"100 Fascinating Facts About Karnataka You Should Know"

🗺️ Geography & Environment

• Karnataka is located in the southwestern region of India.
• It is the 6th largest state in India by area.
• Karnataka shares borders with Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
• The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, run along Karnataka’s western edge.
• The Deccan Plateau covers most of the state.
• Karnataka has a coastline of about 320 km along the Arabian Sea.
• Major rivers include the Krishna, Cauvery (Kaveri), Tungabhadra, Sharavathi, and Hemavati.
• The Jog Falls (Sharavathi River) is one of India’s highest waterfalls.
• The state has 5 national parks and over 20 wildlife sanctuaries.
• Bannerghatta National Park, near Bengaluru, is home to a zoo and butterfly park.

🏙️ Cities and Towns

• Bengaluru (Bangalore) is the capital and the largest city of Karnataka.
• Bengaluru is called the “Silicon Valley of India.”
• Mysuru (Mysore) is known for its royal heritage and Dasara celebrations.
• Hubballi-Dharwad is the second-largest urban agglomeration.
• Mangaluru (Mangalore) is a major port city on the west coast.
• Belagavi (Belgaum) is an important city near the Maharashtra border.
• Shivamogga, known for its natural beauty, is called the Gateway to the Western Ghats.
• Ballari (Bellary) is rich in mineral resources, especially iron ore.
• Udupi is famous for its Krishna temple and cuisine.
• Hampi, near Hospet, was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

🏛️ History

• Karnataka was historically known as Mysore State until 1973.
• The Vijayanagara Empire was one of the most powerful South Indian empires based in Karnataka.
• Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagara, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, and Kadambas were important dynasties from Karnataka.
• The Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu is a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture.
• The Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur has the second-largest dome in the world.
• Karnataka was part of Mauryan and Satavahana empires in ancient times.
• The Mysore Kingdom, under rulers like Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali, resisted British rule.
• The Battle of Srirangapatna (1799) marked the defeat of Tipu Sultan by the British.
• Karnataka was reorganized on linguistic basis in 1956, unifying Kannada-speaking regions.

🗣️ Language & Literature

• Kannada is the official language of Karnataka.
• Kannada is one of the oldest Dravidian languages, with a history of over 2000 years.
• It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and a classical language.
• Famous Kannada poets include Kuvempu, Da Ra Bendre, and K.S. Narasimhaswamy.
• Kuvempu was the first Kannada writer to receive the Jnanpith Award.
• The Vachana movement led by Basavanna was a significant social reform movement in medieval Karnataka.
• Kannada has a rich tradition of folk literature, epics, and modern literature.
• Yakshagana is a traditional Kannada theatre form combining music, dance, and dialogue.
• Kannada has its own script, evolved from the Kadamba script.
• Tulu, Kodava, Konkani, and Urdu are also spoken in parts of the state.

🏛️ Heritage & Architecture

• The Hoysala temples are known for star-shaped platforms and intricate carvings.
• The Chennakesava Temple in Belur is a UNESCO tentative site.
• Pattadakal, a UNESCO site, showcases early Chalukyan architecture.
• The Badami cave temples are rock-cut monuments built in the 6th century.
• Shravanabelagola is home to the 57-foot monolithic statue of Gommateshwara Bahubali.
• Karnataka has more than 25,000 protected monuments, one of the highest in India.
• The Mysore Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in India.
• The annual Mysore Dasara festival showcases royal processions and cultural programs.
• Bijapur (Vijayapura) is home to many Indo-Islamic architectural wonders.
• The Somanathapura Temple is another Hoysala gem near Mysuru.

🎭 Culture & Festivals

• Major festivals include Ugadi, Dasara, Karaga, Deepavali, and Vara Mahalakshmi.
• The Karaga Festival in Bengaluru is one of the oldest festivals.
• Yakshagana is performed mainly in coastal Karnataka.
• Dollu Kunitha is a traditional drum dance from North Karnataka.
• Bhootha Kola is a spirit worship ritual in coastal regions.
• Karnataka celebrates Rajyotsava Day on November 1st.
• Folk arts like Kamsale, Veeragase, and Nagamandala are widely practiced.
• The Jatre (village fair) is an important cultural event across the state.
• Kambala is a buffalo race held in coastal Karnataka.
• Nrityagram, near Bengaluru, is a famous dance village.

🎓 Education & Innovation

• Karnataka is home to IISc (Indian Institute of Science) – India’s top research institution.
• Other premier institutes include IIM Bangalore, NLSIU, IIIT-B, and NIMHANS.
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education is a renowned private university.
• The University of Mysore is among the oldest universities in India.
• Karnataka has the second-highest number of engineering colleges in India.
• Bengaluru is often called India’s Startup Capital.
• Karnataka is a leader in biotechnology and information technology.
• The state has contributed significantly to space research via ISRO.
• Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan had components developed in Bengaluru.
• Karnataka is also emerging as a hub for aerospace and defense manufacturing.

💼 Economy & Industries

• Karnataka has one of the highest GDPs among Indian states.
• It is the IT capital of India, with Bengaluru hosting thousands of tech companies.
• Major companies headquartered in Bengaluru include Infosys, Wipro, Flipkart, Biocon, and Mindtree.
• Karnataka is the largest coffee producer in India.
• The Chikmagalur and Coorg regions are known for coffee plantations.
• The state is a major producer of silk – especially Mysore Silk.
• Karnataka is rich in minerals like iron ore, gold, and manganese.
• The Kolar Gold Fields were among the earliest gold mines in India.
• Textiles, aerospace, biotechnology, and electronics are major industries.
• The Electronic City in Bengaluru is a major tech hub.

🏛️ Politics & Government

• Karnataka has a bicameral legislature (Legislative Assembly and Council).
• The state has 28 Lok Sabha seats.
• Devaraj Urs was the first backward-class CM and a major reformer.
• Notable political leaders include S. Nijalingappa, H.D. Deve Gowda, B.S. Yediyurappa, and Siddaramaiah.
• H.D. Deve Gowda served as the 11th Prime Minister of India.
• The state has seen strong Congress, BJP, and JD(S) presence historically.
• The Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru is one of the largest legislative buildings in India.
• Karnataka is often a politically significant state during national elections.
• Kannada Rajyotsava marks the formation of the state on linguistic lines.
• The High Court of Karnataka is located in Bengaluru.

⚽ Sports & Personalities

• Cricket, football, and kabaddi are popular sports.
• The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is a major cricket venue.
• Karnataka has produced cricketers like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and KL Rahul.
• Prakash Padukone was India’s first All England Badminton champion.His daughter, Deepika Padukone, is an internationally renowned actress born in Denmark but raised in Bengaluru.
• Pankaj Advani, a world champion in billiards and snooker, hails from Karnataka.
• Ashwini Ponnappa, a top badminton doubles player, is also from the state.
• Karnataka has a strong presence in Pro Kabaddi League, with the Bengaluru Bulls team.
• Kambala buffalo racing, though traditional, has gained sporting recognition in recent years.
• Karnataka hosts the Bangalore Marathon, one of the biggest running events in India.