Architecture & History

 

• The state of Karnataka has a fascinating and glorious history for more than 2000 years.

 

• The Axe culture of the pre-historic Palaeolithic age has been found from different sites in Lingadahalli, Lingasugur, and Kibbanahalli in Karnataka.

 

• Several tools and weapons made of bronze and copper during the Neolithic Age and Iron weapon from the Megalithic Age were found in this region.

 

• In the Early historical times, Karnataka was ruled by many dynasties like the Maurya Empire, Satavahana Dynasty, the Kadamba dynasty, and the Western Ganga Dynasty.

 

• In the medieval period, the Chalukyas, Rasthtrakutas, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara Empires emerged as dominant rulers of the state.

 

• The Modern history saw the rule of the Wodeyars of Mysore, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan followed by the British in this state.

 

• Post Independence from the British, the Mysore state was renamed as Karnataka.

 

• Bangalore was founded by Kempe Gowda I, had built a mud fort at the site.

 

• The military commander Hyder Ali invaded the Malabar Coast and extended Mysore’s power.

 

• Diverse dynasties brough different style and architecture with them.

 

• The Gutthu Houses of the land are inward looking Hindu Mansion. Guttu house have steeply pitched roof, combining single & double storeyed blocks around a courtyard.

 

• It is an isolated home of a well-to-do family designed to deter attacks from outsiders.

 

• The façade is symmetrical around a central projection, the tallest and most impressive feature of the house. The building material used is wood.

 

• The houses in the coastal region of Karnataka are Guthu Mane with the prominent Khamb-Wooden pillars in traditional Bunt house.

 

• A square complex with large space for storage all around is found in these houses. The pillars are made of wood. There are generally 4 doors, one on each side of the square complex.

 

• The roof is made with of Mangalore tiles. The inner square is an open area — a place often utilized to dry stuff.

 

• Houses of the The Kings of Kodagu -

 

• They built their Palaces with the architectural style of the Taravad houses of the Nairs of Kerala- proof of the cordial relations between Kodagu and Kerala.

 

• The Ain Mane stands on a hillock surrounded by paddy fields, swaying areca nut trees and coffee plantations. It has sloping tiled roof to drain the torrential monsoon water.

 

• There is a central courtyard which is open to the sky. A narrow corridor runs all around the courtyard to connecting the rooms.

 

• The kitchen is at the rear of the house or even a little away to keep the smoke away. The toilet and bathing area is always away from the main building.

 

• Two massive wooden poles adorn the entrance. The central Nadubaade would consist of three wooden poles.

 

• The first pole is called as Kannikamba  meant to support the whole roof of Ainmane.

 

• The kannikamba is as significant as the thook bolcha (hanging lamp) lit everyday at the Nellakki Baade(prayer room).

 

• Images of sun, moon, flowers etc. adorn Kannikamba and main doors, signifying that Kodavas were nature worshippers.

 

• An important part of Ainmane is Kaimada that is built in memory of the founder of the family.

 

• Padasale — The rectangular hall around which the rooms are arranged. Mundu — The inevitable open courtyard in the centre.

 

• Kanni Kombara — Prayer place, where a deity is installed; Here, the karona(family ancestor) symbolized by a lamp is worshipped and offered food at festivals.

 

 

 

Demographic Location

 

• State of Karnataka is situated in the southwest of India along the coastline of the Arabian Sea.

 

• The capital is the cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru, recognized for its high-tech hub and its shopping and nightlife.

 

• Towards the southwest, lies the city of Mysore that embraces lavish temples including Mysore Palace, of the former maharajas.

 

• Hampi, once the medieval Vijayanagara empire’s capital, contains ruins of Hindu temples, elephant stables and a stone chariot.

 

• The state enjoys boundary with the states of Goa and Maharashtra in the north side, Telangana in the east side, Tamil Nadu in the southeast, and Kerala in the south.

 

• The land is water fed by Kaveri river in the south, Tungabhadra, a tributary of the great Krishna river in the north that flow towards eastward-sloping plains of Karnataka Plateau.

 

• These plains are known as the Maidan located on an average elevation of about 1,500 feet.

 

• The northwestern part of the state is characterized by underlying Volcanic rocks that produces a soil known as regur, the humus-rich, cotton-growing black soil of India.

 

• On the other side of the Karnataka Plateau soil found is generally porous and infertile, except in the river basins, where they are loamy and somewhat fertile.

 

• Soil in the coastal plain include iron-rich clays in the inland areas and sandy alluvial deposits toward the coastal stretch.

 

 

People, Rituals and Language

 

• Most of the people of Karnataka speak Dravidian Languages,

 

• Centuries of interaction between the Indo Aryan and Dravidian clans and groups has resulted in several shared linguistic and cultural characteristics.

 

• Kannada is a Dravidian language, spoken by a large number of people and is considered as the official language of the state.

 

• Hindi is sometimes used in trade and business. Toward the borders of the state people communicate in Tamil and Telegu, Marathi and Konkani.

 

• Konkani is associated particularly with the city of Mangalore located in the southwestern of Karnataka.

 

• The predominant religion in the state is Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Some small minority population follow Islam and Christianity.

 

 

Season and Climate

 

• Karnataka state has a moderate type of climate with rainfall precipitation as above average compared to the average rainfall of the country.

 

• Karnataka is divided into four distinct regions—

 

• The Coastal plain
• The Western Ghats mainly hilly region
• The Karnataka Plateau to the east
• The black-soil tract to the northwest.

 

• The coastal plain is a northward continuation of the Malabar Coast, with sand dunes giving place inland to small alluvial plains and lagoons.

 

• The Western Ghats rise sharply to an average height of 2,500 to 3,000 feet making the region enjoy a cooler climate. The upland terrain of the Ghats is known as Malnad.

 

• The region is a watershed, and from its crest numerous swift streams flow to the plains, including the Sharavati River giving rise to the famous Jog Falls.

 

• The climate of Karnataka is subtropical having four major seasons

 

• Winter (January and February)
• Summer (March through May),
• Southwest monsoon (June through September)
• Post-monsoon (October through December)

 

• Annual precipitation ranges from roughly 20 inches in the drier portions of the Maidan to nearly 160 inches in the wettest parts of the coastal plain.

 

• Karnataka state receives its annual rainfall between June and September and much of the remainder is brought by a less-significant northeast monsoon in the post-monsoon season.

 

• The winter months are mostly dry with almost no rainfall.

 

 

Culture & Education

 

 

 

• One of the most followed religions of Karnataka is Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

 

• The people of Bangalore city celebrate the traditional festival called "Karaga Shaktyotsava" or Bangalore Karaga.

 

• Deepavali, the "Festival of Lights", is celebrated with great enthusiasm and great vigor.

 

• Women in Karnataka wear sarees with famous design patterns found in Ilakal Saree and Mysore Silk.

 

• Like the women of Karnataka usually dress in sarees, men like to wear dhoti and Kurta.

 

• The principal traditional dress of men in Karnataka is 'Panche' worn underneath the waistline. It is also called Lungi, Dhoti or Veshti.

 

• The prominent folk dance style of Karnataka are the Yakshagana and Dollu Kunitha.

 

• Yakshagana is a folk theatre form of Karnataka wheras Kunitha are considered as the ritualistic dances of Karnataka.

 

• Dollu Kunitha is a major form of folk-dance performance in Karnataka.

 

• Some of the major forms of these kunithas are dollu kunithas, pata kunithas, dorava kunithas.

 

• The highly spectacular yashagana is a major folk musical performance. Krishna Parijatha and Bhoot

 

• Aradhane are some of the other major folk forms of Karnataka music and dance

 

• Carnatic music known as Karnataka Sangeetha is a form of music unique to South India.

 

• Variety of Dosas and Sambar is the identity of delicacy in Karnataka. People eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian rich in flavor.

 

• A typical Kannada meal consists of rice, sambar, pickle, ghee, dessert, and other curry-based dishes and is served on a banana leaf.

 

• Dussehra is celebrated as the Nada habba (Mysore state festival) and this is marked by major festivities at Mysore.

 

• Bangalore Karaga is celebrated in the heart of Bangalore in Karnataka.

 

• Ganesh Chaturthi, Gowri Habba, Ram Navami, Nagapanchami, Basava Jayanthi, Deepavali and Balipadyami are some other major festivals of Karnataka.

 

• Bangalore is one of the top 5 IT hub cities in India also famous for its education system. In fact, Bangalore is also one of the best cities in India for education.

 

• Tumkur is a District Headquarters around 70 km from Bangalore. Tumkur is known as hub of educational institutions.

 

• There are thirty educational districts of the state with headquarters at Bangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga and Mysore.

 

 

 

Famous Spots

 

 

• Historical places in Karnataka

 

• Hampi – City Of Ruins
• Mysore – City Of Palaces
• Bijapur – Biggest Domes In India
• Shimoga – Ancient Rulers And Dynasties
• Bangalore – The Silicon Valley
• Badami – Unique Rock Cut Temples
• Halebidu – The History Of The Hoysala Empire
• Srirangapatna – Magnificent Architectural Masterpieces
• Aihole – The Temple Complex Of Karnataka
• Dandeli – Ancient Limestone Caves
• Ramanagaram – Age-Old Silk Trade
• Hassan – The Elegant Hasanamba Temple
• Bidar – The Seat Of Ancient Kingdoms
• Talakadu – Temples Buried In Sand
• Melukote – The Religious Land
• Somnathpur – Land Of Vaishnava Temple
• Mirjan Fort – Holding The Historical Ruins
• Madikeri Fort – The Gem Of 17th Century
• Sringeri – Explore The Ancient Relics
• Pattadakal – The UNESCO Heritage Site
• Karkala – Home To Jain Temples

 

 

 

Aqualife, Flora & Fauna

 

 

• Since the state has long coastline along the Arabian Sea, coconut palms are grown in the lagoons of the coastal region.

 

• Thick monsoon forest cover the Malnad area of the Western Ghats, and scrub forests and scrublands stretch across the drier plains of the Maidan.

 

• The monsoon forests is a rich reserve of wildlife including tigers, elephants, wild cattle, and deer. Wild boars, bears, and leopards in the Maidan.

 

• Peacocks are found in huge numbers in the state.

 

• Karnataka has the large Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in the northwest, which abuts the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa.

 

• The state has the famous Bandipur National Parks near the border of Tamil Nadu, and at Nagarhole Sanctuary located near the border with Kerala.

 

• Another most visited wild life sanctuary in Karnataka is the Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

• Karnataka has several species of mammals like the sloth bears, Indian elephant, Asiatic elephant, Bengal tiger, wild boars, gaurs, black panthers, big Indian cats.

 

• Some other animals are the Asiatic wild dogs, Indian leopard, small Indian civet, Indian flying fox, Indian giant squirrel, spotted deer, Indian pangolin, golden jackal.