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Dharwad district | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top-left: Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Chandramouleshwar Temple, statue of Sindhura Lakshmana, Unkal Lake, Amruteshwara Temple inAnnigeri | |
Location in Karnataka | |
| Coordinates:15°23′N75°07′E / 15.39°N 75.12°E /15.39; 75.12 | |
| Country | |
| State | |
| Division | Belgaum division |
| Headquarters | Dharwad |
| Talukas | Dharwad,Hubli Nagara,Hubli,Navalgund,Kundgol,Kalghatgi,Alnavar,Annigeri[1] |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate | Divya Prabhu G R J (IAS) |
| • Police Commissioner, Hubballi-Dharwad City | N. Shashikumar, IPS |
| • Superintendent of Police, Dharwad district | Gunjan Arya, IPS[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,265 km2 (1,647 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,847,023 |
| • Density | 433.1/km2 (1,122/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Telephone code | + 91 (0)836 |
| Vehicle registration | KA-25, KA-63 |
| Website | dharwad |
Dharwad district orDharawada is an administrative district of the state ofKarnataka in southernIndia. The administrative headquarters of the district is the city ofDharwad, also known as Dharwar. Dharwad is located 425 km northwest ofBangalore and 421 km southeast of Pune, on the main highway betweenChennai andPune, theNational Highway 4 (NH4).
Before 1997 the district had an area of 13738 km2. In 1997, the new districts ofGadag andHaveri were carved out of Dharwad's former territory, and a portion of Dharwad district was combined with lands formerly part of three other districts to create the new district ofDavanagere.

Historical studies show that people fromearly Paleolithic age inhabited Dharwad district. The district was ruled by various dynasties from the 5th century onwards, important among them areBadami andKalyanChalukyas,Rastrakutas,Vijayanagar,Adilshahi,Mysore kingdom and Peshawas of Pune.[clarification needed] Due to the rule of Peshwas, influence of Marathi is seen in the early decades of the 19th century. During the British rule, Dharwad became the divisional headquarter of educational administration andKannada the vernacular language of the people gained prominence[3]
After India's independence in 1947, theBombay Presidency was reconstituted as India's Bombay State. In 1956 the southern,Kannada-speaking districts of Bombay State, including Dharwad, were added as part of the state ofMysore. Following activist pressure, Mysore was officially renamedKarnataka in October 31, 1973.[4][5] Dharwad is home to theKarnataka University andthe University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), IIT Dharwad as well as numerous other colleges.
In 1962 the erstwhile towns of Dharwad and Hubli were amalgamated to constitute theHubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.[3]
Dharwad district is situated in the Western sector of the northern half ofKarnataka State. The District encompasses an area of 4263 km2 lying between the latitudinal parallels of 15°02' and 15°51' North and longitudes of 73°43' and 75°35' East. The district is bounded on the north by the district ofBelgaum, on the east by the district ofGadag, on the south by the district of Haveri and on the west by the district of Uttara Kannada. All these districts, which surround Dharwad district, belong to the state of Karnataka.[3]
Sub Divisions of District (Taluka's)[6]
The District lies approximately 800 m above the sea level, which is why it enjoys a moderate and healthy climate. The District may be divided into 3 natural regions, the Malnad, the Semi-Malnad and the Maidan. These regions on an average receive moderate to heavy rainfall and have dense vegetation. Kalghatagi and Alnavar area in Dharwad taluka in particular receive more rainfall than other talukas of the District.
On the agricultural front, the presence of black soil helps in raising crops like Cotton, Wheat, Ragi, Jowar and Oil seeds and that of red soil is more suitable for paddy.
Hubballi is an important industrial center, with more than 1,000 small and medium scale industries established. They include machine tool industries, Cotton Industries, electrical industries, steel furniture industries, food processing, rubber, leather and leather tanning industries.[7]
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NWKRTC (North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) is a state run corporation headquartered at Hubballi. There is a good transportation between Hubli, Dharwad, Kalghatgi, Navalgund and Kundgol as NWKRTC and Bendre Nagara Sarige (a consortium of private bus-owners) compete to cater to the large number of commuters between these places daily. Bus services from the twin-cities exist to every part of Karnataka and neighbouring states and other destinations. There are many private bus operators who render travel services between Hubli andBangalore,Mangalore,Pune,Mumbai, Goa andHyderabad.
Hubli is the Headquarter ofSouth Western Railways Zone of Indian Railways. There is modest intra-district Railway connectivity. Hubli being an important railway junction has daily trains toBangalore,Mumbai,Pune,Miraj,Delhi,Hyderabad,Ahmedabad,Vijayawada,Mysore and weekly services toChennai,Howrah andThiruvananthapuram.
Hubli Airport (IATA: HBX, ICAO: VOHB) serves the Dharwad district and one of the major operational airports serving northern Karnataka. CurrentlySpiceJet Airlines have started its operation fromHubli ToBangalore,Mumbai,Hyderabad,Jabalpur,Mangalore,Chennai andIndiGoAirlines have started its operation fromHubli toAhmedabad,Chennai,Bangalore,Cochin,Goa,Alliance Air operates one flight everyday to the state capitalBangalore,Air India has started its operation fromHubli toMumbai andBangalore on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. andStar Air (India) will start its operationHubli ToBangalore,Delhi (Hindon),Pune, andTirupati on 15 September The airport is currently being upgraded to an international airport.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 421,619 | — |
| 1911 | 388,289 | −0.82% |
| 1921 | 397,902 | +0.24% |
| 1931 | 430,554 | +0.79% |
| 1941 | 466,207 | +0.80% |
| 1951 | 551,466 | +1.69% |
| 1961 | 690,668 | +2.28% |
| 1971 | 875,465 | +2.40% |
| 1981 | 1,149,153 | +2.76% |
| 1991 | 1,374,895 | +1.81% |
| 2001 | 1,604,253 | +1.55% |
| 2011 | 1,847,023 | +1.42% |
| source:[8] | ||
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 75.26% | |||
| Islam | 20.94% | |||
| Jainism | 1.57% | |||
| Christianity | 1.56% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.67% | |||
According to the2011 census Dharwad district has apopulation of 1,847,023,[10] roughly equal to the nation ofKosovo[11] or the US state ofWest Virginia.[12] This gives it a ranking of 256th in India (out of a total of640).[10] The district has a population density of 434 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,120/sq mi).[10] Itspopulation growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 15.13%.[10] Dharwad has asex ratio of 967females for every 1000 males, and aliteracy rate of 80.3%. 56.82% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 9.63% and 4.74% of the population respectively.[10]
At the time of the 2011 census, 70.08% of the population spokeKannada, 18.40%Urdu, 3.16%Marathi, 2.36%Telugu, 1.46%Gujarati and 1.24%Hindi as their first language.[13]
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According to the modern scholarHampa Nagarajaiah ("Hampana"), ancient Kannada poetPampa who is also calledĀdikavi ("First Poet") was born inAnnigeri, a town in Dharwad district.
The Dharwad district has contributed to some of the greatest exponents of Hindustani music includingSawai Gandharva,Mallikarjun Mansur,Bhimsen Joshi,Basavaraj Rajaguru,Kumar Gandharva andGangubai Hangal.
Jnanpith Award winnersD. R. Bendre,V. K. Gokak andGirish Karnad trace their origins to Dharwad. Kannada writers and criticsKirtinath Kurtakoti andC. P. Siddhashrama are from Dharwad. NotedMarathi writerG. A. Kulkarni also lived most of his life. ActressesShanta Hublikar andLeena Chandavarkar were born here.
Nandan Nilekani, the Co-Chairman of Infosys moved in with his uncle's family in Dharwad for his education and was a student of St Joseph's High School.
Sucheta Dalal, the Mumbai-based financial journalist, who exposed the Harshad Mehta scandal studied in Dharwad.Lucy d'Abreu (the oldest Briton ever) was also born in Dharwad.
Dharwad is also the birthplace ofPalwankar Baloo, the first member of the Dalit community to distinguish himself atcricket, and later to become a political activist for Dalit rights.Sunil Joshi, the Indian bowler, also hails from Dharwad.
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It is a popular drum dance. The large drums are decorated with coloured cloth, and are slung around the necks of men. The dances are at times accompanied with songs relating to religious praise or wars.
Veeragase is popular folk dance. It is a symbolic presentation of the heroism and valour of God Veerabahadhra. Its exponents are called Lingadevaru and they perform the dance with religious fervour at festival time especially during the months of Shravana and Kartika.
This art form is the domain of male devotees of Lord Siva. The Nandi pole is about 18 cubits in length, each cubit representing a 'dharma'. The length of the pole is fitted with brass pots and plates, and ornate silver or brass umbrella at the top with a silk tassel, which is the flag. The performer on a sling balances the pole; this requires skill as well as strength. The sight of the devotee's inspired dance, to the background beat and the resulting symphony of sounds, from the pots and plates on the pole, is truly breathtaking.
Halige meaning two percussion instruments used by two artists to produce rhythmic notes of astounding energy and power. Their movements along the stage expressive of their physical energy harmonizes with the notes produced by the instrument. The Haligi (wood) circular in shape is made of buffalo hide. A short stick is used on it. The notes combined with the bodily movement pervade the stage and overflow to the audience.
Lambani women dressed colourfully and move circularly with clapping and singing. This dance is out of the common. In dress, mode of living and dwelling, they dance on important festivities in a free manner.
The dance form depicts the story of Veerabhadra, the legendary minor god created by Lord Siva to teach a lesson to his father-in-law Daksha. Veerabhadra to go to the place of the yaga and destroy the ceremony.
Places of interest in Dharwad district comprise many tourist attractions including temples and historical monuments.[14]


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Kannada is most spoken language in this district. The Kannada spoken here is known asDharwad Kannada. This slightly varies from Kannada spoken in southern Karnataka. Men in rural areas wear headgear called a turban orPheta. Also many wear white cap on their head.
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Jowar, maize, wheat, cotton, onions and rice are grown. The district also grows mangoes, papaya, and bananas as horticultural produce. There are many subsidiary agricultural industries such as the production ofpuffed rice,beaten rice, andedible oils.
{{cite news}}:|last= has generic name (help)Kosovo 1,825,632 July 2011 est.
West Virginia 1,852,994