Bāgalkot district (Kannada: ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆ; English pronunciation: /ˈbɑːɡələkoʊteɪ/, sometimes spelled Bāgalkote) is an administrative district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The district headquarters is located in the town of Bagalkot. The district is located in northern Karnataka and borders Belgaum, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur and Bijapur. The new Bagalkot district was carved out of Bijapur in 1997 via Government of Karnataka directive Notification RD 42 LRD 87 Part III. The bifurcated Bagalkot district consists of six taluks — Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Hunugund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol. Historically, Bagalkot was the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of South India under Pulakesi I, who conquered the district in 550 CE. Bagalkot's Badami taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE — 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas. The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation was born in Koodalasangama, a town in the taluk of Hungund.
Remnants of Chalukyan art and architecture are important tourist attractions in Bagalkot. Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II, while Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times. The cave temples of Badami Cave Temples and the Jain temples of Rashtrakutas at Lokapura and Bilgi are also famous. Cottage industries occupy a predominant position in Bagalkot. The district is popular for its silk and handloom industries. Ghataprabha River, Malaprabha River and Krishna River flow through the district. Koodalasangama lies at the point of confluence of rivers Krishna and Malaprabha. Like most districts in India, Bagalkot is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, with various Tahalsidars heading individual taluks in the district.
Origin
Stone inscriptions identify Bagadige as the ancient name of Bagalkot. According to legend, the area was gifted by the mythological Rāvana, lord of Lanka to his musicians. Other taluks in Bagalkot also have mythological origins. Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after an asura king who, according to the Mahābhārata, ruled the area along with his brother Ilvala. Legend has it that both asuras were vanquished by the sage Agasthya. The northwestern taluk of Jamkhandi derives its name from an old Chalukyan temple dedicated to Jambukeshwara, a form of the Hindu deity Shiva. The town of Aihole, formerly the capital of the Chalukyan Empire of Banavasi was previously known as Ayyavole and Aryapura meaning Noble city. The western taluk of Mudhol was traditionally known as Muduvollal — literally translating into lovely town. The ancient town of Pattadakal was previously known as Raktapura — red town and later as Pattadakal Kisuvoval.
The Greek astronomer Ptolemy previously identified many towns in the district of Bagalkot. Pattadakal was referred to as Petrigal, while Badami was known as Badiamaioi.
Divisions
Bagalkot district is divided into six taluks; each taluk is further subdivided into hoblies and villages and habitations. There are 18 hoblies in the district:
- Badami taluk: Badami, Guledgudd, Kerur, Kulageri
- Bagalkot taluk: Bagalkot, Kalagdi, Sitimani
- Bilgi taluk: Anagwadi, Bilgi
- Hungund taluk: Amingad, Hungund, Ilkal, Karadi
- Jamkhandi taluk: Jamkhandi, Savalagi, Terdal
- Mudhol taluk: Mahalingpur, Lokapur, Mudhol
History
Over 191 Middle Palaeolithic localities have been discovered in the Kalagdi basin of the district. The discovery of settlements in the village of Lakhmapur near the Malaprabha valley yielded the identification of quartzitic artefacts such as handaxes and cleavers. A pre-Chalukyan brick temple was discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, in Pattadakal, where an idol depicting the bust of Chaturmukha Shiva. Evidence of megalithic habitation was also discovered at the foothills of Bachinagudda, as were Marahathi and Satavahana coins of a later period.
The first documented evidence of the existence of Bagalkot district dates back to the 2nd century CE, when the taluks of Badami, Indi and Kalkeri were mentioned in the works of the Greek astronomer Ptolemy. In the 6th century CE, the Hindu Chalukya rulers ruled over much of present South India. The Chalukyan king Pulakesi I established Bagalkote as his administrative headquarters; the district retained its prominent status until the Chalukyan empire was sacked by the Rashtrakutas in 753 CE. The Chinese explorer Hieun-Tsang visited Badami and described the people as "tall, proud,...brave and exceedingly chivalrous". He estimated the kingdom to be approximately 1,200 mi in circumference.
The rule of the Chalukyas of Badami, whose kingdom stretched from modern Karnataka to Maharashtra and Gujarat, was a highlight of Bagalkot's history. Chalukya king Pulakesi II further consolidated the empire by battling with the Kadambas, Gangas, Mauryas of the Konkan, Gurjaras and Emperor Harshavardhana, whom he vanquished on the banks of the Narmada river Accounts of war were inscribed on stone structures in the town of Aihole, now located in the taluk of Hungund. The Kalyani Chalukyas, descendants of the Badami Chalukyas, conquered the area before the dawn of the 10th century CE. Their rule was interspersed with wars against the Cholas and Hoysalas. The Kalyani Chalukyas moved their capital from Badami to Kalyani, in the present day district of Bidar. Akkadevi, sister of the Kalyani Chalukya Jayasimha II ruled in the area for more than 40 years from 1024 CE. During the course of her rule of the area, then known as Kisukadu, seventy villages from Bagalkot district were added to her administration. The Chola king Vīrarajendra seized the area by defeating Somesvara I at Koodalasangama. By the 11th century CE, all of Karnataka including Bagalkot fell into the dominion of the Hoysala Empire, first consolidated by Veera Ballala and later subordinated to the Sinda kings.
The Yadavas of Deogiri annexed Bagalkot in 1190 CE and ruled until approximately the thirteenth century. The Deccan invasion by the Muslim Khilji dynasty, led by Ala ud din Khilji in 1294 brought an end to the rule of the Yadavas. In the 14th century, much of this territory was overrun by the Muhammad Taghlaq. That the Taghlaqs were undisputed overlords of this territory cannot be established since Harihara, first king of the Vijayanagara Empire, is supposed to have possessed territories as far north as Kaladgi in 1340 and because a fort was built under permission from Harihara in Badami during that period. In the late 15th century, the Adil Shahi dynasty founded by Yusuf Adil Shah established an independent state with Bijapur as its capital. It is from this time that Bagalkot's history is homogeneous to that of Bijapur's. In 1818, after having lost their kingdom to the British, the Maratha Peshwas of Satara were crowned underlords of the kingdom. With the failing of their brief reign which ended in 1948, the district passed into the hands of the British Raj and was incorporated into the dominion of the Bombay Presidency. According to the 2001 census of the district, the towns of Bagalkot and Badami each had a population of over 100,000. Kannada is the primary language in the district. Approximately 88% of the district's population was Hindu, while 11% was Muslim. In September 1901 a famine swept through the district, particularly affecting Indi, Sindgi and Badami taluks.
India gained independence from the British in 1947; thereafter, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 allowed for the creation of a Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1971, and for Bijapur (and therefore Bagalkot) to be included in its dominion. A separate district of Bagalkot was carved out from the existing Bijapur district in 1997.
Tourism
Badami taluk remained the seat of the throne of the Chalukyas from 550 CE - 753 CE, when Chalukya king Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas.
Pattadakal has many UNESCO World Heritage temples built by Vikramaditya II.
Mallikarjuna temple in dravidian style and Kashi Vishwanatha temple in nagara style at Pattadakal, built 740 CE.
Aihole, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River, is an important temple town with over 140 temples belonging to both the early and later Chalukya times.
Kudalasangama, where Basavanna's samadhi is located.
The 12th century social reformist Basavanna, known for his crusade against caste exploitation was born in Basavana Bagewadi.
The Mahakuteshwara temple dedicated to Shiva, is built in the Dravidian style.
Naganath Temple, located in a forest on the way to Mahakuta, it is one of the early Chalukya temples dedicated to Shiva. Mahakuta, once a great center of shaiva cult, Mahakuta is a beautiful place surrounded by hills.
A famous fair and festival is held here during January, February.
Here the temple is dedicated to Banashankari or Shakambari a form of Parvati is located at Cholachagud popularly called Banashankari.
Birth Place of Poet Kavi Chakravarti Ranna.
The Principality of Mudhol was one of the 9-gun princely states of British India.
Mudol is famous for a breed of dog known as the 'Mudhol Hound.
Culture
The North Karnataka dialect of Kannada is primarily spoken in the district. Kannada itself is classified as a Dravidian language. The ethnologue identifies Bijapur Kannada as the closest dialect to the particular dialect of Bagalkot.The traditional cuisine of the district is typical of the North Karnataka cuisine of the region. Jowar based food such as Bhakri are popular. Other forms of Indian bread made out of jowar are also common and are referred to as jolada rotti. As with most North Karnataka districts, Jhunka, a garbanzo beans based dish is very popular and is usually eaten with Bhakri; the combination of these two dishes is referred to as Jhunka bhakar. Though not grown extensively in the district, rice, as in all of South India, is part of the staple diet and is imported from other parts of the state and region. Lentil and pulse based broths are common. Ilkal town in Bagalkot district is famous for the Ilkal sarees manufactured there.
The Chalukyan kingdoms of old have left an omnipotent presence in the district of Bagalkot. Several Hindu temples built by the Chalukyas exist in the town of Badami. Three cave-temple complexes constructed by the Chalukyan king Mangalesa (597 — 609 CE) exist within the district of Badami at the Badami Cave Temples. Of the cave-temples at this site, three are Brahmanical while one is Jain. The Badami fort, previously used by the Chalukyas as well as by Tipu Sultan also contains a prominent but now dilapitated Dravidian tower. Aihole, the former capital of the Chalukyan empire is a popular destination for Chalukyan and pre-Chalukyan art and architecture. Pattadakal contains a group of 10 major temples surrounded by minor shrines and plinths each depicting the architecture of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The Government of India sanctioned a pilgrim centre in the town of Koodalasangama in honour of the social reformist Basavanna. Prasanna Venkata Dasa, widely regarded as the founder of Carnatic music and prominent member of the Bhakti Movement lived in Bagalkot and composed his music in Kannada.
Photo Gallery:
Badami
Aihole
Kudala Sangama
Mahakuta
PattadakalCourtesy: Wikipedia
