most powerful and influential regional power. This worked for
11859-469: The Deccan sultanates turning the tide decisively in favor of them. The generals captured Rama Raya and beheaded him, and Sultan Hussain had the severed head stuffed with straw for display. Rama Raya's beheading created confusion and havoc in the Vijayanagara army, which were then completely routed. The Deccan sultanates' army plundered Hampi and reduced it to the ruinous state in which it remains today. After Rama Raya's death, Tirumala Deva Raya started
12036-528: The Devanagari Script (which is official)/ Kannada script ( Optional ) for writing as identified by government of Karnataka. 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 . Kodava Takk has its own script, Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has accepted I. M. Muthanna 's script which
12213-452: 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. After the independence of British India , the Maharaja, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar , signed an instrument of accession to accede his state to
12390-407: The Hoysalas, the Kakatiyas, and the Yadavas with the breakaway Kampili Kingdom adding a new dimension to the resistance to the Muslim invasion of South India. Two theories have been proposed regarding the linguistic origins of the Vijayanagara Empire. One is that Harihara I and Bukka I , the founders of the empire, were Kannadigas and commanders in the army of the Hoysala Empire stationed in
12567-430: The Mahavalis (Baanaas), the Pallavas and the Vaidumbaas. Benjamin Lewis Rice recorded 1,347 inscriptions in the Kolar District, in the 10th volume of his Epigraphia Carnatica , of the inscriptions, 422 are in Tamil , 211 in Telugu . But the oldest are in Kannada . This was the original language. Tamil came in with the Cholas in the 11th century, and Telugu with Vijayanagar kings after the 15th. The period covered by
12744-606: The Tamil country by occupying the Reddi kingdoms of Rajahmundry, Kondaveedu, Kanchipuram , and Tiruchirapalli . These defeats reduced the Vijayanagara Empire's prestige, described by an inscription which described the Gajapati king as "a yawning lion to the sheep of the Karnatak King". Mallikarjuna's successor Virupaksha Raya II led a life of pleasure perusing wine and women leading to the loss of Goa and much of Karnataka to
12921-644: The Tungabhadra region to ward off Muslim invasions from Northern India. Another theory is that Harihara and Bukkaraya were Telugu people, first associated with the Kakatiya Kingdom , who took control of the northern parts of the Hoysala Empire during its decline. They were believed to have been captured by the army of Muhammad bin Tughluq at Warangal . According to tradition, based on
13098-554: The Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahamani Sultanate to the north increased the presence of Muslims in the south. In the early 15th century, Deva Raya built a mosque for the Muslims in Vijayanagara and placed a Quran before his throne. The introduction of Christianity began as early as the eighth century as shown by the finding of copper plates inscribed with land grants to Malabar Christians. Christian travelers wrote of
13275-760: The Vijayanagara Empire as "The Kingdom of Narasinga", a name derived from "Narasimha" by the Portuguese. It is not clear whether the name was derived from Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya or Narasimha Raya II . Before the early 14th-century rise of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Hindu states of the Deccan – the Yadava Empire of Devagiri, the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal , and the Pandyan Empire of Madurai – were repeatedly raided and attacked by Muslims from
13452-418: The Vijayanagara city limits have revealed the existence of various community-based gaming activities. Engravings on boulders, rock platforms and temple floors indicate these were popular locations of casual social interaction. Some of these are gaming boards similar to the ones in use today and others are yet to be identified. Dowry was in practice and can be seen in both Hindu and Muslim royal families. When
13629-460: The Vijayanagara defeat in battle, Kamath opines that the Sultanate armies, though numerically disadvantaged, were better equipped and trained. Their artillery was manned by expert Turkish gunmen while the Vijayanagara army depended on European mercenaries using outdated artillery. The Sultanate cavalry rode fast moving Persian horses and used spears that were fifteen to sixteen feet long giving them
13806-518: The cause of the conflict. Contemporary Persian ambassador Abdur Razzak attributes the war to the Bahamani Sultan capitalizing on the confusion caused by an internal revolt within the Vijayanagara Empire, including an attempt to assassinate the Raya by his brother. Deva Raya II was succeeded by his elder son Mallikarjuna Raya in 1446. The Gajapati emperor removed the Vijayanagara control over
13983-411: The collection of additional feudal tributes from feudatory rulers, and consisted of archers and musketeers wearing quilted tunics , shieldmen with swords and poignards in their girdles, and soldiers carrying shields so large that armour was not necessary. The horses and elephants were fully armoured and the elephants had knives fastened to their tusks to do maximum damage in battle. The capital city
14160-768: The commoners whose lives were modest, the lives of royalty were full of ceremonial pomp. Queens and princesses had numerous attendants who were lavishly dressed and adorned with fine jewellery. Their numbers ensured their daily duties were light. Physical exercises were popular with men and wrestling was an important male preoccupation for sport and entertainment, and women wrestlers are also mentioned in records. Gymnasiums have been discovered inside royal quarters and records mention regular physical training for commanders and their armies during peacetime. Royal palaces and marketplaces had special arenas where royalty and common people amused themselves by watching sports such as cock fight , ram fight and female wrestling. Excavations within
14337-514: The courts of the Vijayanagara kings and their feudal chiefs. Some members of the royal family were writers of merit and authored important works such as Jambavati Kalyana by Emperor Krishnadevaraya, and Madura Vijayam (also known as Veerakamparaya Charita ) by Princess Gangadevi , a daughter-in-law of Emperor Bukka I , dwells on the conquest of the Madurai Sultanate by the Vijayanagara Empire. The Kannada poets and scholars of
14514-471: 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. 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
14691-610: 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. 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. During the sixteenth century, Konkani Hindus migrated to Karnataka, mostly from Salcette , Goa , while during
14868-603: 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. The empire rose as a bulwark against Muslim advances into South India, which it completely controlled for over two centuries. In 1537, Kempe Gowda I ,
15045-482: 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 . 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. About 38,284 km (14,782 sq mi) of Karnataka (i.e. 16% of
15222-461: The emperor's personal army directly recruited by the empire and the feudal army under each feudatory. Emperor Krishnadevaraya 's personal army consisted of 100,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalrymen, and over 900 elephants. The whole army was claimed to number over 1.1 million soldiers, with up to 2 million having been recorded, along with a navy led by a Navigadaprabhu (commander of the navy). The army recruited from all classes of society, supported by
15399-496: The empire produced important writings supporting the Vaishnava Bhakti movement heralded by the Haridasas (devotees of Vishnu), Brahminical and Veerashaiva ( Lingayatism ) literature. The Haridasa poets celebrated their devotion through songs called Devaranama (lyrical poems) in the native meters of Sangatya (quatrain), Suladi (beat based), Ugabhoga (melody based) and Mundige (cryptic). Their inspirations were
15576-467: The empire enjoyed a high level of monetization. This is especially evident from the number of temple cash grants that were made. Coins were minted using gold, silver, copper and brass and their value depended on material weight. Coins were minted by the state, in the provinces and by merchant guilds. Foreign currency was in circulation. The highest denomination was the gold Varaha (or Hun/Honnu , Gadyana ) weighted 50.65 – 53 grains. The Partab or Pratapa
15753-639: The empire from their traditional enemies, the Gajapati king and the Bahamani Sultan. He also subdued rebelling chiefs of the Chera, the Chola and the Pandya territories. Despite many attempts by nobles and members of the royal family to overthrow him, Narasa Nayaka retained control as regent till 1503. In 1503, Narasa Nayaka's son Vira Narasimha had prince Immadi Narasimha of the Saluva dynasty assassinated and took over
15930-638: The empire was Kannada. The latter gained even more cultural and literary prominence during the reign of the last Vijayanagara emperors, especially Krishnadevaraya. Most Sanskrit works were commentaries either on the Vedas or on the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, written by well known figures such as Sayanacharya (who wrote a treatise on the Vedas called Vedartha Prakasha whose English translation by Max Muller appeared in 1856), and Vidyaranya that extolled
16107-417: The empire was fertile and well cultivated. Most of the growers were tenant farmers and were given the right of part ownership of the land over time. Tax policies encouraging needed produce made distinctions between land use to determine tax levies. For example, the daily market availability of rose petals was important for perfumers, so cultivation of roses received a lower tax assessment. Salt production and
16284-560: The empire's 300 ports, large and small, on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal . The ports of Mangalore , Honavar , Bhatkal , Barkur , Cochin , Cannanore , Machilipatnam , and Dharmadam were important for they not only provided secure harbors for traders from Africa, Arabia, Aden, the Red sea, China and Bengal but some also served as ship building centers. When merchant ships docked,
16461-527: The empire's earlier losses. After the death of Virupaksha Raya II in 1485, Saluva Narasimha led a coup that ended the dynastic rule while continuing to defend the empire from raids by the Sultanates created from the continuing disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate in its north. Saluva Narasimha left his two adolescent sons under the care of general Tuluva Narasa Nayaka who ably defended
16638-478: The empire, while some areas, such as Keladi and Madurai , came under the direct supervision of a commander. On the battlefield, the emperor's commanders led the troops. The empire's war strategy rarely involved massive invasions; more often it employed small-scale methods such as attacking and destroying individual forts. The empire was among the first in India to use long-range artillery, which were commonly manned by foreign gunners. Army troops were of two types:
16815-473: The empire. The empire's legacy includes monuments spread over Southern India, the best known of which is the group at Hampi. Different temple building traditions in South and Central India were merged into the Vijayanagara architectural style . This synthesis inspired architectural innovations in the construction of Hindu temples . Efficient administration and vigorous overseas trade brought new technologies to
16992-479: The entire hull with ropes rather than fastening them with nails. Ships sailed to the Red Sea ports of Aden and Mecca with Vijayanagara goods sold as far away as Venice . The empire's principal exports were pepper, ginger, cinnamon , cardamom, myrobalan , tamarind timber , anafistula , precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, musk , ambergris , rhubarb , aloe , cotton cloth and porcelain . Cotton yarn
17169-494: The financial year 2023-24. The state experience a GSDP growth of 10.2% for the same fiscal year. After Bangalore Urban , Dakshina Kannada , Hubli-Dharwad, and Belagavi districts contribute the highest revenue to the state respectively. The capital of the state, Bangalore, 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
17346-519: The first Sultanate was formed in South Asia. Similar conical headdress is seen in other sites such as the Ajanta Caves , Ellora Caves , Aihole and Badami , variously dated from the 2nd century to 10th century. as well as that Indian kingdoms recognized their religious identity of being Hindu by the early 14th century. Others interpret the term Hinduraya Suratrana to mean "protectors of
17523-512: The gods of (or among) the Hindu kings". The empire's founders, the Sangama brothers (Harihara I and Bukka Raya I), came from a pastoral cowherd background, possibly the Kuruba people, that claimed Yadava lineage in an attempt to claim Kshatriya status like the rest of South Indian dynasties who originated from a pastoral background. The founders of the empire were devout Shaivas (worshippers of
17700-400: The head of an elephant and the body of a lion . Karnataka had an estimated GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of about US$ 115.86 billion in the 2014–15 fiscal year. The state registered a GSDP growth rate of 7% for the year 2014–2015. Karnataka's contribution to India's GDP in the year 2014–15 was 7.54%. With GDP growth of 17.59% and per capita GDP growth of 16.04%, Karnataka is on
17877-584: The high positions of Prime Minister and Vice-President. Border disputes involving Karnataka's claim on the Kasaragod and Solapur districts and Maharashtra 's claim on Belagavi are ongoing since the states reorganisation. 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
18054-440: The history of Southern India that transcended regionalism by promoting Hinduism as an unifying factor. 'Vijaynagar' translates to 'City of Victory'. Karnata Rajya (Karnata Kingdom) was another name for the Vijayanagara Empire, used in some inscriptions and literary works of the Vijayanagara times including the Sanskrit work Jambavati Kalyanam by Emperor Krishnadevaraya and Telugu work Vasu Charitamu . Europeans referred to
18231-558: The incorporation of Mysore into British India in 1799. Mysore was restored to the Wodeyars, and the Kingdom of Mysore became a princely state outside but in a subsidiary alliance with British India . 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
18408-425: The inscriptions is from 4th to the 18th century. List of tourist attractions in Kolar district important temple and tourist attractions details are provided here In the 2011 census , the district had a population of 1,536,401—roughly equal to that of Gabon or Hawaii . It ranked 324th of India's 640 districts ). The district has a population density of 384 inhabitants per square kilometre (990/sq mi), with
18585-518: The kings of Burma at Pegu and Tanasserim . By 1436 the rebellious chiefs of Kondavidu and the Velama rulers were successfully dealt with and had to accept Vijayanagara overlordship. After a few years of tranquility, wars broke out with the Bahamani Sultanate in 1443 with some successes and some reversals. The Persian visitor Firishta attributes Deva Raya II's war preparations, which included augmenting his armies with Muslim archers and cavalry, to be
18762-451: The lands of the modern-day Indian states of Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Goa , and some parts of Telangana and Maharashtra . The empire lasted until 1646, although its power declined greatly after a major military defeat in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 by the combined armies of the Deccan sultanates. The empire is named after its capital city of Vijayanagara (modern-day Hampi ) whose extensive ruins are now
18939-559: The latter defaulted in paying the tribute. Such wars for tribute payment by Vijayanagara were repeated in the 15th century. Deva Raya II (eulogized in contemporary literature as Gajabetekara ) succeeded to the throne in 1424. He was possibly the most successful of the Sangama Dynasty rulers. He quelled rebelling feudal lords and the Zamorin of Calicut and Quilon in the south. He invaded Sri Lanka and became overlord of
19116-650: The lives of millions. The Haridasas represented two groups, the Vyasakuta and Dasakuta , the former being required to be proficient in the Vedas , Upanishads and other Darshanas , while the Dasakuta merely conveyed the message of Madhvacharya through the Kannada language to the people in the form of devotional songs ( Devaranamas and Kirthanas ). The philosophy of Madhvacharya was spread by eminent disciples such as Naraharitirtha , Jayatirtha , Sripadaraya , Vyasatirtha , Vadirajatirtha and others. Vyasatirtha,
19293-578: The majority of the epigraphs in the language were inscribed in the limited period from 1500 to 1649. Talbot explains this scenario as one of shifting political solidarity. The Vijayanagara Empire was originally founded in Karnataka, with Andhra Pradesh serving as a province of the empire. After its defeat to the Deccan sultanates in 1565 and the sacking of the royal capital Vijayanagara, the diminished empire moved its capital to Southern Andhra Pradesh, creating an enterprise dominated by Telugu language. The Persian visitor Abdur Razzak wrote in his travelogues that
19470-518: The majority of the inscriptions recovered are from the rule of the Tuluva dynasty (from 1503 to 1565) with the Saluva dynasty (from 1485 to 1503) inscribing the least in its brief control over the empire. The Sangama dynasty (from 1336 to 1485) which ruled the longest produced about one third of all epigraphs inscribed during the Tuluva period. Despite the popularity of Telugu language as a literary medium,
19647-455: The manufacture of salt pans were controlled by similar means. The making of ghee (clarified butter), which was sold as an oil for human consumption and as a fuel for lighting lamps, was profitable. Exports to China intensified and included cotton, spices, jewels, semi-precious stones , ivory, rhino horn, ebony , amber , coral, and aromatic products such as perfumes. Large vessels from China made frequent visits and brought Chinese products to
19824-481: The merchandise was taken into official custody and taxes levied on all items sold. The security of the merchandise was guaranteed by the administration officials. Traders of many nationalities ( Arabs , Persians , Guzerates , Khorassanians ) settled in Calicut , drawn by the thriving trade business. Ship building prospered and keeled ships between 1000 and 1200 bahares ( burden ) were built without decks by sewing
20001-408: The military. The separation of the priestly class from material wealth and power made them ideal arbiters in local judicial matters, and the nobility and aristocracy ensured their presence in every town and village to maintain order. Vanina notes that within the warrior class was a conglomerate of castes, kinship and clans that usually originated from landholding and pastoral communities. They ascended
20178-468: 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. Kuvempu , the renowned Kannada poet and writer who wrote Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate , the state anthem of Karnataka was the first recipient of the Karnataka Ratna , the highest civilian award bestowed by
20355-563: 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
20532-607: The north. By 1336 the upper Deccan region (modern-day Maharashtra and Telangana ) had been defeated by armies of Sultan Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughluq of the Delhi Sultanate . Further south in the Deccan region, Hoysala commander Singeya Nayaka-III declared independence after the Muslim forces of the Delhi Sultanate defeated and captured the territories of the Yadava Empire in 1294. He created
20709-478: The northern banks of the Tungabhadra River in today's Karnataka. It was moved to Vijayanagara during Bukka Raya I's reign because it was easier to defend against the Muslim armies, who were persistently attacking from the northern lands. With the Vijayanagara Empire now imperial in stature, Harihara II , the second son of Bukka Raya I, further consolidated the empire beyond the Krishna River and South India
20886-403: The notable women poets of the Sanskrit language. Early Telugu women poets such as Tallapaka Timmakka and Atukuri Molla became popular. Further south the provincial Nayaks of Tanjore patronised several women poets. The Devadasi system , as well as legalized prostitution, existed and members of this community were relegated to a few streets in each city. The popularity of harems among men of
21063-417: The oldest Karaga traditions then followed in different regions of the district and usually beginning the first Friday after Ugadi ; the water festival Theppothsava ( Kolar Theppothsava ), and Dyavara. Karnataka Karnataka ( / k ər ˈ n ɑː t ə k ə / kər- NAH -tə-kə ; ISO : Karnāṭaka , Kannada: [kɐɾˈnaːʈɐkɐ] ) is a state in the southwestern region of India . It
21240-430: The previous centuries, such as Lingayatism , provided momentum for flexible social norms that helped the cause of women. By this time South Indian women had crossed most barriers and were actively involved in fields hitherto considered the monopoly of men such as administration, business, trade and the fine arts. Tirumalamba Devi who wrote Varadambika Parinayam and Gangadevi the author of Madhuravijayam were among
21417-562: The principal cash crops, and large-scale cotton production supplied the weaving centers of the empire's vibrant textile industry. Spices such as turmeric , pepper, cardamom , and ginger grew in the remote Malnad hill region and were transported to the city for trade. The empire's capital city was a thriving business centre that included a burgeoning market in large quantities of precious gems and gold. Prolific temple-building provided employment to thousands of masons , sculptors , and other skilled artisans. According to Abdur Razzak, much of
21594-560: The province's Faujdar . Kolar was then ruled by the Marathas , the Nawab of Cuddapah , the Nizam of Hyderabad and Hyder Ali. It was under British rule from 1768 to 1770 before a brief Maratha rule followed by Hyder Ali. In 1791 Lord Cornwallis conquered Kolar and returned it to the Kingdom of Mysore in the peace treaty of 1792 . In the Kolar region, inscriptions document the reigns of
21771-520: The rainiest cities in Karnataka, situated in one of the wettest regions in the world. The state is projected to warm about 2.0 °C (4 °F ) 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. The highest recorded temperature was 45.6 °C (114 °F ) in Raichuru district . The lowest recorded temperature
21948-508: The region such as water management systems for irrigation. The empire's patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights in Kannada , Telugu , Tamil , and Sanskrit with topics such as astronomy , mathematics , medicine , fiction , musicology , historiography and theater gaining popularity. The classical music of Southern India, Carnatic music , evolved into its current form. The Vijayanagara Empire created an epoch in
22125-520: The religious and cultural landscape of Karnataka. 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. Christianity reached Karnataka in the sixteenth century with the arrival of the Portuguese and St. Francis Xavier in 1545. Buddhism
22302-505: The remains of a well-connected water distribution system existing solely within the royal enclosure and the large temple complexes (suggesting it was for the exclusive use of royalty, and for special ceremonies) with sophisticated channels using gravity and siphons to transport water through pipelines. In the fertile agricultural areas near the Tungabhadra River , canals were dug to guide the river water into irrigation tanks . These canals had sluices that were opened and closed to control
22479-574: The royalty and the existence of seraglio is well known from records. Well-to-do men wore the Petha or Kulavi , a tall turban made of silk and decorated with gold. As in most Indian societies, jewellery was used by men and women and records describe the use of anklets , bracelets, finger-rings, necklaces and ear rings of various types. During celebrations men and women adorned themselves with flower garlands and used perfumes made of rose water , civet musk , musk , or sandalwood . In stark contrast to
22656-624: The rule in a coup thus becoming the first of the Tuluva dynasty rulers. This did not go well with the nobles who revolted. Seeing internal troubles grow, the Gajapati king and the Bahamani Sultan began to encroach on the empire even as the governors of Ummattur, Adoni , and Talakad colluded to capture the Tungabhadra-Krishna river doab region from the empire. The empire came under the rule of Krishna Deva Raya in 1509, another son of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. Initially Krishnadevaraya faced
22833-498: The saints of the dvaita order (philosophy of dualism) of Madhvacharya at Udupi . Endowments were made to temples in the form of land, cash, produce, jewellery and constructions. The Bhakti (devotional) movement was active during this time, and involved well known Haridasas (devotee saints) of that time. Like the Virashaiva movement of the 12th century, this movement presented another strong current of devotion, pervading
23010-599: The scarcity of Christians in South India in the Middle Ages, promoting its attractiveness to missionaries. The arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century and their connections through trade with the empire, the propagation of the faith by Francis Xavier (1545) and later the presence of Dutch settlements fostered the growth of Christianity in the south. Stone inscriptions were the most common form of documents used on temple walls, boundary of properties and open places for public display. Another form of documentation
23187-657: 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. Karnataka consists of four main types of geological formations –
23364-595: 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 . In the period that followed, parts of northern Karnataka were ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad , the Maratha Empire , the British , and other powers. In the south, the Mysore Kingdom ,
23541-458: 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. The Jain philosophy and literature have contributed immensely to
23718-621: The social ladder by abandoning their original occupations and adopting to a martial code of living, ethics and practices. In South India they were loosely called the Nayakas . Sati practice is evidenced in Vijayanagara ruins by several inscriptions known as Satikal (Sati stone) or Sati-virakal (Sati hero stone). There are controversial views among historians regarding this practice including religious compulsion, marital affection, martyrdom or honor against subjugation by foreign intruders. The socio-religious movements that gained popularity in
23895-407: The state and as well central government authorities. Kolar, formerly known as Kolahala, Kuvalala and Kolala, was called Kolahalapura during the Middle Ages. In Kannada , kolahalapura means "violent city" and it was the battlefield for the warring Chalukyas in the north and the Cholas in the south. In 1004 AD, the Cholas annexed Kolar until 1116. Vishnuvardhana (1108-1142) freed Gangavadi from
24072-516: The state capital, Bangalore, the sobriquet Silicon Valley of India . 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. The state has 18,000 hectares of land under flower cultivation , an upcoming industry which supplies flowers and ornamental plants worldwide. Seven of India's banks, Canara Bank , Syndicate Bank , Corporation Bank , Vijaya Bank , Karnataka Bank , ING Vysya Bank and
24249-775: The state consists of the Karnataka High Court ( Attara Kacheri ) in Bangalore, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Kalaburagi, district and session courts in each district and lower courts and judges at the taluk level. Politics in Karnataka has been dominated by three political parties, the Indian National Congress , the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party . Politicians from Karnataka have played prominent roles in federal government of India with some of them having held
24426-452: 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. Karnataka's private sector speciality health care competes with the best in the world. 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
24603-994: 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. The people of Karnataka also elect 28 members to the Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Indian Parliament. The members of the state Legislative Assembly elect 12 members to the Rajya Sabha , the upper house of the Indian Parliament . For administrative purposes, Karnataka has been divided into four revenue divisions, 49 sub-divisions, 31 districts, 175 taluks and 745 hoblies / revenue circles. The administration in each district
24780-450: The state still suffer from the lack of primary health care. Religion in Karnataka (2011) 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
24957-471: The state were found to have been involved in the IT sector as of 2007. 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 191,791 km (74,051 sq mi), or 5.83 per cent of the total geographical area of India. It is the sixth-largest Indian state by area . Kannada , one of the classical languages of India ,
25134-507: The state's geographic area) is covered by forests. The forests are classified as reserved, protected, unclosed, village and private forests. The percentage of forested area is slightly less than the all-India average of about 23%, and significantly less than the 33% prescribed in the National Forest Policy. Karnataka experiences four seasons. The winter in January and February is followed by summer between March and May,
25311-655: The state's total area, is cultivated. Much of the agricultural output is dependent on the southwest monsoon as only 26.5% of the sown area is irrigated. 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 Bangalore. Many of India's premier science and technology research centres, such as Indian Space Research Organisation , Central Power Research Institute , Bharat Electronics Limited and
25488-442: The state. Exports from these firms exceeded ₹ 500 billion (equivalent to ₹ 1.6 trillion or US$ 19 billion in 2023) in 2006–07, accounting for nearly 38% of all IT exports from India. The Nandi Hills area in the outskirts of Devanahalli is the site of the upcoming $ 22 billion, 50 km BIAL IT Investment Region , one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Karnataka. All this has earned
25665-535: The superiority of the Advaita philosophy over other rival Hindu philosophies. Other writers were famous Dvaita saints of the Udupi order such as Jayatirtha (earning the title Tikacharya for his polemical writings), Vyasatirtha who wrote rebuttals to the Advaita philosophy and of the conclusions of earlier logicians, and Vadirajatirtha and Sripadaraya both of whom criticized the beliefs of Adi Sankara . Apart from these saints, noted Sanskrit scholars adorned
25842-402: The teachings of Madhvacharya and Vyasatirtha . Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa are considered the foremost among many Dasas (devotees) by virtue of their immense contribution. Kumara Vyasa , the most notable of Brahmin scholars wrote Gadugina Bharata , a translation of the epic Mahabharata . This work marks a transition of Kannada literature from old Kannada to modern Kannada. Chamarasa
26019-673: The term Hinduraya Suratrana , which historian Benjamin Lewis Rice translates as "the Suratrana of Hindu Rayas". Some scholars have interpreted this to mean "the Sultan among Hindu kings" and state this to be evidence of some Islamic political traditions being adopted by Hindu monarchs, The long headdress are also seen in the royalty-related and secular artwork in Pattadakal dated from the 7th and 8th century, about 5 centuries before
26196-503: The third century BCE, most of Karnataka formed part of the Nanda Empire before coming under 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 ;
26373-441: 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
26550-401: The time of the 2011 census, 51.51% of the population spoke Kannada , 22.67% Telugu , 12.88% Urdu and 10.99% Tamil as their first language. The district's primary language is Kannada ; Urdu, Tamil and Telugu are spoken by large minorities. Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) has an Anglo-Indian population. Festivals include the 13-day summer Karaga , celebrated in Kolar District, Kolar being one of
26727-413: The title of "master of the eastern and western seas" ( Purvapaschima Samudradhishavara ). By 1374 Bukka Raya I , successor to Harihara I, defeated the chiefdom of Arcot , the Reddys of Kondavidu, and the Sultan of Madurai , and had gained control over Goa in the west and the Tungabhadra- Krishna River doab in the north. The original capital of the empire was in the principality of Anegondi on
26904-405: 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. The expansion of the Hoysala Empire brought minor parts of modern Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu under its rule. In
27081-623: The villagers should not give away land as dowry. These inscriptions reinforce the theory that a system of social mandates within community groups existed and were widely practiced even though these practices did not find justification in the family laws described in the religious texts. The Vijayanagara emperors were tolerant of all religions and sects , as writings by foreign visitors show. The emperors used titles such as Gobrahamana Pratipalanacharya ( literally , "protector of cows and Brahmins") that testified to their intention of protecting Hinduism. The Nāgarī script inscription at Hampi includes
27258-546: The water flow. In other areas, the administration encouraged digging wells, which were monitored by administrative authorities. Large tanks in the capital city were constructed with royal patronage while smaller tanks were funded by wealthy individuals to gain social and religious merit. The economy of the empire was largely dependent on agriculture. Wheat , Sorghum ( jowar ), cotton, and pulse legumes grew in semi-arid regions, while sugarcane and rice thrived in rainy areas. Betel leaves , areca (for chewing), and coconut were
27435-406: The years since Raichur because his victory against a technologically superior army led him to underestimate technology's value. Despite these disadvantages, Kamath, Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund concur that the vast Vijayanagara army appeared to have the upper hand until two Muslim generals (identified as the mercenary Gilani brothers according to Kamath) switched sides and joined forces with
27612-401: 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
27789-456: Was 2.8 °C (37 °F) at Bidar district . Karnataka is home to a variety of wildlife. It has a recorded forest area of 38,720 km (14,950 sq mi) which constitutes 12.3% of the total geographical area of the state. 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 ,
27966-464: Was bestowed to Ramanatha, one of King Someshwara's two sons. The Hoysala were defeated by the Vijayanagara Empire , which ruled Kolar from 1336 to 1664. During this period, the Sri Someshwara Temple at Kolar was built. For 50 years in the 17th century Kolar was under Maratha rule as part of the Jagir of Shahaji , followed by 70 years of Muslim rule. In 1720 it became part of the Province of Sira , with Fateh Mohammed (the father of Hyder Ali )
28143-438: Was collected for cattle graze on non-private lands. Popular temple destinations charged visitor fees called Perayam or Kanike . Residential property taxes were called Illari . The Hindu social order was prevalent and it influenced daily life in the empire. The rulers who occupied the top of this hierarchy assumed the honorific Varnasramadharma ( lit , "helpers of the four classes and four stages"). According to Talbot, caste
28320-429: Was compiled by Fred Goodwill , superintendent of the Wesleyan Tamil mission in Bangalore and the Kolar Gold Fields, and his studies have been published in a number of journals. Older than Bangalore, Kolar dates back to the second century. The Western Gangas made Kolar their capital, ruling Mysore , Coimbatore , and Salem . During the 13th century Bhavanandi composed Nannool , his treatise on Tamil grammar. Under
28497-431: Was controlled by the Vijayanagara Empire. The next ruler, Deva Raya I , was successful against the Gajapatis of Odisha and undertook works of fortification and irrigation. Firuz Bahmani of Bahmani Sultanate entered into a treaty with Deva Raya I in 1407 that required the latter to pay Bahmani an annual tribute of "100,000 huns, five maunds of pearls and fifty elephants". The Sultanate invaded Vijayanagara in 1417 when
28674-436: Was dependent on water supply systems constructed to channel and store water, ensuring a consistent supply throughout the year. The remains of these hydraulic systems have given historians a picture of the prevailing surface water distribution methods in use at that time in the semiarid regions of South India. Contemporary records and notes of foreign travellers describe huge tanks constructed by labourers. Excavations uncovered
28851-405: 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. 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
29028-482: Was divided into five main provinces ( Rajya ), each under a commander ( Dandanayaka or Dandanatha ) and headed by a governor, often from the royal family, who used the native language for administrative purposes. A Rajya was divided into regions ( Vishaya , Vente or Kottam ) and further divided into counties ( Sime or Nadu ), themselves subdivided into municipalities ( Kampana or Sthala ). Hereditary families ruled their respective territories and paid tribute to
29205-423: Was more importantly determined by occupation or the professional community people belonged to, although the family lineage ( Gotra ) and the broad distinction described in sacred Hindu texts were also factors. The structure also contained sub-castes and caste clusters ("Jati"). According to Vanina, caste as a social identity was not fixed and was constantly changed for reasons including polity, trade and commerce, and
29382-534: Was on copper plates that were meant for record keeping. Usually verbose inscriptions included information such as a salutation, a panegyric of the emperor or local ruler, the name of the donor, nature of the endowment (generally either cash or produce), the manner in which the grant would be used, obligations of the donee, share received by the donor and a concluding statement that officiated the entire donation and its obligations. Some inscriptions record an instance of victory in war or religious festival, and retribution or
29559-461: 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
29736-428: 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. Mysore Dasara is celebrated as the Nada habba (state festival) and this
29913-423: Was renamed Karnataka, seventeen years later, on 1 November 1973. 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. The state has three principal geographical zones: The bulk of the state is in the Bayaluseeme region, the northern part of which
30090-494: Was shipped to Burma and indigo to Persia . Chief imports from Palestine were copper , quicksilver ( mercury ), vermilion , coral, saffron , coloured velvets, rose water , knives, colored camlets , gold and silver. Persian horses were imported to Cannanore before a two-week land trip to the capital. Silk arrived from China and sugar from Bengal . East coast trade routes were busy, with goods arriving from Golkonda where rice, millet , pulses and tobacco were grown on
30267-495: Was succeeded by his younger half-brother Achyuta Deva Raya in 1529. When Achyuta Deva Raya died in 1542, Sadashiva Raya , the teenage nephew of Achyuta Raya, was appointed emperor, and Rama Raya , Krishna Deva Raya's son-in-law, becoming the caretaker. When Sadashiva Raya was old enough to assert his independent claim over the throne, Rama Raya made him a virtual prisoner and became the de facto ruler. He hired Muslim generals in his army from his previous diplomatic connections with
30444-404: 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
30621-447: Was the ultimate authority, assisted by a cabinet of ministers ( Pradhana ) headed by the prime minister ( Mahapradhana ). Other important titles recorded were the chief secretary ( Karyakartha or Rayaswami ) and the imperial officers ( Adhikari ). All high-ranking ministers and officers were required to have military training. A secretariat near the emperor's palace employed scribes and officers to maintain records made official by using
30798-457: 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
30975-404: Was used to identify communities across merchant and artisan classes while Boya identified herders of all types. Artisans consisted of blacksmiths, goldsmiths, brasssmiths and carpenters. These communities lived in separate sections of the city to avoid disputes, especially when it came to social privileges. Conquests led to large-scale migration of people leading to marginalisation of natives of
31152-453: Was usually determined by context. Identification of castes and sub-castes was made based on temple affiliations, lineage, family units, royal retinues, warrior clans, occupational groups, agricultural and trade groups, devotional networks, and even priestly cabals. It was also not impossible for a caste to lose its position and prestige and slip down the ladder while others rose up the same. Epigraphy studies by Talbot suggests that members within
31329-675: Was valued at half a Varaha , the Fanam , Phanam or Hana , an alloy of gold and copper was the most common currency valued at a third of the Varaha . A Tar made of pure silver was a sixth of a Phanam and a Chital made of brass was a third of the Tar . Haga , Visa and Kasu were also coins of lower denominations. During the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire, poets, scholars and philosophers wrote primarily in Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit, and also in other regional languages such as Tamil and covered such subjects as religion, biography, Prabandha (fiction), music, grammar, poetry, medicine and mathematics. The administrative and court language of
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