FACTS ABOUT Karnataka

Geography
Extending over 1,92,000 sq. km. on the western half of the Deccan plateau bounded by Andhra Pradesh in the east, Maharashtra in the north and Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south, Karnataka has a population of over 45 millions. The coast about 330 km long with its silver sand beaches and blue lagoons hedged by miles and miles of tall, waving, palmgroves against the back drop of majestic mountain regions is strikingly beautiful. The Malnad stretches about 650 km from north to south with an undulating range of mountains. The region is well developed with coffee plantations, tea, timber, minerals and hydro-electricity. The east is a sloping from the fertile soil which yields all the crops of tropical or temperate zones. A majority of the state lies on the Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats, with an average height of 2500 to 3000 feet separate the narrow coastal plains from the Plateau. The state capital is Bangalore.

History
The state of Karnataka as it exists today is a recent phenomenon, when in 1956, all the kannada speaking areas were grouped along with the princely state of Mysore to form a state, which was renamed Karnataka in 1973. Before this time, a succession of dynasties, from the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Bahamanis, and Wodeyars had ruled some or all parts of Karnataka. Each dynasty left its unique impression on the state and as a result, the state is home to a variety of cultures and architectures.

Location and Boundaries:
The state of Karnataka is confined roughly within 11.5 degree North and 18.5 degree North  latitudes and 74 degree East and 78.5 degree East longitude. The state is bounded by Maharastra and Goa states in the North and North-West; by the Arabian sea in the West; by Kerala and Tamil nadu states in the South and by the State of Andhra Pradesh in the East. The state extends to about 750 km from North to South and about 400 km from East to West, and covers an area of about 191, 791 sq. km. Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India both in area and population. On November 1, 1973, the name for the state was changed from Mysore to Karnataka, which is derived from Karunadu (lofty Land). In Karnataka, November 1 is celebrated as "Rajyostava.

Main Rivers:
1. Krishna (Tributaries - Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra, and Vedavathi) Flows from west to east through Andhra Pradesh and joins Bay of Bengal.
2. Cauvery (Tributaries - Hemavathi, Shimsa, Arkavathi, Lakshmana Thirtha, and Kabini). Starting from Talacauvery in Coorg, flows west to east through Tamil Nadu and joins Bay of Bengal.
3. Sharavathi - Flows westward into the Arabian Sea
4. Kalinadi - Flows westward into the Arabian Sea
5. Netravathi - Flows westward into the Arabian Sea

Mountains:
1. Mullayyana Giri (1,925 m) in Chikmagalur district
2. Bababudangiri (chandradrona parvata 1,894 m) in Chikmagalur district
3. Kudremukh (1,895 m) in Chikmagalur district
4. Pushpagiri (1.908 m) in Coorg District

Major Industries:
1. Hindustan Aeronautics, Ltd.
2. Hindustan Machine Tools
3. Bharat earth Movers
4. Bharat Electronics
5. Indian telephone Industries
6. National Aeronautical laboratory
7. Visweshvaraya Iron & Steel, Ltd.
8. Iron Ore
9. Silk Industries
10. Sandal Soap & Oil

Other languages spoken:  Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, Tulu, Marathi, Konkani, Kodava, Hindi, English.

Universities:
1. Bangalore University, Bangalore
2. Gulbarga University, Gulbarga
3. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
4. Karnataka University, Dharwar
5. Kuvempu University, Shimoga
6. Mangalore University, Mangalore
7. University of Mysore, Mysore
8. University of Agricultural Science, Hebbal
9. University of Agricultural Science, Dharwar
10. Manipal Academy of Higher education, Manipal

Premier Educational Centers:
1. Indian Institute of Science.
2. Raman Research Institute
3. National Institute of Mental health and Nuero-sciences
4. Central Food Technological Research Insitute
5. Indian Space Research Organization
6. National Aeronautical Laboratory
7. National Institute for Sports (South)

Crops grown: Rice, Jowar, Ragi, Millet, Tur, Groundnut, Seasame, Cotton, Sugar Cane, Wheat, Lintels, Coconut, Tobacco, Corn, Aracanut, Cashew, Coffee, Tea, Pepper, Cardamom and Oil seeds.

Minerals: Gold (90% of India’s production), iron ore, magnese and magnesite.

Medieval Kannada Writers:
Nripatunga, Pampa, Ranna, Ponna, Janna, Kesiraja, Nagavarma, Harihara, Raghavendra, Rudra Bhatt, Kumara Vyasa, Laksmisa, Sarvajna, Kanakadas, Shankara Deva, Basaveshwara.

Modern Kannada Writers:
B. M. Srikantaiah, M. Govinda Pai, K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu),D. R. Bendre, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, K. Shivaram Karanth, Adya Rangacharya, T.P. Kailasam, A. N. Krishna Rao, V.K. Gokak, Gopalkrishna Adiga, R.S. Muguli, P. Lankesh, Nissar Ahmed, Girish Karnad, Chandrashekar Kombar, V. R. Anantha Murthy and Triveni.

Poem describing our beautiful Karnataka

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Mother India's Daughter
Hail Mother Karnataka
The land of beautiful rivers and forests
The land of poets and sages
                                    K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu)

• Maps of Karnataka

Useful Links

• http://kannadasongs.allindiansite.com/a.html

• http://www.musicindiaonline.com/kannada/

• http://www.bhajans.org/

• http://www.karnataka.com/

• http://www.karnatakatourism.com/index.htm

• http://www.kannadakasturi.com/

• http://www.mangalore.com/

• http://www.sringeri.org/

• http://www.yakshagana.com/

• http://www.thatskannada.com

• http://www.udipikrishnamutt.com/

• http://www.baraha.com

• http://www.iisc.ernet.in/

• http://www.isro.org/

• http://www.nrilinks.com/