Dakshina Kannada (Tulu/Kannada: ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಕನ್ನಡ), (earlier known as South Kanara, or South Canara), is a coastal Karnataka district in the state of Karnataka in India. It is bordered by Udupi District to the north, Chikkamagaluru district to the northeast, Hassan District to the east, Kodagu to the southeast, and Kasaragod District in Kerala to the south. The Arabian Sea bounds it on the west. Mangalore is the headquarters and chief city of the district.
The district is divided into five talukas, Mangalore, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, and Belthangady. It used to include three northern talukas, Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal, but these were separated in August 1997 to form Udupi district. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts are often called Tulu Nadu, as Tulu is the majority language in the region. The Alupas who ruled this region between the 8th and 14th century CE as a feudatory of all the major Kannada empires of those times ecncouraged and made Kannada their official language. It is for this reason that the Tulu speaking districts are a part of Karnataka state.
Important towns in the district are Mangalore, Moodabidri, Surathkal, Adyar, Bajala, Belthangadi, Kannur, Kotekara, Mudushedde, Mulki, Munnur, Pudu, Puttur, Sullia, Thumbe, Kokradi and Ullal.
Geography
The district geopraphy consists of sea shore in the west and western ghats in the east. The major rivers are Netravathi,Kumaradhara, Phalguni, Shambhavi and Pavanje which all join Arabian sea. Vast areas of evergreen forests which once covered this district, have been destructed due to rapid and unplanned urbanisation and hectic commercial activities. Teak, Karmara( Ebony ), Wild Jack,Bhogi and many other native trees have disappeared from many areas of Dakshina Kannada district
Language
Tulu is mother tongue of majority of people living in Dakshina Kannada district. Kannada ( Kanarese ), Beary bashe (of Muslims) and Konkani[3] are spoken by a substantial number of people as mother tongue. English & Hindi are understood by majority of the population as of now.
Some Malayali literature describe the region stretching from Chandragiri River in Kasaragod District of Kerala to Gokarna in Uttara Kannada as Tulu Nadu. However, present day Tulu cultural boundary is limited to Dakshina Kannada & Udupi district.
Historic Sites
- Moodabidri: Site of the ancient Jain temples and the Bhattaraka seat.
- Krishnapura matha : one of the matha (monastery ) belonging to ashta matha of udupi.
- Dharmasthala : Popular temple of Lord Sri Manjunatheshwara is located here
- Kadri: Famous temple of Lord shiva
- Kateel: Famous temple of Goddess Sri.Dugra Parameshwari, every friday there will be special pooja 'Pootha Pooje' or 'Hoovina Pooje'
- Karinja: famous ancient temple of lord Shive Parvati on a huge rock
- Ullal: Excellent site seen for Sunset in the beach
- Talapady
- Kukke Subramanya : Famous ancient temple of the serpent lord Subramanya is located here.
- Mulki: Durgaparameshwari Temple
Cultures,Traditions and rituals
Dakshina Kannada can be said as land of culture, tradition and rituals. Today in the 21st century most people of the district follow traditions, customs and rituals, even after receiving a British-implemented modern education. The district has many temples of Hindu gods and goddess, which are ancient and have deep spiritualism attached to them. The people of Dakshina Kannada worship the serpent god ( Subramanya ). According to legend, the district was reclaimed by Parashurama from the sea. Hence worship of serpent is done to original inhabitats. Nagaradhane or Snake worship is practised according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top.Worship of spirits is prevalent in these areas. Rituals like Bhuta Kola are done to satisfy the spirits. Kambla, a form of buffalo race on muddy track in the paddy field, is organised. Cock fight ( Kori Katta in Tulu) is another pastime of rural agarian people, but unfortunately has turned in to gambling.
Yakshagana is the popular folk art of this district. The Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practiced in Tulu Nadu with great fanfare. Piliyesa (Tiger dance) is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed during Dasara and Krishna Janmashtami.Karadi Vesha (Bear Dance) is one more popular dance performed during Dasara. Kambala or buffalo race is conducted in water filled paddy fields.
Transportation
Dakshina Kannada is one of the few districts in India which has excellent network of roads connecting to almost every village of the district. Even though network is present,the condition of roads are not good. Bus services run mostly by private operators runs efficiently. This is complemented by state run KSRTC. The district had public limited (public listed) companies running transport business even before independence of India in 1947. The district has three national highways connecting to different parts of Karnataka state and India. NH-17 connects district with Udupi, Karwar, Mumbai, Goa and Kochi. NH-13 connects Shivamogga and Sholapur with the Dakshina Kannada. NH-48 connects district with Bengaluru,Hassan and Sakleshpura.
The first railway line was laid around 1907 A.D connecting city of Mangalooru with Azhikal.This railway line helped to connect district with other places of then Madras presidency. The Konkan Railway connects South Canara with Maharastra, Goa, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala by train. There are direct trains from Mangalore to Mumbai, Thane,Chennai,Goa and Trivandrum. Many trains starting from Kerala to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi pass through this district. Recently train services have started to Bangalore via Hassan and Kukke Subramanya.
The Dakshina Kannada has a seaport at Panambur.It is major sea port of western coast of India.
The district is connected by air through Mangalore International Airport at Bajpe.
Agriculture
Agriculture once a major occupation of the people of Dakshina Kannada district, has now taken back seat because of influx of money from natives settled in other districts, states and countries. Significant numbers of people from this district work in gulf (middle east) countries and other states of India. Farms and fields are converted into residential plots and commercial (shopping)complexes. Horticulture though made some strides, has not prospered because of high labour cost and non availability of labour. Automation is not possible because of small holding of lands by farmers and undulating geography of land. The main crops of Dakshina Kannada district are Paddy, Coconut, Arecanut,Black Pepper and Cocoa. Rice is generally cultivated three seasons in a year, Karthika or Yenel ( May-October ), Suggi ( October to January ) and Kolake ( January to April ). This is subjected to availability of water for the rice or paddy crop. Urad or Black gram is grown in some areas during season of Suggi. Cultivation of vegetables and fruits in fields and gardens for own consumption and selling has declined substantially. The district has APMC market in various taluks for the procurement of agriculture produce.The Karnataka Milk Federation has a milk processing plant at Kulshekara in Mangalore. The plant process milk procured from the cattles owned by farmers of the district.Commerce and Industry
The district is called as Cradle of Indian banking. Major nationalised banks of India like Canara Bank, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank, Vijaya Bank and private sector Karnataka Bank evolved from this district.
Red clay tile (Mangalore Tiles),Cashew processing factories and Beedi industry once flourished in this district. Service sector is booming with setting up of professional education institutes and information technology related services (IT & ITES).
As the district is on the shore of Arabian sea, fishing is one of the major occupation of many people.The major fishing places are Bunder (Old harbour),Panambur,Surathkal, Kotekar and Sasihitlu.
The major industries in Dakshina Kannada are concentrated around Mangalore viz. Mangalore Chemical and Fertilizers Ltd. (MCF), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), BASF, ELF GAS, etc. There is a chocolate manufacturing plant at Puttur run by co-operative CAMPCO.
Major information technology and outsourcing companies have started locating their facilities in Mangalore. viz. Infosys, Lasersoft infosystems Ltd., MPhasis BPO, etc Wipro also plans to set-up its development facility soon in Mangalore. Three dedicated IT parks are currently under construction. Two such parks are under construction, one Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganjimutt and a second IT SEZ near Mangalore University. A third IT SEZ is being proposed at Ganjimutt. Another IT SEZ of 2 million square feet (180,000 m2) is under construction at Thumbe by the BA group. This will include a business centre, convention centre, mall and helipad facility.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ONGC plans to setup a multiproduct SEZ (Special economic Zone) with an investment of over Rs. 35,000 crore.
Education and Research
The Dakshina Kannada district is in fore front in education.Primary and secondary education has reached every section of society. The district's literacy rate is far above national average. In the higher education (Degree and above), Dakshina Kannada district has made tremendous progress. The professional education has made a mark in the country. Students from different parts of India flock to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts because of high standards of education. A host of educational institutes offering courses in Medicine,Engineering ,Pharmacy,Nursing ,Hotel & catering,Law and Management are located in this district. There is college of fisheries . located at Yekkur near Kankanady.
The district is home to many research institutes like National Research Centre for Cashew at Puttur. Another is a Central Plantation Crops Research Institute at Vitla.
Courtesy: Wikipedia
