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Coordinates: 15°51′N 74°30′E / 15.850°N 74.500°E / 15.850; 74.500
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{{About|the municipality in India|its namesake district|Belgaum district}}
{{About|the municipality in India|its district|Belagavi District|the country|Belgium}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Infobox Indian jurisdiction
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
|other_name=Belgaum
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
|native_name=ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ / बेळगांव
{{Infobox settlement
|type = city
| name = Belgaum
|image_map=WikiprojectIndiacities_belgaum.png
| native_name = {{nativename|kn|Bēḷagāma}}
|latd = 15.85|longd=74.55
| official_name = Belagavi
|state_name=Karnataka
| other_name = Belgaon
|district=[[Belgaum district|Belgaum]]
| settlement_type = [[City]]
|region=[[Bayaluseeme]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
|leader_title=Mayor
| border = infobox
|leader_name= Manda Balekundri <ref name="Current Mayor">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Manda-Balekundri-new-Belgaum-mayor/articleshow/7903688.cms |title= New Mayor | publisher=Times of India |date=2011-04-08 |accessdate=2011-04-08}}</ref>
| total_width = 300
|altitude=762
| image_style =
|population_as_of = 2011
| perrow = 1/1
|population_total = 1210700
| image1 = Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.jpg
|area_total=13415
|area_telephone= +91831
|postal_code= 590 00X
|vehicle_code_range= KA-22,KA-23,KA-49
|skyline=Kamala basadi belagavi 1.jpg
}}
}}
| image_caption = [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]], Belgaum
'''Belgaum'''<ref name="Official Name">{{cite web|url=http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in/ |title=Belgaumcity.gov.in |publisher=Belgaumcity.gov.in |date=2005-08-15 |accessdate=2010-04-12}}</ref> ({{lang-kn|ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ}} ''Belagavi'', {{lang-mr|बेळगांव}} ''Belgaon'') is a city and a [[municipal corporation]] in [[Belgaum district]] in the state of [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore]], [[Hubli-Dharwad]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}
| nicknames =
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=y|type=shape-inverse|id=Q1185|frame-width=270|frame-height=350|frame-lat=15.04|frame-long=76.40|zoom=6|stroke-width=3|type2=point|coord2={{coord|15|51|N|74|30|E}}|marker-size2=medium}}
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Belgaum in Karnataka
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|15|51|N|74|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Karnataka,_India.png}} [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Belagavi district|Belagavi]]
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = District Administration
| governing_body = [[Belagavi Mahanagara Palike]]
| leader_title = [[Deputy Commissioner (India)|Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name = Mohammad Roshan, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Mohammad Roshan is Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mohammad-roshan-is-deputy-commissioner-of-belagavi/article68369991.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
| leader_title2 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha MP]]
| leader_name2 = [[Jagadish Shettar]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arakal |first1=Ralph Alex |date=3 May 2021 |title=Karnataka bypolls: BJP wins Belagavi, Basavakalyan; Congress takes Maski |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-bypolls-results-basavakalyan-maski-belgaum-7298917/ |newspaper=The Indian Express |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref>
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name="Belgaum city summary">{{cite web|url=http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in |title=city/town summary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929123745/http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in/ |archive-date=29 September 2006}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 94
| area_rural_km2 = 930
| area_rank = 4 (Karnataka)
| elevation_m = 784
| population_total = 490045
| population_rural = 449805
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/589/download/2004/DH_2011_2901_PART_B_DCHB_BELGAUM.pdf|access-date=25 May 2024|title=Census Data Handbook 2011}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro =
| population_rank =
| population_demonym = Belgaumite, Belagavian
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|ST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 590001 to 590020
| area_code = (+91) 831
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = KA-22
| website = {{URL|https://belagavicitycorp.org}}
| footnotes =
| leader_title3 = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name3 = Savita Kamble, [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]<ref name="HinduFeb2024">{{cite news |title=Former civic worker elected Mayor of Belagavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/former-poura-karmika-civic-worker-elected-mayor-of-belagavi/article67848637.ece |work=The Hindu |date=15 February 2024 |access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
| leader_title4 = [[Deputy Mayor]]
| leader_name4 = Anand Chavan, [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]<ref name="HinduFeb2024"/>
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=14 January 2019|page=108|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| native_name_lang =
}}
'''Belgaum''' (Kannada [[ISO 15919|ISO]]: ''Bēḷagāma'', {{IPA-kn|beːɭɐɡaːmɐ|IPA}}), officially known as '''Belagavi''' (also '''Belgaon'''<ref name="Belgaon">{{cite book |last=Malleson |first=Colonel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ysKAQAAIAAJ&q=Belgaon+history&pg=PA22 |title=Kaye and Mallesons History of Indian Mutiny |date=31 January 2021 |publisher=William Clowes and Sons |isbn= |location=[[London]] |page=22}}</ref>), is a city in the Indian state of [[Karnataka]] located in its northern part along the [[Western Ghat]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title = Official Website of Belgaum District|url = http://www.belgaum.nic.in/|website = www.belgaum.nic.in|access-date = 28 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150630210052/http://www.belgaum.nic.in/|archive-date = 30 June 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgavi Belgavi], Encyclopædia Britannica</ref> It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous [[Belagavi division]] and [[Belagavi district]]. The [[Government of Karnataka]] has proposed making Belgaum the second capital of Karnataka alongside [[Bangalore]], hence a second state administrative building [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] was inaugurated on 11 October 2012.<ref name="Belgaum to be declared second capital of Karnataka">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/decision-on-second-capital-status-for-belgaum-soon/articleshow/5790637.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015042825/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-13/bangalore/28142614_1_suvarna-vidhana-soudha-belgaum-legislature-session |archive-date=15 October 2012 |title=Decision on second capital status for Belgaum soon |date=13 August 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>


Belgaum has been selected in first phase out of 20 cities, as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a [[smart city]] under India's flagship [[Smart Cities Mission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/why-only-98-cities-instead-of-100-announced-all-questions-answered-about-smart-cities-project-2410576.html |title=Only 98 cities instead of 100 announced: All questions answered about the smart cities project |website=Firstpost |date=28 August 2015}}</ref>
It is situated nearly 2,500&nbsp;ft&nbsp;(762&nbsp;m) above sea-level and is the headquarters of [[Belgaum district]], which borders the states of [[Maharashtra]] and [[Goa]]. Belgaum is also the [[headquarters]] for the [[Belgaum division]]. The division comprises the districts of [[Bagalkot district|Bagalkot]], Belgaum, [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]], [[Dharwad district|Dharwad]] - [[Hubli]], [[Gadag]], [[Haveri]], and [[Uttara Kannada]]. The Government of Karnataka has proposed making Belgaum the second capital of the State of Karnataka with the recently upcoming second state administrative building [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]].<ref name="Belgaum to be declared second capital of Karnataka">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-13/bangalore/28142614_1_suvarna-vidhana-soudha-belgaum-legislature-session |title=Decision on second capital status for Belgaum soon |publisher=Times Of India,Bangalore |date=2010-08-13 |accessdate=2011-07-22}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{Further|Belgaum Fort}}
The Vadgoan and Madhavpur suburbs of Belgaum were important urban centres between 400 BC and 300 AD. 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, before the Rattas were defeated by the [[Yadava Dynasty]] of [[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Devagiri]]. Belgaum then briefly came under the sway of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The [[Khilji dynasty|Khiljis]] of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 14th century and succeeded in ruining both the indigenous powers of the region, the Yadava and the [[Hoysala]]s 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.


[[File:Belgaum 1896 map.jpg|left|thumb|Belgaum 1896 map]]
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 Sultanate|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 [[Peshwa]]s. In 1776, the country was overrun by [[Hyder Ali]] of [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, the [[HEIC|British]] deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.[[Kitturu Chennamma]] ( ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ರಾಣಿ ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ) (1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in [[Karnataka]]. In 1824, 33 years before the [[1857 War of Independence in Murree]], she led an armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse. The resistance ended in her martyrdom and she is remembered today as one of the earliest Indian rulers to have fought for independence.
Belgaum was founded in late 12th century AD by the [[Ratta dynasty]], who shifted from nearby [[Saundatti]]. A Ratta official named Bichiraja built [[Kamal Basadi]], a Jain temple, dedicated to [[Neminatha]] in 1204, which came to be called Kamalabasti. Pillars found inside Belgaum fort have [[Kannada]] inscriptions in Nagari scripts, one from 1199 by Ratta King Kartaveerya IV. The city's original name was Venugram, a Sanskrit word which means "village of bamboo". Alternatively, it is referred to as Venugram in early Indian texts, which means "city of bamboo".<ref name="MeisterDhaky1996p255">{{cite book|author1=Michael W. Meister|author2=Madhusudan A. Dhaky|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1GzJRNhnnsC|year=1996|publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies|isbn=978-81-86526-00-2|page=255}}</ref>


Belgaum became a part of the [[Yadava dynasty]] kingdom ([[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Seuna]]) in early 13th century. An inscription from 1261 of King Krishna belonging to the Yadava dynasty attests to this. The region was invaded by [[Khalji dynasty]] of [[Delhi Sultanate]] in 14th century. Shortly thereafter, the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] was founded, and Belgaum came under the rule of Vijayanagara. In 1474, the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] conquered Belgaum with an army led by [[Mahmud Gawan]].<ref name=cexise1>{{cite web |url=http://www.centralexcisebelgaum.kar.nic.in/belgaum.htm |title=History of Belgaum |publisher=Central Excise Belgaum |access-date=17 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310035121/http://www.centralexcisebelgaum.kar.nic.in/belgaum.htm |archive-date=10 March 2015 }}</ref>
Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of [[Indian National Congress]] in December 1924 under the Presidentship 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.
[[File:Gandhi at the Belgaum Congress 1924.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mahatma Gandhi]] at the Belgaum Congress 1924]]
The Belgaum fort was strengthened by the Adil Shah dynasty Sultans and they built the Safa Mosque. A Persian inscription states that the mosque was built by [[Asad Khan (Bijapuri noble)|Asad Khan]], a Bijapur commander. In 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states and Belgaum became part of the [[Bijapur Sultanate]]. The Adilshahis extended their control to the port of Goa, but retreated after the arrival and wars with the Portuguese. In 1686, the Mughal emperor [[Aurangzeb]] overthrew the Bijapur sultanate and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals, who called it "Azamnagar".<ref name=cexise1/> However, the Mughal empire control collapsed after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. The [[Maratha]] confederacy took control of the area during the rule of the [[Peshwa]]s. In 1776, the region was overrun by [[Hyder Ali]] and [[Tipu Sultan]] after Hyder Ali's coup in the [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. The Peshwa regained Belgaum, after Tipu Sultan was defeated by the British forces. In 1818, the [[East India Company|British]] annexed Belgaum and the region in the control of the Peshwa. [[Kitturu Chennamma]] (1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in [[Karnataka]] and in 1824 she led an unsuccessful armed rebellion against the British in response to the [[Doctrine of lapse]].


Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of the [[Indian National Congress]] in December 1924 under the presidency of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. 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 Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], used military forces from Belgaum to end [[Portugal|Portuguese]] rule of [[Goa]].
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.


When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district were part of [[Bombay State]]. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the [[States Reorganisation Act]] and Belgaum including 10 taluks of Bombay State were transferred to [[Mysore State]], which was renamed [[Karnataka]] in 1973.<ref name="TOI-Dispute">{{cite news |title=Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute Explained: What is Belagavi border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/explained-what-is-belagavi-border-dispute-between-karnataka-and-maharashtra/articleshow/80493402.cms |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=28 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, the [[Government of Karnataka]] announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day session of the state legislature.<ref name="Belgaum as Karnataka's second capital">[http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913 outlookindia.com | wired<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In 2006, the [[Government of Karnataka]] announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital, and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day winter session of the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213061758/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913|title=Belgaum to be made Karnataka's second capital|archive-date=13 February 2009|magazine=Outlook |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>
==Etymology==
Belgaum is anglicized name of Belgaavi/Belgaon. The names are from the [[Sanskrit]] ''Velugrama'', [[Kannada]] for ''Venugrama''<ref name="ReferenceA">Bombay gazetteer in Karnataka: Dharwad, Belgaum, Bijapur and Kannara districts, Venkataramgo Katti</ref> i.e. "Bamboo village" and the same, [[Belagavi]] in [[Kannada language|Kannada]], Belgaon in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] .


== City names ==
Of late, the city has carved itself a new name as Kunda nagari because of its famous sweet dish [[Kunda]] . The city is also known as ''Sugar City", and the district as ''Sakkare Jille" (Sugar District) because of its enormous sugarcane cultivation and sugar production.
On 1 November 2014, the city's name was changed from Belgaum to Belagavi by the Karnataka government, with approval of the [[central government of India]] along with 12 other cities.<ref>{{cite news|title=It'll be 'Bengaluru' from 1 Nov|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp|access-date=4 January 2011|date=8 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406020325/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp|archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New name for cities|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/from-bangalore-to-bengaluru/article6553314.ece|access-date=1 November 2014|work=The Hindu}}</ref> Belgaum is known as Belgaon (IPA: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[beːɭɡaːʋ]]]) in Maharashtra and amongst [[Marathi people]].


==Geography==
The name Belgaum had been proposed to be changed to Belagaavi by the Karnataka government.<ref>{{cite news|title=It’ll be ‘Bengaluru’ from Nov 1|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp|accessdate=4 January 2011|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=8 October 2006}}</ref> However Central government has not agreed to rename the city, as Belgaum is caught between Karnataka and Maharashtra in the border dispute. One of the Centre's guidelines for renaming places is that the names should not hurt people's sentiments, not have political overtones and not already be in use in any other state.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/bangalore/Bengaluru-says-Pranab-while-the-city-is-still-Bangalore/articleshow/4139349.cms 'Bengaluru' says Pranab while the city is still Bangalore]</ref>
===Topography===
Belgaum is located at {{Coord|15.87|N|74.5|E}}.<ref name="fallingrain.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Belgaum.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Belgaum, India|website=www.fallingrain.com}}</ref> It has an average elevation of {{convert|770|m|ft|abbr=off}}. The city is in the northwestern parts of [[Karnataka]] and lies at the border of two states, [[Maharashtra]] and [[Goa]] on the western ghats ({{cvt|50|km}} from the Goa state border). It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying {{cvt|502|km}} from [[Bangalore]], {{cvt|500|km}} from [[Mumbai]], {{cvt|515|km}} from [[Hyderabad]], and {{cvt|600|km}} from [[Mysore]]. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of {{cvt|13415|km2}} and a population of around 4.8&nbsp;million according to the census of 2011. Belgaum district is the biggest district of Karnataka. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range ([[Western Ghats]]) at an altitude of about {{cvt|779|m}}, {{cvt|100|km}} from the [[Arabian Sea]] with the Markandeya river flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.


==Border dispute==
===Climate===
Belgaum has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw''). It is known for its pleasant year-round climate. Belgaum is at its coldest in winter (lowest temperature in Karnataka is usually recorded in Belgaum) and it experiences almost continuous monsoon rains from June through September. Belgaum sometimes receives hail storms during April.
{{Main|Belgaum border dispute}}


{{Weather box|width=auto
Belgaum was incorporated into newly formed [[Mysore state]] (now [[Karnataka]]) with the passage of the ''[[States Reorganisation Act]]'' (1956),which reorganised India's states along [[natural language|linguistic]] lines, despite having large Marathi-speaking population;<ref name="belgaummajority1">[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowarchive.cms?msid=1309841 District's always been bone of contention]</ref> about three fourths of total population(1956)<ref name="belgaummajority2e">{{cite news
| location = Belgaum (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
|author =JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH
| metric first = Yes
|title = Karnataka caught in ‘language’ web
| single line = Yes
|url = http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=109230
| Jan record high C = 35.7
|publisher = The Financial express
| Feb record high C = 38.4
|date = 2005-11-21
| Mar record high C = 40.0
|accessdate = 2006-11-01
| Apr record high C = 41.9
| May record high C = 41.2
| Jun record high C = 39.2
| Jul record high C = 33.6
| Aug record high C = 35.0
| Sep record high C = 34.3
| Oct record high C = 36.6
| Nov record high C = 34.6
| Dec record high C = 34.6
| year record high C = 41.9
| Jan high C = 29.3
| Feb high C = 31.9
| Mar high C = 34.8
| Apr high C = 36.1
| May high C = 35.0
| Jun high C = 29.1
| Jul high C = 25.9
| Aug high C = 25.8
| Sep high C = 27.7
| Oct high C = 28.8
| Nov high C = 28.5
| Dec high C = 28.2
| year high C = 30.2
| Jan low C = 15.2
| Feb low C = 16.2
| Mar low C = 18.7
| Apr low C = 20.9
| May low C = 21.7
| Jun low C = 21.5
| Jul low C = 20.8
| Aug low C = 20.5
| Sep low C = 20.2
| Oct low C = 20.2
| Nov low C = 18.1
| Dec low C = 15.9
| year low C = 19.2
| Jan record low C = 7.2
| Feb record low C = 6.7
| Mar record low C = 10.0
| Apr record low C = 12.0
| May record low C = 15.6
| Jun record low C = 11.4
| Jul record low C = 13.1
| Aug record low C = 15.7
| Sep record low C = 14.5
| Oct record low C = 12.2
| Nov record low C = 9.3
| Dec record low C = 8.4
| year record low C = 6.7
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.3
| Feb rain mm = 1.0
| Mar rain mm = 13.9
| Apr rain mm = 34.9
| May rain mm = 56.5
| Jun rain mm = 230.1
| Jul rain mm = 372.6
| Aug rain mm = 321.3
| Sep rain mm = 127.3
| Oct rain mm = 143.9
| Nov rain mm = 20.6
| Dec rain mm = 6.7
| year rain mm = 1329.0
| Jan rain days = 0.0
| Feb rain days = 0.0
| Mar rain days = 0.8
| Apr rain days = 2.8
| May rain days = 4.0
| Jun rain days = 12.8
| Jul rain days = 19.6
| Aug rain days = 18.5
| Sep rain days = 9.3
| Oct rain days = 7.7
| Nov rain days = 1.5
| Dec rain days = 0.4
| year rain days = 77.3
| Jan humidity = 66
| Feb humidity = 58
| Mar humidity = 56
| Apr humidity = 60
| May humidity = 70
| Jun humidity = 85
| Jul humidity = 91
| Aug humidity = 92
| Sep humidity = 87
| Oct humidity = 84
| Nov humidity = 75
| Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 74
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 115–118
| access-date = 18 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M89–M90
| access-date = 18 April 2020}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
</ref> Since then, [[Maharashtra]] continues to claim the district, and the case is now in [[Supreme Court of India]].
| location = [[Belgaum Airport]] (1991–2020, extremes 1952–2020)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed =
| Jan record high C = 34.2
| Feb record high C = 38.0
| Mar record high C = 39.2
| Apr record high C = 40.2
| May record high C = 40.2
| Jun record high C = 38.8
| Jul record high C = 32.4
| Aug record high C = 31.6
| Sep record high C = 33.7
| Oct record high C = 33.8
| Nov record high C = 32.8
| Dec record high C = 33.8
| year record high C = 40.2
| Jan high C = 29.9
| Feb high C = 32.4
| Mar high C = 35.1
| Apr high C = 36.2
| May high C = 35.0
| Jun high C = 29.3
| Jul high C = 26.5
| Aug high C = 26.5
| Sep high C = 28.2
| Oct high C = 29.5
| Nov high C = 29.4
| Dec high C = 29.0
| year high C = 30.6
|Jan mean C = 21.9
|Feb mean C = 23.8
|Mar mean C = 26.5
|Apr mean C = 28.2
|May mean C = 28.0
|Jun mean C = 25.0
|Jul mean C = 23.4
|Aug mean C = 23.3
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 24.2
|Nov mean C = 23.0
|Dec mean C = 21.7
| Jan low C = 13.8
| Feb low C = 15.1
| Mar low C = 18.0
| Apr low C = 20.3
| May low C = 21.2
| Jun low C = 21.0
| Jul low C = 20.4
| Aug low C = 20.1
| Sep low C = 19.5
| Oct low C = 19.0
| Nov low C = 16.6
| Dec low C = 14.3
| year low C = 18.3
| Jan record low C = 6.4
| Feb record low C = 6.5
| Mar record low C = 7.7
| Apr record low C = 12.8
| May record low C = 15.0
| Jun record low C = 18.2
| Jul record low C = 17.4
| Aug record low C = 15.5
| Sep record low C = 14.4
| Oct record low C = 12.3
| Nov record low C = 7.7
| Dec record low C = 7.7
| year record low C = 6.4
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.0
| Feb rain mm = 0.5
| Mar rain mm = 9.2
| Apr rain mm = 41.0
| May rain mm = 66.9
| Jun rain mm = 172.2
| Jul rain mm = 241.5
| Aug rain mm = 172.4
| Sep rain mm = 128.6
| Oct rain mm = 124.1
| Nov rain mm = 25.5
| Dec rain mm = 3.8
| year rain mm = 985.7
| Jan rain days = 0.0
| Feb rain days = 0.1
| Mar rain days = 1.0
| Apr rain days = 3.2
| May rain days = 4.0
| Jun rain days = 11.1
| Jul rain days = 17.1
| Aug rain days = 14.6
| Sep rain days = 9.3
| Oct rain days = 6.8
| Nov rain days = 1.6
| Dec rain days = 0.3
| year rain days = 69.0
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 32
| Feb humidity = 27
| Mar humidity = 29
| Apr humidity = 41
| May humidity = 51
| Jun humidity = 75
| Jul humidity = 83
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 77
| Oct humidity = 63
| Nov humidity = 46
| Dec humidity = 39
|year humidity = 54
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals/><ref name=IMDextremes/>
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)<ref name=TCC1>
{{cite web
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43198
| title = Normals Data: Belgaum/Sambre – India Latitude: 15.85°N Longitude: 74.62°E Height: 767 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 December 2022}}</ref>}}


==Geography==
==Demographics==
===Population===
Belgaum is located at {{Coord|15.87|N|74.5|E|}}.<ref name="fallingrain.com">[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Belgaum.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Belgaum]</ref> It has an average elevation of 751&nbsp;metres (2463&nbsp;feet).
According to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum district were [[Kannada]] speakers and 26.04% spoke [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref name="TOI-Dispute"/>
The city is situated in the northwestern parts of [[Karnataka]] and lies at the border of two states, [[Maharashtra]] and [[Goa]] on the western ghats (50&nbsp;km from [[Goa]] state border). It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying at a distance of 502&nbsp;km from [[Bangalore]];515&nbsp;km from [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]] and 500&nbsp;km from [[Mumbai]]. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of 13,415&nbsp;km² with a population of around 48 lakhs or 4.8 million (47,78,439) according to the census 2011. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range ([[Western Ghats]]) at an altitude of about 779m, 100&nbsp;km from the [[Arabian Sea]] with the river Markandeya flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.


{{bar box
==Climate==
|title=Religions in Belgaum City (2011)<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population By Religion - Karnataka|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11378/download/14491/DDW29C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=census.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
Belgaum is known for its pleasant climate all round the year. Belgaum is at its coldest in winter (November - February temperatures dropping to 9 degrees Celsius), and experiences continuous monsoon during July to September. The annual average rainfall is over 200 &nbsp;cm", 2000&nbsp;mm.
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Hinduism]]|darkorange|73.24}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|20.62}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism in Karnataka|Jainism]]|pink|4.22}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Karnataka|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|1.10}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.82}}
}}


As per the 2011 India [[census]], the population of Belgaum city is 490,045. Males constitute 246,537 of the population and females 243,508. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 88.92%: 93.78% for males and 85.84% for females. 10.71% of the population is under 6 years of age. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.84% and 3.26% of the population respectively.<ref name="Census of India">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Hand Book: Belgaum |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/588/download/2000/DH_2011_2901_PART_A_DCHB_BELGAUM.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
==Demographics==
As per provisional 2011 India [[census]], Belgaum has a urban population of 12,10,700.<ref name="census india">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/karnataka/4-population-8-19.pdf]</ref> 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. Eleven percent of the population is under 6 years of age.<ref name="Census of India">[http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999 Census of India]</ref> Here majority of the population are [[Marathis]] followed by [[Kannadigas]] and [[Urdu]] speaking Muslims.
Belgaum is a [[Multiculturalism|cosmopolitan]] as people from all over [[India]] dwell here.


==Culture==
===Languages===
{{Pie chart
The lingua franca of the region is mostly [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and even the [[Kannada]] spoken here is laced with a generous dose of Marathi.<ref name="Gokak falls: regaining lost glory">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080521030821/http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/May182008/sundayherald2008051768489.asp Gokak falls: regaining lost glory]</ref>
|thumb = left
Belgaum enjoys rich cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the states of Maharashtra and Goa. [[Kannada]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] are the main languages spoken. The customs and traditions of Belgaum have been influenced by both the [[Kannada]] and [[Marathi people|Marathi]] cultures. Traditional dressing in rural Belgaum is similar to the attires of people in the north Karnataka and Maharashtra; the men wear a turban with a long tailpiece at the rear and a dhoti (a sarong worn in a manner that allows easier movement) and the women wear saris. However, in the city, the costumes are very much in tune with modern urban India.
|caption = Languages of Belgaum City (2011)<ref name="language"/>
Second World Kannada Meet 2011 was held in the city on 11–13 March 2011 (First held at [[Mysore]] in the year 1985) to celebrate, enrich the tradition, culture and progress of the state.
|label1 = [[Kannada]] |value1 = 37.46 |color1 = darkslateblue
|label2 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value2 = 32.91 |color2 = red
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 19.82 |color3 = green
|label4 = [[Konkani language|Konkani]] |value4 = 2.64 |color4 = salmon
|label5 = [[Hindi]] |value5 = 2.42 |color5 = orange
|label6 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value6 = 1.92 |color6 = steelblue
|label7 = Others |value7 = 2.83 |color7 = grey
}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages of Belgaum Taluk (2011)<ref name="language"/>
|label1 = [[Kannada]] |value1 = 39.99 |color1 = darkslateblue
|label2 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value2 = 38.81 |color2 = red
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 13.67 |color3 = green
|label4 = [[Hindi]] |value4 = 3.04 |color4 = orange
|label5 = [[Konkani language|Konkani]] |value5 = 1.64 |color5 = salmon
|label6 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value6 = 1.44 |color6 = steelblue
|label7 = Others |value7 = 1.42 |color7 = grey
}}
[[Kannada]] (37.46%) and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] (32.91%) are the predominant languages. [[Urdu]] is spoken by 19.82%, while [[Konkani language|Konkani]] (2.64%), [[Hindi]] (2.42%) and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (1.92%) are also spoken.<ref name="language">{{Cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10255/download/13367/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2900.XLSX|title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue (Urban): Karnataka|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>


==Government and politics==
==Economy==
===Administration===
Belgaum is the commercial hub and divisional headquarters of north Karnataka, standing second to Bangalore in terms of overall exports in the state (mainly automotive industry). Known as the "Bread Basket / Rice Bowl" of north Karnataka,{{Fact|date=November 2011}} it is an important location for vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, wood (due to heavy rainfall, rivers and water abundance), mining production, trading in north [[Karnataka]] and is mainly traded with [[Goa]] along with major cities like [[Pune]], [[Bangalore]]. Rich deposits of [[Bauxite]] are found in [[Belgaum district]], and have led to the creation of the (HINDALCO) Indian Aluminium Company [[Birla Group]] for production of [[aluminium]].<ref name="karnatakaindustry.gov.in">[http://www.karnatakaindustry.gov.in/natural_resources.php Natural Resources in the State of Karnataka - Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka]</ref> Additionally, [[uranium]] deposits have recently been found in Deshnur, a small village near [[Bailhongal]] town.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/article517692.ece THE HINDU July 16, 2010]</ref> Belgaum is a major producer of milk in the state, almost 1/3 or 30% of state's production and has the highest number of sugar factories; Belgaum, being home to Renuka Sugars, is also known as Sugar Bowl of Karnataka.{{Fact|date=November 2011}}
Belgaum is located in the [[Belgaum (Lok Sabha constituency)|Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency]].


====Assembly session====
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]].
In 2006, the Government of Karnataka decided to hold one week sessions of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly every year during the winter season at the [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] administrative building, constructed and inaugurated in Belgaum in 2012.
[[File:Suvarna Soudha.jpg|thumb|[[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]]]]


== Belgaum border dispute ==
Its also a [[foundry]] hub of the Karnataka state having about 200 foundries producing more than 70000 tons{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} of automotive and industrial castings of ferrous base and the supporting ancillaries like [[CNC]] and conventional machine shops which finish the castings that are produced in Belgaum.
{{Main|Belgaum border dispute}}
[[File:Bombay Prov south 1909.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Map of the Bombay Presidency including Belgaum]]
The [[Belgaum border dispute]] is a dispute involving the Indian states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]]. Belgaum, currently a part of Karnataka and earlier the erstwhile [[Bombay Presidency]], is claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds. In 1956, the States Reorganization Act incorporated the Belgaum district including the 10 taluks in the [[Mysore state]], which became Karnataka in 1973. Though according to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum were [[Kannada]] speakers and 26.04% spoke [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref name="TOI-Dispute"/>


In 1948, the [[Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti]], a Belgaum based regional organisation fighting for the merger, was formed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuber |first1=Girish |title=District's always been bone of contention |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1309841,curpg-2.cms |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=28 November 2005}}</ref> On 17 January 1956, Marathi activists against the inclusion were shot by the police forces of Mysore state. Since then, 17 January is observed as the 'martyr's day' by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cariappa |first1=Nikhil |title=Karnataka: Shadow of Border Dispute in Marathi-Speaking Belagavi Looms Over Assembly Session |url=https://www.newsclick.in/Maharashtra-Ekikaran-Samiti-Vehicle-Marathi-Movement-Belagavi |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=NewsClick |date=24 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ET_Jan2021"/>
Belgaum is one of the major textile centre in the State with over 50,000 powerlooms (including unregistered units). Almost entire areas of old Belgaum at Vadagaon, Khasbagh, Shahpur are engaged in business with power looms. Belgaum is known for what are known as “Belgaum saris” which are sold under different brand names. Over 30,000 people are directly dependent on the powerlooms. There are also ready-made garment units, including export oriented, besides those manufacturing Khadi cotton products.


On 11 November 2005, Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV) activists daubed Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint (and later surrendered to the police) in the wake of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) passing a resolution<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/27/stories/2005112704240500.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 November 2005|title=Karnataka / Belgaum News: Supersession of BCC came as no surprise}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111719950100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120043640/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111719950100.htm|archive-date=20 January 2016|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 November 2005|title=Front Page: Belgaum corporation: decision today}}</ref> to include the district of Belgaum into [[Maharashtra]], a neighbouring state. Upon his return to Belgaum, Vijay More was served with several show-cause notices by the Government of Karnataka and later dissolved the council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30207658.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912201954/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2225/stories/20051216007912400.htm|title=A dispute revived|first=Ravi|last=Sharma|archive-date=12 September 2012|website=Frontline}}</ref>
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 and Udyambag. The Raviwarpeth area is known as the [[wholesale]] market which sells commodities like grains, tea, etc.{{Fact|date=November 2011}}


Following this incident, in the following year's election, Prashanta Budavi, wife of KRV (Karnataka Rakshana Vedike) City President Shantinath Budavi was appointed as mayor of the Belgaum City Corporation. Maharashtra has asked to bring 865 disputed villages including Belgaum under centre's rule until [[Supreme court]]'s final verdict. N.D. Patil, head of legal-committee appointed by Maharashtra government said that Karnataka is intensifying the problem. He added that Marathi people of border region are not able to live with honour and dignity under Karnataka's rule pointing out to the 'unconstitutional' dissolution of Belgaum city corporation and manhandling of Belgaum mayor by Kannada activists at [[Bangalore]].
Belgaum also is a strong industrial hub for machine shops catering to automotive manufacturing, Specially in [[Crankshaft]] machining and [[castings]]. The geographical location of the city is an advantage since it is situated right in between Bangalore and [[Mumbai]]–[[Pune]] to support the major automotive and aerospace{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} companies.


Even though case is pending in supreme court, in 2019, Deputy CM of Maharashtra [[Ajit Pawar]] called for the incorporation of Belgaum along with Karwar and Nipani area in [[Maharashtra]] citing it was of dream of [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] founder [[Bal Thackeray]], a statement reiterated by CM [[Uddhav Thackeray]] in January 2021.<ref name="TOI-Dispute" /> Thackeray went on to term the region as 'Karnataka-occupied areas'.<ref name="ET_Jan2021">{{cite news |title=Will incorporate 'Karnataka-occupied areas' into Maha: Uddhav |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-incorporate-karnataka-occupied-areas-into-maha-uddhav/articleshow/80312433.cms |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=17 January 2021}}</ref> The case regarding the dispute is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.<ref name="TOI-Dispute" />
A {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Special Economic Zone]] is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore highway to cater to [[precision engineering]] requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com">[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/Quest_plans_300-acre_aerospace_SEZ_in_Belgaum/articleshow/2173031.cms Quest plans 300-acre aerospace SEZ in Belgaum]</ref>


==Economy==
==Defence training centres==
The city's humble industrial growth begin when an entrepreneur named Babu Rao Pusalkar set up a small unit in city over a century ago and that transformed Belgaum city into foundry and hydraulics base.<ref name=thehindubusinessline>{{cite news |last1=Urs |first1=Anil |title=Belagavi: A city on the frontlines reinvents itself |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/belagavi-a-city-on-the-frontlines-reinvents-itself/article8310110.ece |access-date=14 December 2019 |work=@businessline |language=en}}</ref>


Belgaum is an important source of vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, mining production, and wood (due to heavy rainfall, rivers and the abundance of water). Trading in [[North Karnataka]] is mainly with [[Goa]] and [[Maharashtra]] along with major cities like [[Pune]], [[Bangalore]] and [[Mangalore]]. Rich deposits of [[Bauxite]] are found in [[Belgaum district]] and have led to the creation of the Indian [[aluminium]]-producing company [[Hindalco Industries]] of the [[Aditya Birla Group]].<ref name="karnatakaindustry.gov.in">{{Cite web|url=http://www.karnatakaindustry.gov.in/natural_resources.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206051236/http://www.karnatakaindustry.gov.in/natural_resources.php|title=Natural Resources in the State of Karnataka - Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka|archive-date=6 December 2007}}</ref> [[Uranium]] deposits have been found at Deshnur, a small village near [[Bailhongal]] town.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/Belgaum-poised-for-further-growth-in-industrial-and-farm-sectors/article16197921.ece | title=Belgaum poised for further growth in industrial and farm sectors | date=16 July 2010 | newspaper=The Hindu | first=Vijaykumar | last=Patil | access-date=24 January 2019 }}</ref>
Its salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near [[Portugal|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 force station of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The British had a sizable [[infantry]] post here, having realized 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 [[British East India Company|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#The Indian Army and Mhow|Mhow]], where the country's infantry commandos are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla 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. In between the Military hospital and the commando training centre there lies an eminent school called [[Belgaum Military School]] established in 1945 spread over an area of {{convert|64|acre|ha}}.


The Belgaum District Report<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/dlc/bitstream/handle/10535/79/Belgaum_District_Report_Final.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=Belgaum District Report - by Smith Tiwari and Vyas|access-date=3 April 2024}}</ref> provides detailed information about the local agricultural economy. The report describes the work of the pastoralists who herd large numbers of sheep and goats (approx 1.4m in 2003) - some settled in communities and others operating nomadically. They are supported by the [[Workers Development Union ]] (known as ''Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh'' or ''Jana Jagran'') an NGO that provides a shepherd training program in sheep care, modern medicines and modern breeding practices.
[[Indo-Tibetan Border Police]],
[[ITBP]] is building full fledge recreation and Training center In Belgaum at Halbhavi, Belgaum provides the best climate for recreation and [[ITBP]] will relocate the personal and will have large family bases in Belgaum for its soldiers after high altitude stressful duty.


A {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Special Economic Zone]] (India's first Private [[Aerospace]] [[Special Economic Zone|SEZ]]) is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore National Highway (NH-4) to cater to the [[precision engineering]] requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|first=Chiranjoy|last=Sen|date=4 July 2007|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/quest-plans-300-acre-aerospace-sez-in-belgaum/articleshow/2173031.cms|title=Quest plans 300-acre aerospace SEZ in Belgaum|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref>
[[CRPF]],
[[Central Reserve Police Force]] Institute of elite central paramilitary force is setting up a national-level training institution (jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum.


==Defence training centres==
==Tourism and attractions==
Belgaum's salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] [[Goa]] commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training centre and [[cantonment]], which it continues to be today for the [[Indian Armed Forces]], along with an air force station of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The British had a sizeable [[infantry]] post here, having realised the military importance of its geographical location.


Development of a rail network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the [[British East India Company|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 Junior Leaders Wing (formerly known as Infantry School, Belgaum). This establishment is affiliated to The Infantry School, [[Mhow#The Indian Army and Mhow|Mhow]]. Herein, Infantry Officers and Soldiers are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The [[commando]] course at Belgaum is mandatory for all Infantry Officers. Officers of Other branches of the military and even some foreign officers undertake the course, upon being nominated to do so. In between the Military Hospital and the Junior Leaders Wing lies the [[Belgaum Military School]], established in 1945 spread over an area of {{convert|64|acre|ha}}. The School provides quality education to sons of wards of Servicemen and Ex Servicemen of the Armed Forces. Several of them go on to join the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]].
Belgaum is located 502&nbsp;km from [[Bangalore]] and 154&nbsp;km from [[Panaji]]. 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 covered tourists places like [[Amboli, Sindhudurg district]], [[jamboti]] etc. Inside the city, 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.


The [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police]], ITBP, is building a full-fledged recreation and training centre in Belgaum at Halbhavi. Belgaum provides an excellent climate for recreation and [[ITBP]] will have large family bases in Belgaum for its soldiers after high altitude stressful duty.
===Tourist Attractions within and nearby the city===


The [[Central Reserve Police Force]] Institute of elite central paramilitary forces is setting up a national-level training institution (for jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum. The establishment, called the [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action|CoBRA School of Jungle Warfare]] is already operational.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Munish Chandra |title=CBI books 5 CRPF personnel for taking bribes to induct failed candidates into elite CoBRA unit |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/crpf-cobra-unit-cbi-books-personnel-recruitment-racket-bribes-1864890-2021-10-14 |work=India Today |date=14 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
#The Handloom cottage industries, and Silk weavers located in Vadgaon and Angol are known for the exquisitely designed Saris.
#The [[Cantonment]] Area with its lush cover of greenery, the MLIRC (Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre) is also based here.
#[[Jamboti]], 20&nbsp;km south-west of Belgaum, is a popular tourist spot with its evergreen hilltop forests.
#[[Vajrapoha Falls]] on the [[Mandovi River|Mandovi river]] are located 26&nbsp;km from Belgaum.
#[[Godchanmalki falls]] is a popular destination at a distance of about 60&nbsp;km from Belgaum. They are stepwise falls which are approximately 100 metres in length, with a step at every 30 metres.
#[[Gokak Falls]] is yet another resplendent waterfall 62&nbsp;km from Belgaum and 6&nbsp;km from the Gokak town.
#[[Amboli hill station]] ([[Maharashtra]]) This little known coastal highland area, around 70&nbsp;km from Belgaum, is fabulous during the monsoons. Thick forests, curving misty ghats and shades of vibrant greens.
# Asha Kiran Planetarium, School of Astronomy and Audio-Visual Education Research Centre. This is a new Planetarium that has recently been started in Belgaum. It is located in Ganeshpur.<ref name="Ravi Uppar, TNN, Dec 27, 2009, 11.05pm IST">{{cite web|author=Ravi Uppar, TNN, Dec 27, 2009, 11.05pm IST |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Professor-sets-up-pet-planetarium-in-Belgaum/articleshow/5385432.cms |title=Professor sets up pet planetarium in Belgaum - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2009-12-27 |accessdate=2010-04-12}}</ref>
#[[Dudh Sagar|Dudhsagar Water Falls]], located around 75&nbsp;km from Belgaum, is a scenic waterfall located on the Mandovi River. The spot also provides various options for trekkers. The best time to visit is during or soon after the [[Monsoon]].
# International Golf Course (18 hole) located at Desur, 10&nbsp;km from the city.


==Culture/Cityscape==
One can also visit Buthramanhatti park and Hidkal dam which are quite close to the city.
===Cuisine===
The cuisine of Belgaum is derived from the food cultures of three regions [[Karnataka]], [[Konkan]] and [[Maharashtra]].<ref name="Cuisine"/> Typical breakfast items include poori-bhaji, idli-dosa, uppit (upma), sheera, sabudana khichadi and sabuvada. Chapatis, rice, Jolada Rotti (bhakari/jowar rotti), thalipeeth, jhunka and vegetables are eaten for lunch. Non-vegetarian preparations such as various seafoods are cooked in Goan, Maharashtrian, and North Karnataka style. Belgaum is noted for a specific kind of [[biryani]], the ''Belgaum Biryani'', which uses ''Belgaum Basmati Rice'' for its preparation.<ref name="Cuisine">{{cite news |last1=Mudakavi |first1=Divyashri |title=Helping rural women become better entrepreneurs |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/spectrum-top-stories/helping-rural-women-become-better-entrepreneurs-1101076.html |access-date=2 June 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=15 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


Belgaum is known for ''kunda'', a milk-based sweet.<ref>{{cite news|language=mr|url=http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4821635585688496968&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&fb_comment_id=674028245959753_1051389811556926|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724161057/http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4821635585688496968&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&fb_comment_id=674028245959753_1051389811556926|archive-date=24 July 2015|work=[[Sakal]]|first=Amit |last=Jadhav|title=खिम्याचे उंडे, बेसन चटणीची भेळ, कुंदा...|trans-title=Khimyācē Uṇḍē, Bēsan Caṭaṇīcī Bhēḷ, Kundā...|date=17 June 2012|access-date=24 July 2015|location=[[Solapur]]}}</ref> Another sweet, called ''maande'' in Marathi and ''mandige'' in Kannada, is a prerequisite for weddings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4759825881811668649&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&NewsDate=20120408&NewsTitle=%27%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%27,%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AF,%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87...%20(%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0)|language=mr|work=[[Sakal]]|title='लावलेले पोहे', दाळीतोय, मांडे...|trans-title='Lāvlēlē Pōhē', Dāḷītōy, Māṇḍē...|first=Anant |last=Manohar|location=Belgaon|date=8 April 2012|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724162238/http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4759825881811668649&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&NewsDate=20120408&NewsTitle=%27%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%27,%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AF,%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87...%20(%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0)|archive-date=24 July 2015}}</ref>
==Architecture==
[[Image:Kamal basadi2.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Kamal Basadi Jain temple in Belgaum]]
* Kamal Basadi is a Jain temple located within the walls of the fort.
*[[Belgaum Fort]] is a huge construct present in the center of the town. It dates back to 1519. The foundation of the ''Suvarna Vidhana Soudha'', a legislative administrative office complex, was laid in Belgaum in August 2007 to celebrate the golden jubilee celebrations of the [[unification of Karnataka]].<ref>[http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20070824223020&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0 CM, DyCM to lay stone for Vidhana Soudha on Sunday]</ref>


==Cuisine==
==Transportation==
{{mapframe|frame=yes|type=point|zoom=SWITCH:12, 9, 6|switch=zoomed in, zoomed mid, zoomed out}}


===Road===
Belgaum is known for its cross culture food right from the Bombay chats to the Chinese delicacies. Belgaum is also famous for its "Kunda" (especially Purohit Kunda), and "Kalakand". A special sweet called "Mandige" or "Maande" is a must during weddings.
Belgaum is connected by road via national highways 4 (connecting [[Maharashtra]] (now part of the Golden Quadrilateral), [[Karnataka]], [[Telangana]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]) and 4A (connecting [[Karnataka]] and [[Goa]]). [[North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation]] (NWKRTC) run buses to all corners of Karnataka and to neighbouring states. There are many prominent private bus companies providing services to all major destinations in Karnataka and surrounding states. KSRTC services almost all villages in Karnataka. 92% villages are served by KSRTC (6,743 out of 7,298 Villages) and 44% in other areas. KSRTC operates 6463 schedules in a day covering an effective distance of 2374,000&nbsp;km with a total fleet of 7599 buses. It transports, on an average, 2457,000 passengers per day.


The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation was established on 1 November 1997, under provision of the Road Transport Corporation Act 1950, on the auspicious day of [[Karnataka]] Rajyotsava upon bifurcation from [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]] to provide adequate, efficient, economic and properly coordinated transport services to the commuters of North Western part of [[Karnataka]]. The Corporation jurisdiction covers the districts of Belgaum, [[Dharwad]], [[Karwar]], [[Bagalkot]], [[Gadag]] & [[Haveri]].
==Educational institutions==


NWKRTC operates its services to all villages, which have motorable roads in its jurisdiction, and also covers intra- and inter- state transport operations.
Belgaum is also an important educational center. Consisting of 8 engineering colleges, 5 medical colleges, and some of the dental colleges across the city and district.Vishweshwariah technological university is the biggest university of Karnataka for technical education (for BE,Mtech, MCA, MBA) is based in Belgaum. basic degree colleges,9 polytechnic colleges and 3 Law colleges are other educational institutions. KLE and KLS societies are two big educational giants based in Belgaum.


The Government of [[Goa]] operates KADAMBA bus service from Goa to Belgaum city and some other parts of the Belgaum District.
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.


The Government of [[Maharashtra]] also operates [[MSRTC]] buses from various parts of Maharashtra to Belgaum City and some other parts of the Belgaum District.
The establishment of the [[Visvesvaraya Technological University]] in 1998, with the affiliation of more than 208 engineering colleges, raised the importance of Belgaum as a centre of education in Karnataka. Belgaum also hosts a number of [[medical college]]s. 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.


===VTU Belgaum===
===Air===
[[File:Belagavi Airport.jpg|thumb|[[Belgaum Airport]]]]
{{Main|Visvesvaraya Technological University}} Visvesvaraya Technological University or VTU, named after Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweshwariah, is located in Machche in Belgaum. It has more than 208 colleges affiliated to it. And more than 67000 students graduate from VTU every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vtu.ac.in/index.php/about-us/about-vtu.html|title= About VTU | publisher=VTU|date=2011-10-15 |accessdate=2011-10-15}}</ref>
The city is served by [[Belgaum Airport]] at Sambra, which is the oldest airport in [[North Karnataka]] and lies {{convert|10|km}} from the city on [[State Highway 20 (Karnataka)|State Highway 20]]. Belgaum airport is included in UDAN 3 scheme. [[Alliance Air (India)|Alliance Air]], [[Spice Jet]], [[Star Air (India)|Star Air]], [[IndiGo]] and [[TruJet]] have flights to [[Bangalore]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Mysore]], [[Kadapa]], [[Tirupati]], [[Surat]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Indore]], [[Mumbai]], [[Pune]], [[Nagpur]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Nashik]] and [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profile of Belgaum airport|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/belgaum |website=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Flight connectivity to [[Jodhpur]] will be soon started by [[Star Air (India)|Star Air]] in the future days.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 2021|title=Now, Star Air flight connects Belagavi with Jodhpur|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/now-star-air-flight-connects-belagavi-with-jodhpur/article33855138.ece|access-date=22 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 January 2022|title=Star Air celebrates 3 years of Connecting Real India|url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/star-air-celebrates-3-years-of-connecting-real-india/813998/|access-date=22 February 2022|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>


===KLE Society===
===Rail===
[[File:Belgaum Railway Station - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Belgaum railway station]]]]
{{Main|Karnatak Lingayat Education Society}} In 1916, Karnataka Lingayat Education (K. L. E.) Society was founded by the Seven Founder Life Members, who are also addressed as "Saptarishis" [Seven Saints]. On 13 November 1916, K.L.E. Society started an Anglo Vernacular (G A High school now)School in Belgaum. Lingaraj College came into existence in June 1933. In 1947, B.V.B. College of Engineering and Technology was started in Hubli. J.N. Medical College at Belgaum and G.H. College at Haveri was started in the year 1963. It also runs World famous KLE engineering college in Belgaum. From 1984 onwards, K.L.E. Society started Dental, Education, Nursing, Information Technology, Computer Applications, Hotel Management, Business Management, Tourism, Fashion Designing, Agriculture Colleges and Polytechnics across India. Today under the leadership of Mr. Prabhakar Kore, the KLE Society runs 207 institutions.
[[Belgaum railway station]] is on the [[Indian Railways]] grid, being part of the South Western railways, and is well connected by rail to major destinations.


==Education==
===Karnatak Law Society===
===VTU===
Karnatak Law Society(KLS) was founded in 1939 by a group of diehard freedom fighters and eminent lawyers. Their distinguished vision and sheer service motto not only brought succor and solace to a large number of quality education aspirants but it also paved the way for the establishment of one of the greatest institutions of all times to come. KLS imparts unparallel quality education in Engineering, Management and other allied areas to more than 20,000 students through eleven institutes situated in various parts of Northern Karnataka. KLS is managed by an elite pool of Lawyers, Engineers.
{{Main|Visvesvaraya Technological University}}
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), named after Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweshwariah, is located in Machhe in Belgaum. It has more than 208 affiliated colleges. Over 67,000 students graduate from VTU every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vtu.ac.in/index.php/about-us/about-vtu.html |title=About VTU |publisher=VTU |date=15 October 2011 |access-date=15 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010150420/http://www.vtu.ac.in/index.php/about-us/about-vtu.html |archive-date=10 October 2011 }}</ref>


===Rani Channamma University===
===Rani Channamma University===
It also recently got Rani Channamma University independent, which was earlier PG centre of Karnatak University, Dharwad.
{{Main|Rani Channamma University, Belgaum}}


[[Rani Channamma University, Belgaum|Rani Channamma]] University was established in 2010 by upgrading the post-graduate centre of Karnatak University, Dharwad.
==Transportation==
Before the Rani Channamma University came into being in 2010, [[Karnatak University]] KRCPG Centre of Karnatak University, [[Dharwad]] was functioning at Belgaum. The Karnatak University PG Centre was established at Belgaum in the year 1982, to provide an opportunity to develop access to the students for higher education hailing from North Karnataka Region. In 1994 the PG centre was shifted to the present campus of 172 acres of land at Bhutramanahatti adjacent to the Pune-Bangalore National Highway – 4 [[National Highway 4 (India, old numbering)|NH 4]], about 18&nbsp;km from Belgaum. Karnatak University PG Centre has been declared as Rani Channamma University in the month of July 2010 with the jurisdiction of Belgaum, [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Vijaypur]], and [[Bagalkot]] districts.
===Road===
Belgaum is connected by road via the National Highways 4 (connecting [[Maharashtra]] [Now part of the Golden Quadrilateral], [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]) and 4A (connecting [[Karnataka]] and [[Goa]]). NWKRTC run buses to all corners of karnataka as well as neighboring states. There are many prominent private buses which servers to all major destinations in karnataka and surrounding states.


===Air===
== Media ==
Newspapers include ''[[Vijaya Karnataka]]'', ''[[Vijayavani|Vijay Vani]]'', ''[[Kannada Prabha]]'', ''[[Samyukta Karnataka]]'', ''[[Prajavani]]'', and ''Kannadamma'' in [[Kannada]]; ''[[The Times of India]]'' and ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' in English, and ''[[Tarun Bharat]]'', ''[[Sakaal]]'', ''[[Pudhari]]'' in [[Marathi language|Marathi]].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Main|Belgaum Airport}}
Belgaum Airport was the only airport in north karnataka for decades (with an airforce base). Belgaum is directly connected with [[Mumbai]]. The airport currently serving the city is [[Belgaum Airport]] at Sambra, located at 10&nbsp;km from the city on SH20. Schedules have been erratic, as the air connectivity is primarily provided by feeder airlines.
Belgaum currently has regular flights to Mumbai and Bangalore (Kingfisher Airlines)

===Rail===
Belgaum is on the main [[Indian Railways]] grid being part of south western division and is well connected by rail to major destinations such as Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa and New Delhi. Belgaum railway station is oldest in this region.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}.


==Assembly session==
==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
In 2006 Government of Karnataka decided to held Assembly session every year during winter season for one week. Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is under construction.
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[M. V. Chandgadkar]], cricket administrator and board secretary
* [[Phadeppa Dareppa Chaugule]], India's first Olympic marathon runner
* [[Raosaheb Gogte]], industrialist of the [[Gogte Group]]. Namesake of the [[Gogte Institute of Technology]], Gogte College of Commerce and Science, and the Gogte Circle in Belgaum.
* [[Atul Kulkarni]], actor
* [[Raai Laxmi]], actor
* [[Ronit More]], Indian Cricket Player
* [[Bandu Patil]], Indian hockey player
* [[Nima Poovaya-Smith]], museum curator, art historian and writer<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belliappa |first1=CP |title=C.P. Belliappa interviews Dr Nima-Poovaya Smith, founder of Alchemy, involved in promoting art in UK |url=http://www.coorgtourisminfo.com/c-p-belliappas-column/c-p-belliappa-interviews-dr-nima-poovaya-smith-founder-alchemy-involved-promoting-art-uk |publisher=Coorg Tourism |access-date=25 November 2022 |date=13 February 2014 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125230012/http://www.coorgtourisminfo.com/c-p-belliappas-column/c-p-belliappa-interviews-dr-nima-poovaya-smith-founder-alchemy-involved-promoting-art-uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Alice Maude Sorabji Pennell]], Doctor and writer
* [[Charan Raj]], actor
* [[Pavani Reddy]], actor
* [[Cornelia Sorabji]], lawyer and writer. Notably the first woman to practice law in India and Britain.
* [[Shri Thanedar]], American politician


==Gallery==
==See also==
*[[North Karnataka]]
<gallery>
*[[Jainism in North Karnataka]]
File:Kamala_basadi_belagavi_2.jpg|Kamal Basti at fort Belgaum
*[[Jainism in Karnataka]]
File:Kamala_basadi_belagavi_4.jpg| Inside view of Kamal Basti at fort Belgaum
*[[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]]
File:Chikka_basadi_belagavi_2.jpg| Chikka basti, near Kamal Basti at fort Belgaum
*[[Ramnagar, Uttara Kannada]]
File:Chikka_basadi_belagavi_1.jpg| Chikka basti, near Kamal Basti at fort Belgaum
File:Inside_safa_masjid_Belagavi_fort.jpg| Inside view of Safa Masjid at fort Belgaum
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Commons category|Belagavi}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Belgaum}}
* [http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in/ Municipal Corporation of Belgaum]
* [http://www.belgaum.nic.in/ Government website on Belgaum district]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160807065346/http://www.belagavi.nic.in/ Government website for Belgaum district]
* [http://belgaumdic.gov.in/ Directorate of Industries & Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721155418/http://belgaumdic.gov.in/ Directorate of Industries & Commerce]
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=15861123&x=74517517&z=13&l=0&m=h/ Belgaum on Wikimapia]
* [http://www.belgaum.biz/ Ultimate Guide for Belgaum City]
* [http://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Belgaum+fort&aq=&sll=15.840192,74.524555&sspn=0.009372,0.013754&ie=UTF8&hq=Belgaum+fort&hnear=&ll=15.858377,74.524534&spn=0.008855,0.013754&t=h&z=16 Belgaum Fort of Rattas on Google Maps]
* [http://www.allaboutbelgaum.com/ AllABoutBelgaum.com] The only daily updated news portal for Belgaum


{{1911}}
{{Karnataka topics}}
{{Karnataka topics}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Belgaum| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Forts in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Forts in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Tourism in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Tourism in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Former Indian capital cities]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Belgaum district]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Belagavi district]]
[[Category:Places connected with Jainism]]
[[Category:Smart cities in India]]

{{Link FA|mr}}

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Latest revision as of 14:00, 28 December 2024

This article is about the municipality in India. For its district, see Belagavi District. For the country, see Belgium.

Belgaum
Bēḷagāma (Kannada)
Belgaon
City
Belagavi
Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belgaum
Map
Belgaum in Karnataka
Coordinates: 15°51′N 74°30′E / 15.850°N 74.500°E / 15.850; 74.500
Country India
State Karnataka
DistrictBelagavi
Government
 • TypeDistrict Administration
 • BodyBelagavi Mahanagara Palike
 • Deputy CommissionerMohammad Roshan, IAS[1]
 • Lok Sabha MPJagadish Shettar, BJP[2]
 • MayorSavita Kamble, BJP[3]
 • Deputy MayorAnand Chavan, BJP[3]
Area
[4]
 • City
94 km2 (36 sq mi)
 • Rural
930 km2 (360 sq mi)
 • Rank4 (Karnataka)
Elevation
784 m (2,572 ft)
Population
 (2011)[5]
 • City
490,045
 • Density5,200/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
 • Rural
449,805
Demonym(s)Belgaumite, Belagavian
Languages
 • OfficialKannada[6]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (ST)
PIN
590001 to 590020
Telephone code(+91) 831
Vehicle registrationKA-22
Websitebelagavicitycorp.org

Belgaum (Kannada ISO: Bēḷagāma, IPA: [beːɭɐɡaːmɐ]), officially known as Belagavi (also Belgaon[7]), is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats.[8][9] It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Belagavi division and Belagavi district. The Government of Karnataka has proposed making Belgaum the second capital of Karnataka alongside Bangalore, hence a second state administrative building Suvarna Vidhana Soudha was inaugurated on 11 October 2012.[10]

Belgaum has been selected in first phase out of 20 cities, as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under India's flagship Smart Cities Mission.[11]

History

[edit]
Further information: Belgaum Fort
Belgaum 1896 map

Belgaum was founded in late 12th century AD by the Ratta dynasty, who shifted from nearby Saundatti. A Ratta official named Bichiraja built Kamal Basadi, a Jain temple, dedicated to Neminatha in 1204, which came to be called Kamalabasti. Pillars found inside Belgaum fort have Kannada inscriptions in Nagari scripts, one from 1199 by Ratta King Kartaveerya IV. The city's original name was Venugram, a Sanskrit word which means "village of bamboo". Alternatively, it is referred to as Venugram in early Indian texts, which means "city of bamboo".[12]

Belgaum became a part of the Yadava dynasty kingdom (Seuna) in early 13th century. An inscription from 1261 of King Krishna belonging to the Yadava dynasty attests to this. The region was invaded by Khalji dynasty of Delhi Sultanate in 14th century. Shortly thereafter, the Vijayanagara Empire was founded, and Belgaum came under the rule of Vijayanagara. In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate conquered Belgaum with an army led by Mahmud Gawan.[13]

Mahatma Gandhi at the Belgaum Congress 1924

The Belgaum fort was strengthened by the Adil Shah dynasty Sultans and they built the Safa Mosque. A Persian inscription states that the mosque was built by Asad Khan, a Bijapur commander. In 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states and Belgaum became part of the Bijapur Sultanate. The Adilshahis extended their control to the port of Goa, but retreated after the arrival and wars with the Portuguese. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb overthrew the Bijapur sultanate and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals, who called it "Azamnagar".[13] However, the Mughal empire control collapsed after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. The Maratha confederacy took control of the area during the rule of the Peshwas. In 1776, the region was overrun by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan after Hyder Ali's coup in the Kingdom of Mysore. The Peshwa regained Belgaum, after Tipu Sultan was defeated by the British forces. In 1818, the British annexed Belgaum and the region in the control of the Peshwa. Kitturu Chennamma (1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state of Kittur in Karnataka and in 1824 she led an unsuccessful armed rebellion against the British in response to the Doctrine of lapse.

Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of the Indian National Congress in December 1924 under the presidency of Mahatma Gandhi. 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 Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, used military forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.

When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district were part of Bombay State. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the States Reorganisation Act and Belgaum including 10 taluks of Bombay State were transferred to Mysore State, which was renamed Karnataka in 1973.[14]

In 2006, the Government of Karnataka announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital, and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day winter session of the state legislature.[15]

City names

[edit]

On 1 November 2014, the city's name was changed from Belgaum to Belagavi by the Karnataka government, with approval of the central government of India along with 12 other cities.[16][17] Belgaum is known as Belgaon (IPA: [beːɭɡaːʋ]) in Maharashtra and amongst Marathi people.

Geography

[edit]

Topography

[edit]

Belgaum is located at 15°52′N 74°30′E / 15.87°N 74.5°E / 15.87; 74.5.[18] It has an average elevation of 770 metres (2,530 feet). The city is in the northwestern parts of Karnataka and lies at the border of two states, Maharashtra and Goa on the western ghats (50 km (31 mi) from the Goa state border). It is one of the oldest towns in the state, lying 502 km (312 mi) from Bangalore, 500 km (310 mi) from Mumbai, 515 km (320 mi) from Hyderabad, and 600 km (370 mi) from Mysore. The district comprises 1278 villages with an area of 13,415 km2 (5,180 sq mi) and a population of around 4.8 million according to the census of 2011. Belgaum district is the biggest district of Karnataka. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats) at an altitude of about 779 m (2,556 ft), 100 km (62 mi) from the Arabian Sea with the Markandeya river flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift and kaleidoscopic changes in topography, vegetation and climate.

Climate

[edit]

Belgaum has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). It is known for its pleasant year-round climate. Belgaum is at its coldest in winter (lowest temperature in Karnataka is usually recorded in Belgaum) and it experiences almost continuous monsoon rains from June through September. Belgaum sometimes receives hail storms during April.

Climate data for Belgaum (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.7
(96.3) 		38.4
(101.1) 		40.0
(104.0) 		41.9
(107.4) 		41.2
(106.2) 		39.2
(102.6) 		33.6
(92.5) 		35.0
(95.0) 		34.3
(93.7) 		36.6
(97.9) 		34.6
(94.3) 		34.6
(94.3) 		41.9
(107.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.3
(84.7) 		31.9
(89.4) 		34.8
(94.6) 		36.1
(97.0) 		35.0
(95.0) 		29.1
(84.4) 		25.9
(78.6) 		25.8
(78.4) 		27.7
(81.9) 		28.8
(83.8) 		28.5
(83.3) 		28.2
(82.8) 		30.2
(86.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15.2
(59.4) 		16.2
(61.2) 		18.7
(65.7) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.5
(70.7) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.2
(68.4) 		18.1
(64.6) 		15.9
(60.6) 		19.2
(66.6)
Record low °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0) 		6.7
(44.1) 		10.0
(50.0) 		12.0
(53.6) 		15.6
(60.1) 		11.4
(52.5) 		13.1
(55.6) 		15.7
(60.3) 		14.5
(58.1) 		12.2
(54.0) 		9.3
(48.7) 		8.4
(47.1) 		6.7
(44.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.3
(0.01) 		1.0
(0.04) 		13.9
(0.55) 		34.9
(1.37) 		56.5
(2.22) 		230.1
(9.06) 		372.6
(14.67) 		321.3
(12.65) 		127.3
(5.01) 		143.9
(5.67) 		20.6
(0.81) 		6.7
(0.26) 		1,329
(52.32)
Average rainy days 0.0 0.0 0.8 2.8 4.0 12.8 19.6 18.5 9.3 7.7 1.5 0.4 77.3
Average relative humidity (%) 66 58 56 60 70 85 91 92 87 84 75 70 74
Source: India Meteorological Department[19][20][21]
Climate data for Belgaum Airport (1991–2020, extremes 1952–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.2
(93.6) 		38.0
(100.4) 		39.2
(102.6) 		40.2
(104.4) 		40.2
(104.4) 		38.8
(101.8) 		32.4
(90.3) 		31.6
(88.9) 		33.7
(92.7) 		33.8
(92.8) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.8
(92.8) 		40.2
(104.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8) 		32.4
(90.3) 		35.1
(95.2) 		36.2
(97.2) 		35.0
(95.0) 		29.3
(84.7) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.5
(79.7) 		28.2
(82.8) 		29.5
(85.1) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.0
(84.2) 		30.6
(87.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 21.9
(71.4) 		23.8
(74.8) 		26.5
(79.7) 		28.2
(82.8) 		28.0
(82.4) 		25.0
(77.0) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.3
(73.9) 		23.8
(74.8) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.0
(73.4) 		21.7
(71.1) 		24.4
(75.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.8
(56.8) 		15.1
(59.2) 		18.0
(64.4) 		20.3
(68.5) 		21.2
(70.2) 		21.0
(69.8) 		20.4
(68.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		19.5
(67.1) 		19.0
(66.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		14.3
(57.7) 		18.3
(64.9)
Record low °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5) 		6.5
(43.7) 		7.7
(45.9) 		12.8
(55.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		18.2
(64.8) 		17.4
(63.3) 		15.5
(59.9) 		14.4
(57.9) 		12.3
(54.1) 		7.7
(45.9) 		7.7
(45.9) 		6.4
(43.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0
(0.0) 		0.5
(0.02) 		9.2
(0.36) 		41.0
(1.61) 		66.9
(2.63) 		172.2
(6.78) 		241.5
(9.51) 		172.4
(6.79) 		128.6
(5.06) 		124.1
(4.89) 		25.5
(1.00) 		3.8
(0.15) 		985.7
(38.81)
Average rainy days 0.0 0.1 1.0 3.2 4.0 11.1 17.1 14.6 9.3 6.8 1.6 0.3 69.0
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 32 27 29 41 51 75 83 83 77 63 46 39 54
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[22][20][21]
Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)[23]

Demographics

[edit]

Population

[edit]

According to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum district were Kannada speakers and 26.04% spoke Marathi.[14]

Religions in Belgaum City (2011)[24]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 73.24%
Islam
 
 20.62%
Jainism
 
 4.22%
Christianity
 
 1.10%
Other or not stated
 
 0.82%

As per the 2011 India census, the population of Belgaum city is 490,045. Males constitute 246,537 of the population and females 243,508. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 88.92%: 93.78% for males and 85.84% for females. 10.71% of the population is under 6 years of age. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.84% and 3.26% of the population respectively.[25]

Languages

[edit]

Languages of Belgaum City (2011)[26]

  Kannada (37.46%)
  Marathi (32.91%)
  Urdu (19.82%)
  Konkani (2.64%)
  Hindi (2.42%)
  Telugu (1.92%)
  Others (2.83%)

Languages of Belgaum Taluk (2011)[26]

  Kannada (39.99%)
  Marathi (38.81%)
  Urdu (13.67%)
  Hindi (3.04%)
  Konkani (1.64%)
  Telugu (1.44%)
  Others (1.42%)

Kannada (37.46%) and Marathi (32.91%) are the predominant languages. Urdu is spoken by 19.82%, while Konkani (2.64%), Hindi (2.42%) and Telugu (1.92%) are also spoken.[26]

Government and politics

[edit]

Administration

[edit]

Belgaum is located in the Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency.

Assembly session

[edit]

In 2006, the Government of Karnataka decided to hold one week sessions of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly every year during the winter season at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha administrative building, constructed and inaugurated in Belgaum in 2012.

Suvarna Vidhana Soudha

Belgaum border dispute

[edit]
Main article: Belgaum border dispute
Map of the Bombay Presidency including Belgaum

The Belgaum border dispute is a dispute involving the Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Belgaum, currently a part of Karnataka and earlier the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, is claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds. In 1956, the States Reorganization Act incorporated the Belgaum district including the 10 taluks in the Mysore state, which became Karnataka in 1973. Though according to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum were Kannada speakers and 26.04% spoke Marathi.[14]

In 1948, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, a Belgaum based regional organisation fighting for the merger, was formed.[27] On 17 January 1956, Marathi activists against the inclusion were shot by the police forces of Mysore state. Since then, 17 January is observed as the 'martyr's day' by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti.[28][29]

On 11 November 2005, Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV) activists daubed Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint (and later surrendered to the police) in the wake of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) passing a resolution[30][31] to include the district of Belgaum into Maharashtra, a neighbouring state. Upon his return to Belgaum, Vijay More was served with several show-cause notices by the Government of Karnataka and later dissolved the council.[32]

Following this incident, in the following year's election, Prashanta Budavi, wife of KRV (Karnataka Rakshana Vedike) City President Shantinath Budavi was appointed as mayor of the Belgaum City Corporation. Maharashtra has asked to bring 865 disputed villages including Belgaum under centre's rule until Supreme court's final verdict. N.D. Patil, head of legal-committee appointed by Maharashtra government said that Karnataka is intensifying the problem. He added that Marathi people of border region are not able to live with honour and dignity under Karnataka's rule pointing out to the 'unconstitutional' dissolution of Belgaum city corporation and manhandling of Belgaum mayor by Kannada activists at Bangalore.

Even though case is pending in supreme court, in 2019, Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar called for the incorporation of Belgaum along with Karwar and Nipani area in Maharashtra citing it was of dream of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, a statement reiterated by CM Uddhav Thackeray in January 2021.[14] Thackeray went on to term the region as 'Karnataka-occupied areas'.[29] The case regarding the dispute is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.[14]

Economy

[edit]

The city's humble industrial growth begin when an entrepreneur named Babu Rao Pusalkar set up a small unit in city over a century ago and that transformed Belgaum city into foundry and hydraulics base.[33]

Belgaum is an important source of vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, mining production, and wood (due to heavy rainfall, rivers and the abundance of water). Trading in North Karnataka is mainly with Goa and Maharashtra along with major cities like Pune, Bangalore and Mangalore. Rich deposits of Bauxite are found in Belgaum district and have led to the creation of the Indian aluminium-producing company Hindalco Industries of the Aditya Birla Group.[34] Uranium deposits have been found at Deshnur, a small village near Bailhongal town.[35]

The Belgaum District Report[36] provides detailed information about the local agricultural economy. The report describes the work of the pastoralists who herd large numbers of sheep and goats (approx 1.4m in 2003) - some settled in communities and others operating nomadically. They are supported by the Workers Development Union (known as Shramik Abhivrudhi Sangh or Jana Jagran) an NGO that provides a shepherd training program in sheep care, modern medicines and modern breeding practices.

A 300-acre (1.2 km2) Special Economic Zone (India's first Private Aerospace SEZ) is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore National Highway (NH-4) to cater to the precision engineering requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.[37]

Defence training centres

[edit]

Belgaum's 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 centre and cantonment, which it continues to be today for the Indian Armed Forces, along with an air force station of the Indian Air Force. The British had a sizeable infantry post here, having realised the military importance of its geographical location.

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 Junior Leaders Wing (formerly known as Infantry School, Belgaum). This establishment is affiliated to The Infantry School, Mhow. Herein, Infantry Officers and Soldiers are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The commando course at Belgaum is mandatory for all Infantry Officers. Officers of Other branches of the military and even some foreign officers undertake the course, upon being nominated to do so. In between the Military Hospital and the Junior Leaders Wing lies the Belgaum Military School, established in 1945 spread over an area of 64 acres (26 ha). The School provides quality education to sons of wards of Servicemen and Ex Servicemen of the Armed Forces. Several of them go on to join the National Defence Academy.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ITBP, is building a full-fledged recreation and training centre in Belgaum at Halbhavi. Belgaum provides an excellent climate for recreation and ITBP will have large family bases in Belgaum for its soldiers after high altitude stressful duty.

The Central Reserve Police Force Institute of elite central paramilitary forces is setting up a national-level training institution (for jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum. The establishment, called the CoBRA School of Jungle Warfare is already operational.[38]

Culture/Cityscape

[edit]

Cuisine

[edit]

The cuisine of Belgaum is derived from the food cultures of three regions Karnataka, Konkan and Maharashtra.[39] Typical breakfast items include poori-bhaji, idli-dosa, uppit (upma), sheera, sabudana khichadi and sabuvada. Chapatis, rice, Jolada Rotti (bhakari/jowar rotti), thalipeeth, jhunka and vegetables are eaten for lunch. Non-vegetarian preparations such as various seafoods are cooked in Goan, Maharashtrian, and North Karnataka style. Belgaum is noted for a specific kind of biryani, the Belgaum Biryani, which uses Belgaum Basmati Rice for its preparation.[39]

Belgaum is known for kunda, a milk-based sweet.[40] Another sweet, called maande in Marathi and mandige in Kannada, is a prerequisite for weddings.[41]

Transportation

[edit]
Map
Map
Map

Road

[edit]

Belgaum is connected by road via national highways 4 (connecting Maharashtra (now part of the Golden Quadrilateral), Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) and 4A (connecting Karnataka and Goa). North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) run buses to all corners of Karnataka and to neighbouring states. There are many prominent private bus companies providing services to all major destinations in Karnataka and surrounding states. KSRTC services almost all villages in Karnataka. 92% villages are served by KSRTC (6,743 out of 7,298 Villages) and 44% in other areas. KSRTC operates 6463 schedules in a day covering an effective distance of 2374,000 km with a total fleet of 7599 buses. It transports, on an average, 2457,000 passengers per day.

The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation was established on 1 November 1997, under provision of the Road Transport Corporation Act 1950, on the auspicious day of Karnataka Rajyotsava upon bifurcation from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to provide adequate, efficient, economic and properly coordinated transport services to the commuters of North Western part of Karnataka. The Corporation jurisdiction covers the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar, Bagalkot, Gadag & Haveri.

NWKRTC operates its services to all villages, which have motorable roads in its jurisdiction, and also covers intra- and inter- state transport operations.

The Government of Goa operates KADAMBA bus service from Goa to Belgaum city and some other parts of the Belgaum District.

The Government of Maharashtra also operates MSRTC buses from various parts of Maharashtra to Belgaum City and some other parts of the Belgaum District.

Air

[edit]
Belgaum Airport

The city is served by Belgaum Airport at Sambra, which is the oldest airport in North Karnataka and lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the city on State Highway 20. Belgaum airport is included in UDAN 3 scheme. Alliance Air, Spice Jet, Star Air, IndiGo and TruJet have flights to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, Kadapa, Tirupati, Surat, Ahmedabad, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Nashik and Chennai.[42] Flight connectivity to Jodhpur will be soon started by Star Air in the future days.[43][44]

Rail

[edit]
Belgaum railway station

Belgaum railway station is on the Indian Railways grid, being part of the South Western railways, and is well connected by rail to major destinations.

Education

[edit]

VTU

[edit]
Main article: Visvesvaraya Technological University

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), named after Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweshwariah, is located in Machhe in Belgaum. It has more than 208 affiliated colleges. Over 67,000 students graduate from VTU every year.[45]

Rani Channamma University

[edit]
Main article: Rani Channamma University, Belgaum

Rani Channamma University was established in 2010 by upgrading the post-graduate centre of Karnatak University, Dharwad. Before the Rani Channamma University came into being in 2010, Karnatak University KRCPG Centre of Karnatak University, Dharwad was functioning at Belgaum. The Karnatak University PG Centre was established at Belgaum in the year 1982, to provide an opportunity to develop access to the students for higher education hailing from North Karnataka Region. In 1994 the PG centre was shifted to the present campus of 172 acres of land at Bhutramanahatti adjacent to the Pune-Bangalore National Highway – 4 NH 4, about 18 km from Belgaum. Karnatak University PG Centre has been declared as Rani Channamma University in the month of July 2010 with the jurisdiction of Belgaum, Vijaypur, and Bagalkot districts.

Media

[edit]

Newspapers include Vijaya Karnataka, Vijay Vani, Kannada Prabha, Samyukta Karnataka, Prajavani, and Kannadamma in Kannada; The Times of India and Deccan Herald in English, and Tarun Bharat, Sakaal, Pudhari in Marathi.[citation needed]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mohammad Roshan is Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi". The Hindu. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. ^ Arakal, Ralph Alex (3 May 2021). "Karnataka bypolls: BJP wins Belagavi, Basavakalyan; Congress takes Maski". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Former civic worker elected Mayor of Belagavi". The Hindu. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ "city/town summary". Archived from the original on 29 September 2006.
  5. ^ "Census Data Handbook 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  6. ^ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 108. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  7. ^ Malleson, Colonel (31 January 2021). Kaye and Mallesons History of Indian Mutiny. London: William Clowes and Sons. p. 22.
  8. ^ "Official Website of Belgaum District". www.belgaum.nic.in. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  9. ^ Belgavi, Encyclopædia Britannica
  10. ^ "Decision on second capital status for Belgaum soon". The Times of India. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Only 98 cities instead of 100 announced: All questions answered about the smart cities project". Firstpost. 28 August 2015.
  12. ^ Michael W. Meister; Madhusudan A. Dhaky (1996). Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. American Institute of Indian Studies. p. 255. ISBN 978-81-86526-00-2.
  13. ^ a b "History of Belgaum". Central Excise Belgaum. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute Explained: What is Belagavi border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra". The Times of India. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Belgaum to be made Karnataka's second capital". Outlook. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  16. ^ "It'll be 'Bengaluru' from 1 Nov". 8 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  17. ^ "New name for cities". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  18. ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Belgaum, India". www.fallingrain.com.
  19. ^ "Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Climatological Normals 1981–2010" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 115–118. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
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