Belgaum
Template:Infobox Indian urban area Belgaum (Kannada: ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ, Marathi: बेळगांव (), also known as Belgaon or Belagavi, is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India.
It is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level and is the headquarters of Belgaum district, which borders the states of Maharashtra and Goa.
History
The city of Belgaum 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, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri. Belgaum then briefly came under the sway of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 1300s and succeeded in ruining both the indigenous powers of the region, the Yadava and the Hoysalas without providing a viable administration. This lacuna was supplied by the Vijayanagara Empire, which had become the established power of the area by 1336. A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.
In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate, then ruling from Bidar, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterwards, in 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. The Adilshahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals. However, the Mughal empire went into decline after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, and his principal detractors, the Maratha confederacy, took control of the area during the rule of the Peshwas. 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.
Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of Indian National Congress in December 1924 under the President ship of Mahatma Gandhiji. The city served as a major military installation for the British Raj, primarily due to its proximity to Goa, which was then a Portuguese territory. Once the British left India, the Indian Government continued and still continues to have Armed forces installations in Belgaum. In 1961, the Indian government, under the Prime Ministership of Nehru used forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.
India became independent in 1947, and Belgaum and its district became part of Bombay State. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the States Reorganisation Act, and Belgaum District was transferred to Mysore State, which was renamed Karnataka in 1972.
In 2006 state legislature hosted at Belgaum, the Government of Karnataka announced that Belgaum will be made the state's second capital and that the annual 15-day session of the state legislature will be hosted in the city permanently.[1] However, home-minister M.P.Prakash later clarified that goverment is not going to make Belgaum the 2nd capital of Karnataka.[2]
On October 7th 2006, the Government of Karnataka has announced that on November 1st 2006, Belgaum will be renamed to its pre-colonial Kannada name Belagavi.[3]
On the ocassion of "SUVARNA KARNATAKA" the Belagaum city was named as "BELAGAAVI".Also 10 cities of Suvarna Karnataka were renamed from November first marking the Kannada Rajyotsava day.
Etymology
Belgaum is anglicized name of Belagavi/Belgaon. The names are possibly from the Sanskrit Venugrama, "Bamboo village".
Border Dispute
- Main article: Belgaum border dispute.
The Belgaum district was incorporated into the newly formed Mysore state (now Karnataka) with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act (1956), which reorganised India's states along linguistic lines despite having a large Marathi-speaking population [4]; about three-fourths of the total population.[5]. Since then Maharashtra is claiming the district to itself and the case is now in Supreme court of India.
Geography
Belgaum is located at 15°52′N 74°30′E / 15.87°N 74.5°E[6]. It has an average elevation of 751 metres (2463 feet). The city is situated in the northwestern parts of Karnataka and lies at the border of two states, Maharashtra and Goa. It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying at a distance of 502 km from Bangalore and 500 km from Mumbai. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of 13,415 sq. km. with a population of around 5 lakh (500,000). Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats) at an altitude of about 779m, 100km from the Arabian Sea with the river Markandeya flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.
Climate
Belgaum is known for its pleasant climate, but can get extremely hot in the summer (April through June). It is at its coldest in winter (November through February), and experiences heavy and continuous monsoon rains during July to September. The annual average rainfall is 50".
Demographics
As of 2001 India censusTemplate:GR, Belgaum had a population of 399,600. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 65%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Culture
The town enjoys rich cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the states of Maharashtra and Goa. Marathi, Kannada and Konkani are the main languages spoken.
Economy
Belgaum is an ideal location for vegetable trading, fish, wood & mining resource trading in north Karnataka.
From the early 1970s, Belgaum began developing as an important centre for the manufacture of heavy machine tools, including the manufacture of high pressure oil hydraulics.
Trade flourishes in Belgaum, and many areas of the city are dedicated to certain kinds of trade. For example, almost all automobile-related trade and manufacture happens in the Fort Road area of the city.
Defence Training Centres
Its salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near Portuguese Goa commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training center and cantonment, which it continues to be today for the Indian Armed Forces, along with an air base of the Indian Air Force.
The British had a sizable infantry post here, having realised the military importance of its geographical location. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for Belgaum's sobriquet The Cradle of Infantry. Development of a Rail Network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the East India Company and the British to exert control over India.
Belgaum houses the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It also houses the Commando Training Wing which is a part of the Infantry School, Mhow, where the country's infantry commandos are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The Commando course at Belgaum is mandatory for all infantry officers. Officers of other arms and services and even some foreign officers undergo the course.
Tourism and attractions
Belgaum is located 502 kms from Bangalore and 125 kms from Goa. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, it enjoys a cool, salubrious climate and is surrounded by natural beauty in the form of rivers, hills and dense evergreen forests. Inside the city, the old town area of Vadgaon and Angol with its cotton and silk weavers stands beside the modern, bustling, treelined British Cantonment area. The Belgaum fort is a huge construct present in the heart of the town. It is said that its 15-meter deep moats were filled with ravenous crocodiles to ward off enemies in the early days. A wide variety of historical sites, temples and churches exist in and around the city, most notably the fort Kamala Basti, Kapileshwar temple (South Kashi), the hills of Vaijyanath, Ramtirth in Kanbargi, the aerodrome at Sambra and others. Jamboti, 20 km south-west of Belgaum, is a popular tourist spot with its evergreen hilltop forests. The Varapoha Falls on the Mandovi river are located 26 kms from Belgaum.
Buildings
Belgaum houses many interesting monuments, including the famous Belgaum fort which dates back to 1519 AD (Refer to the 'History' section).
Food
Belgaum is renowned for its sweet dish Kunda. It is prepared from milk and is available in sweet marts across the city. Belgaum is also known for other sweet dishes such Balushais . Unlike normal sweets this sweet lasts over a period of time.
Educational Institutions
Belgaum is also an important educational center.
From the late 1970s onwards, Belgaum began seeing a substantial increase in the number of professional education institutions. While initially this was seen largely in the medical and engineering fields, Belgaum today hosts institutions from a number of other professional streams as well. Apart from these, Belgaum also has a large number of law, science and arts colleges, affiliated to the Karnatak University.
The establishment of the Visvesvaraya Technological University in 1998, with the affiliation of more than 140 engineering colleges, raised the importance of Belgaum as a centre of education in Karnataka.
The impact of this growth has considerably changed the cultural, linguistic and industrial profile of the city, due to the influx of students from across India (and even across the world), some of whom made Belgaum their home base after completion of their education there.
For a list of educational institutions, please see the articles on Karnatak University and Visvesvaraya Technological University.
Transportation
Road
Belgaum is connected by road via the National Highways 4 (connecting Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) and 4A (connecting Karnataka and Goa).
Air
Belgaum is directly connected with Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai and Kolhapur. Schedules have been erratic, as the air connectivity is primarily provided by feeder airlines.
Rail
Belgaum is on the main Indian Railways grid and is well connected by rail to major destinations such as Bangalore, Mumbai (via Miraj) and Goa.
References
- ^ http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913
- ^ http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/state1834352006107.asp
- ^ http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp
- ^ Girish Kuber (November 28,2005). "District's always been bone of contention". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2006-11-1.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH (November 21, 2005). "Karnataka caught in 'language' web". The Financial express. Retrieved 2006-11-1.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Belgaum
External links
- Municipal Corporation of Belgaum
- Government website on Belgaum district
- Zilla Panchayat, Belgaum
- Belgaum on Wikimapia
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
