Belgaum

Belgaum is a district in the State of Karnataka in India. This district derives its name from the town of the same name which is also its headquarters. It is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level. It is located at between Latitude 15°52′N 74°30′E and Longitude 15.87°N 74.5°E. The district has an area of 12,000 square kilometers, and is bounded on the west and north by Maharashtra state, on the northeast by Bijapur District, on the east by Bagalkot District, on the southeast by Gadag District, on the south by Dharawad District and Uttara Kannada districts, and on the southwest by the state of Goa. The languages spoken in this district include Kannada and Marathi.

The district is situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats). As per census 2001, it had a population of 4,214,505 of which 24.03% were urban.

Belgaum District has been divided into 10 Talukas. Athani taluka is the largest with an area of 1,995.70 Sq. Kms. and Raybag taluka is the smallest with an area of 958.8 Sq. Kms. The district comprises of three Revenue Sub-divisions and six Police Sub-divisions. Apart from the Belgaum City Corporation , there are 17 Municipalities, 20 Towns Panchayats, 485 Gram Panchayats, 1,138 inhabited villages and 26 un-inhabited villages. Belgaum is also the headquaters of the Belgaum Revenue Division.

History

Belgaum is derived from the name of Belagaavi/Belgaon. The names are possibly from the Sanskrit Velugrama, "Bamboo village" and in Kannada "belagaavi" means a white cave (bela - white and gavi - cave). It is also called as Malnad Pradesh.

History of Belgaum dates back to 400 BC when the Vadgoan and Madhavpur suburbs of Belgaum were important urban centres.

The present city was built in the 12th century AD by the Ratta dynasty who were based at nearby Saundatti.

The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 by a Ratta officer named Bichiraja. Belgaum served as the capital of that dynasty between 1210 and 1250.

Belgaum then briefly came under the rule of the Yadavas of Devagiri.

The Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the AD 1300s and destroyed both the Yadava and the Hoysalas rules.

The Vijayanagara Empire become the established power of the area by 1336.

A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.

In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate, then ruling from Bidar, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterward, in 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. The Adilshahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals.

In 1776, the country was overrun by Hyder Ali of Mysore, but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, the British deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.

When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district became part of Bombay State. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the States Reorganisation Act, and Belgaum District was transferred to Mysore State, which was renamed Karnataka in 1972.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

1 Nippani Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1 Chikkodi Taluk (Part) 3 Nippani Circle 4 Sadalga Circle (Part) Shiradawad GP – Shiradawad, Galataga GP-Galataga and Bhimapurwadi, Bhoj GP - Bhoj and Bhojwadi, Bedkihal GP – Bedkihal, Hunnaragi GP – Hunnaragi, Mamadapur K.L GP - Mamadapur K.L, Sidnal GP – Sidnal, Kunnur GP - Kunnur, Gajabarwadi and Shivapurwadi, Mangur GP – Mangur, Barwad GP – Barwad. Karadaga GP – Karadaga and Donewadi, Boragaon GP - Boragaon and Borgaonwadi, Manakapur GP- Manakapur and Kasanal, Nippani CMC

2 Chikkodi Sadalga Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1 Chikkodi Taluk (Part) 1 Chikkodi Circle 4 Sadalga Circle (Part) Janawad GP - Janawad, Shamanewadi GP – Shamanewadi, Nej GP – Nej, Nagaral GP – Nagaral, Nanadi GP - Nanadi Nanadiwadi, Malikwad GP – Malikwad, Examba GPExamba, Yadyanawadi and Ullagaddiwadi, Kallol GP – Kallol, Sadalga (Rural) and Vadagol (Rural), Sadalga TP Chikkodi TMC

3 Athani Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2 Athani Taluk (Part) 1 Athani Circle and 4 Telsang Circle. Athani TMC

4 Kagwad Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2 Athani Taluk (Part) 2 Kagawad Circle and 3 Anantapur Circle.

5 Kudachi Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 3 Raybag Taluk (Part) 2 Kudachi Circle Kudachi TP

6 Raybag Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 3 Raybag Taluk (Part) 1 Raibag Circle Raibag TP Chikodi Taluk (Part) Nagarmunoli Circle.

7 Hukkeri Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 5 Hukkeri Taluk (Part) 1 Hukkeri Circle. 3 Sankeshwar Circle (Part) Shippur, Hittani, Mattiwade, Naganur K.S., Rashing, Bugatealur, Hadalga, Bhairapur, Shekinhosur, Konankeri, Honnihalli, Kanagale, Karajage, Sollapur, Haragapur, Bad, Alur (K.M), Akkiwat, Kesti, Borgal, Amminbhavi, Handigud, Ammanagi, Nidasoshi, Ankale, Sankeshwar (R), Kamatanur and Nerli villages. Sankeshwar TMC Hukkeri TP

8 Arabhavi Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 4 Gokak Taluk (Part) 3 Koujalagi Circle 2 Arabhavi Circle (part) Arabhavi GP - Arabhavi, Sanganakeri, Lolasur GP - Lolasur, Badigwad GP - Badigwad, Dandapur, Ganeshwadi, Balobal GP- Balobal, Beerangaddi, Dharmatti GP- Dharmatti, Patagundi, Duradundi GP- Duradundi, Hallur GP - Hallur, Hunshyal (P.G.) GP - Hunshyal (P.G.), Kallolli GP - Kallolli, Hanamapur Masaguppi GP - Masaguppi, Gujanatti, Jokanatti, Munyal GP - Munyal, Kamaladinni, Rangapur, Naganur GP - Naganur, Nallanatti GP - Basaligundi, Nallanatti, Rajapur GP - Rajapur, Shivapur GP - Shivapur, Gurlapur, Khanatti, Mudalgi (Rural), Tukkanatti GP - Tukkanatti, Waderatti GP - Fulagaddi and Waderatti villages. Mudalgi TMC

9 Gokak Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 4 Gokak Taluk (Part) 1 Gokak Circle 2 Arabhavi Circle (Part) Dhupadal GP - Dhupadal, Konnur (Rural) GP - Konnur (Rural), Malmatti, Shivapur, Mallapur (P.G.) GP - Mallapur (P.G.), Nandagaon GP - Khanapur, Mutnal and Nandagaon, Pamaladinni GP - Pamaladinni and Shindikurbet GP - Shindikurbet villages. Gokak CMC Konnur TP Gokak Falls NAC

10 Yemkanmardi Vidhan Sabha Constituency (ST) - 5 Hukeri Taluk (Part) 2 Yemkanmardi Circle 3 Sankeshwar Circle (Part) Masarguppi, Gavanal, Gotur, Hebbal, Kochari, Chikalgud, U Khanapur, Hanchinal, Kurniwadi, Kurni and Arjunwad villages. 6 Belgaum Taluk (Part) 3 Kakati Circle 2 Uchagaon Circle (Part) Maranhol

11 Belgaum Uttar Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 6 Belgaum Taluk (Part) Belgaum (CB) Belgaum (M Corp) (Part) Belgaum (M Corp.) - Ward No. 27 to 58.

12 Belgaum Dakshin Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 6 Belgaum Taluk (Part) 1 Belgaum Circle Belgaum (M Corp) (Part) Belgaum (M Corp.) - Ward No. 1 to 26.

13 Belgaum Rural Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 6 Belgaum Taluk (Part) 4 Bagewadi Circle 2 Uchagaon Circle (Part) Gojage, Sulge (Uchagaon), Kallehol, Uchagaon, Turamari, Bachi, Kudremani, Sonoli, Belgundi, Bokanur, Savagaon, Mandoli, Hangarge, Bijagarni, Yalebail, Rakaskop, Dhamne S.Bailur, Belvatti, Badas (Inam), Baknur, Kiniye, Karle, Navage, Kuttalawadi, Santibastawad, Bahadarwadi, Ranakunde, Waghawade, Desur, Sulge (Yellur), Rajahansagad, Nandihalli, Nagenahatti Villages. Benakanahalli (OG) - Ward No. 63, Bekkinakeri, Attiwad, Mannur and Ambewadi Villages. Hindalgi (CT), Kangrali (KH)(CT) and Kangrali (BK) (CT).

14 Khanapur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Karnataka - 7 Khanapur Taluk

15 Kittur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 8 Sampgaon Taluk (Part) 2 Kittur and 3 Nesargi Circles.

16 Bailhongal Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 8 Sampgaon Taluk (Part) 1 Bailhongal Circle Bailhongal TMC 9 Parasgad Taluk (Part) 1 Murgod Circle 2 Saundatti Circle (Part) Asundi Asundi, Gurlhosur (R), Kadihalli, Mugali, Nadavinahalli, Shingarkop, Badli, Aladakatti K.Y, Badli, Katral, Karikatti Karikatti, Sangreshkoppa Kencharamanahal, Sangreshkoppa, Yadahalli, Yakkundi Bommagadikoppa, Karlakatti, Venkateshnagar and Yakkundi villages.

17 Saundatti Yellamma Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 9 Parasgad Taluk (Part) 1 Saundatti Circle (Part) Betasur Betasur, Yadravi, Saundatti (Rural), Hanchinal Hanchinal, Hirekumbi, Dhaderkoppa, Dugabal, Hirekumbi, Inamhongal, Chikkulligeri, Hireulligeri, Inamhongal, Ugaragol, Harlapur, Renukanagar, Ugaragol and Kenchalarkop villages. 3 Yaragatti and 4 Munoli Circles. Saundatti Yellamma TMC

18 Ramdurg Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 10 Ramdurg Taluk

Places of interest
Gokak falls, Yellamma Temple, Godachinmalki Falls, Belgaum Fort, Kamala Basti, Naviltirtha, Rakaskop, Kapileshwara Temple, Hooli, Savadatti