Belgaum

Template:Infobox Indian urban area Belgaum or Belgaon/Belagavi (Kannada:ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ) (possibly from the Sanskrit Venugrama, "Bamboo village") is a town located in the northwestern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Belgaum district, which borders the states of Maharashtra and Goa. The town enjoys rich cultural diversity stemming from this proximity: Kannada, Marathi and Konkani are the main languages spoken. The city is next only to the state capital Bangalore, in modernity and educational facilities.

Belgaum is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level. Its salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near Portuguese Goa commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training center and cantonment. Apart from being an important training center for the Indian armed forces, Belgaum houses many interesting monuments, including a scenic fort dating to 1519 AD. Belgaum is also an important educational center, and hosts the Visweswaraiah Technological University, to which all the engineering colleges in Karnataka are affiliated.

History

The city of Belgaum was built in the 12th century AD by the Ratta dynasty who were based at nearby Saundatti. The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 AD by a Ratta officer named Bichiraja. Belgaum served as the capital of that dynasty between 1210 AD and 1250 AD, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri. Belgaum then briefly came under the sway of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 1200s and succeeded in ruining both the indigenous powers of the region -- the Yadava and the Hoysalas -- without providing a viable administration. This lacuna was supplied by the Vijayanagara Empire, which had become the established power of the area by 1326 AD. A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.

In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate, then ruling from Bidar, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterwards, in 1518 AD, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. The Adilshahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the mughal emperor Aurangzeb overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the mughals. However, the mughal empire went into decline after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, and his principal detractors, the Maratha confederacy, took control of the area during the rule of the Peshwas. In 1776, the country was overrun by Hyder Ali of Mysore, but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, the British deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.

The city served as a major military installation for the British Raj, primarily due to its proximity to Goa, which was then a Portuguese territory. Once the British left India, the Indian Government continued and still continues to have Armed forces installations in Belgaum. In 1961, the Indian government, under the Prime Ministership of Nehru used forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.

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

Border Problem

In 1956, with the Reorganisation of States, Belagavi district became a part of Karnataka. The Maharashtra Government contested this as it wanted Belagavi district to be merged with Maharashtra instead. Under tremondous pressure from the Maharashtra government, The Mahajan Commission was constituted by the Union Government of India to look into the matter. The Commission was headed by Supreme Court Justice Meherchand Mahajan. The commission looked into Maharashtra's claims and recommended exchange of several villages between the two states(Maharashtra and Karnataka), but most importantly, rejected outright Maharashtra's claim on Belgaum city. As soon as the commission came out with its report, Maharashtra made a U-turn and refused to honour the report. Ever since then, the issue has been kept simmering by Maharashtra politicians while Karnataka has continued to press for the implementation of the report. Recently, the Maharashtra government went to the Supreme Court to press their case. The Supreme Court hasnt pronounced anything yet and Belgaum district along with Belgaum city continues as a legal and constitutional part of Karnataka state.

Defence Training Centres

Belgaum also has a number of training centres of the Indian Armed Forces, and an air base of the Indian Air Force. The British had a sizable infantry post here, having realised the military importance of its geographical location. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for Belgaum's sobriquet The Cradle of Infantry. Development of a Rail Network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the East India Company and the British to exert control over India.

Belgaum houses the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It also houses the Commando Training Wing which is a part of the Infantry School, Mhow, where the country's valiant infantry commandos are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The Commando course at Belgaum is mandatory for all infantry officers. Officers of other arms and services and even some foreign officers undergo the course if there are vacancies. The centre here is unrivalled in quality the world over.

Attractions

• Panta Maharaj Balekundri. He was a poet philosopher and a teacher in Belgaum. He was born in a village Balekundri situated about 8 miles from Belgaum.He was born in 1855.His book of spontaneous verses Dattaprmalahari is full of Avadhoot Sampradaya Philosophy and is very much revered by his devotees. You can reach Pant Balekundri by road and city buses ply from cbt belgaum at regular intervals
• Gokak Falls - waterfall of the Ghataprabha River
• Hanging bridge at Gokak Falls
• Rakaskop Dam - Dam across the River Markandeyi (20 km north of Belgaum)
• Hidkal Dam - One hour's drive from the city
• Shirur Dam - 3/4 hour from Hidkal Dam
• Godchinamalaki Falls - One hour's drive from the city, 1/2 hour from Hidkal Dam
• Navil Thertha Dam - Dam across the River Malaphrabha (1.5 hours from Belgaum)
• Belgaum Fort, built in 1519
• Parasgad Fort at Saundatti built in 1674
• Yellammangudda famous Yellammadevi or Renukadevi Temple
• Old Jain Temple called Kamal Basthi in Belgaum Fort
• Sogal Falls and famous Someshwara Temple at Sogal
• Safi Masjid: Built in 13th century
• Kamala Basti
• Halasi: capital of the Kadambas. Dotted with temples
• Military Mahadev Temple
• Nandagad: Shoor Sangolli Rayanna Smarak
• Munavalli Panchalingeshwara Temple
• Hooli Panchalingeshwar Temple
• Godachi Veerbhadhreshwar Temple
• Sirsangi Kalika Temple
• Dhupadal Dam: 70 km from Belgaum
• Vajrapoha Falls: 26 km from Belgaum
• Queen's Garden/Rani Bagicha, Camp
• Kittur Fort
• Rani Chennamma Statue
• Kapileshvara temple
• Children's traffic park at Shivaji Garden
• Jamia Mosque
• Famous Yellamma Devi (Saudatti Yellamma) temple at Saudatti
• Famous Adavisiddeshwara Math at Ankalagi, 45 minutes from the city
• Shanti Giri, a Jain temple at Kothali near Chikkodi

Professional Educational Institutions

• Visweswaraiah Technological University
• Gogte Institute of Technology
• Maratha Mandal Engineering College & Polytechnic
• KLE College of Engineering
• Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
• Institute of Management and Educational Research, Tilakwadi, Belgaum
• Hirasugar Institute Of Technology
• National Institute of Hydrology
• St. Mary's High School, Camp, Belgaum
• St. Xavier's High School, Camp, Belgaum
• St. Paul's School, Camp, Belgaum
• Gogte College of Commerce, Tilakwadi, Belgaum
• Rani Parvati Devi College, Tilakwadi, Belgaum
• Govindram Sakseria Science College, Tilakwadi, Belgaum
• M. V. Herwadkar English Schhol, Tilakwadi, Belgaum
• Raja Lakhamgouda Law College, Tilakwadi, Belgaum

External links

• Pioneer's report on border problem
• http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/24/stories/2005112406591100.htm
• http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/May92006/panorama165059200658.asp
• http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july292004/s3.asp
• http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/sahitya/article/241105belgaum.html
• http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan152006/district1938212006114.asp
• http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec22005/index2015162005121.asp
• Frontline report on Mahajan commission
• Frontline report on border problem
• Belgaum on Wikimapia
• Government website on Belgaum district
• Zilla Pancyhayat, Belgaum
• On Belgaum's history
• Statue of Rani Chennamma at Bangalore
• BelgaumTechies the group for job seekers from Belgaum
• Shrihari mandir, Belgaum

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)