Davanagere district

Davanagere District (Kannada: ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ), also known as Devangere District, is an administrative district of Karnataka state in southern India. The city of Davanagere is the district headquarters. It had a population of 1,790,952 of which 30.32% was urban as of 2001. This district was carved out of Chitradurga district in 1997 by then Chief minister of Karnataka J. H. Patel.

The district lies above the historic Chitradurga. The prominent cities/towns in this district are Harihara, Honnali and Channagiri. Neighbouring districts are Shivamogga District, Haveri District, Chitradurga District, and Bellary District.

Davanagere

Davangere (or Davanagere, Kannada: ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ [davanagere]) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Davangere District. The city is located on NH4 (National Highway 4) at a distance of about 265 km from the state capital of Bangalore. Davangere became separate district in 1997; it was separated from the district of Chitradurga

for Administration conveniences.

Previously known for its cotton mills, it was a fast-developing city of Karnataka. There was a time when the city was called Manchester of Karnataka due to its excellent quality of cotton produced in its cotton mills and hand looms.

Etymology

It is popularly believed that the Chalukyas halted at this place to overcome the fatigue (danivu kaleyuva) of a long horse-ride. A lake (kere) was excavated for them to quench their thirst. The place came to be known as Devan giri (a corruption of danivina kere) and eventually Davanagere. This popular belief is not attested by any concrete historical evidence. There is no lake to show to prove this note

History

Davanagere was originally an obscure village, forming one of the suburbs of Bettur. Sultan Haider Ali gave it as jagir to a Maratha chief named Apoji Ram who encouraged merchants to settle there. He died without heirs, but the place continued to grow, being favored by Tippu Sultan. After the fall of Tipu Sultan's regime, a European firm exploited the situation and passed a hint to start a cotton mill which led to a boom of cotton mills in Davanagere. Cotton was grown in plenty as the soil of Davanagere and adjacent Harihar was favourable (black gypsum soil) and hence Davanagere Cotton Mills was started. Davanagere had a municipality as early as 1870. The Imperial Gazatteer of India(1911) says that the receipts and expenditure of the municipality during the ten years ending 1901 averaged Rs 14,200 and Rs 12,600 respectively.

Geography

Davangere is the "Heart of Karnataka". Davangere is surrounded from Chithradurga, Bellary, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Haveri districts. Davangere is at the center of Karnataka, 14° 28’ latitude, 75° 59’ longitude and 602.5 metres (1,977 ft) above sea level, Davanagere district receives average annual rainfall of 644.0 mm.

Davanagere lies in the Bayalu Seeme or the Maidan region on the Deccan Plateau. The district is bounded by Shimoga District (Malenadu) Area of Hills, Haveri District, Chitradurga District, Chikmagalur and Bellary District

Davangere District includes following Taluks.

Davangere - Headquarters of Davangere district.
Harihar- famous for Harihareshwara Temple, Kirloskar Machine Tools, Sonalkar Machine Tools.
Jagalur- famous for Jagalur Imam Saheb - 1960's Member of Parliament - Absolutely Dry Land Town.
Honnali- A Town connecting Shimoga District lies on the bank of river Tungabhadra
Channagiri- Forest area popularly known for timber activities in olden days.
Harpanahalli- A Town very close to Bellary Iron Ore Minining, famous for sheep breeding.

Attractions

Kunduvada kere (Mallikarjuna sagara Parivartita Kunduwada Kere) in Davangere, is a picturesque lake. It is one of the sources of drinking water for the city. Other one is a lake at T.V. Station that has a good view of sunset and is a popular picnic spot.

Bathi Gudda is situated 4 km from Davangere city towards Harihara, from the top of this hill city looks beautiful. On this Hill there is a Temple and Dargah where believers go for prayers and mercies. Chaman Sha Wali Dargah of Baathi is a famous place of visit for all communities. Every year there will be a festivities conducted jointly by all the community leaders. Beside this hill Bhadra sugar factory & Bathi lake are situated. you can even visit the Davangere Dairy located in Bathi, which supplies milk to Davanagere and Chitradurga district.

Kondajji is situated around 12 km from Davangere city. Its a major scout and guides camp for south India which is named in the commemoration of Kondajji Basappa. In Kondajji there are 3 hills, a lake and boating is available.

Shamanur is famous for Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple.

Soole kere (Shanthi Sagara) near Davangere, is a major water supply source and also second largest pond in Asia. It was built by namesake Princess Shanthi during 12th century. Now it is a water source for both drinking and agriculture. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Siddeshwara near the lake. An Aqueduct designed by Sir M Vishweshwariah is also a major tourist attraction. The government is taking steps to spruce up tourist attractions in the area.

The Eshwara temple at Anekonda is a neat little one in the Hoysala style. It was restored about 1912 with mud walls and plastered. Originally it had three cells, though there are only 2 at present, the south cell being no longer in existence and a navaranga. The garbhgriha door-way is well executed and has figure of Gajalakshmi in the middle of the lintel. The sukhanasi door-way, which is also good, has ornamental screens at the sides and figure of Siva on the lintel flanked on the left by Vishnu and Subramanya and on the right by Brahma and Ganapati with makaras beyond these on both the sides.

Anekonda

About 4 km from the HQ on Davangere-Jaglur road, Ane konda – the place where elephants were tied up is a historical palce. Accoridng to the legend, when Betur was the capital, the King’s elephants were tied here and hence the name. Aneknoda was a big city during 11 and 12 Century AD. The place has many epigraphs of Gandas, Uchangi, Pandyas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas

Sri Durgambika temple

It is very popular and biggest temple in the city. It is located in old Davanagere ie., Halepet in Shivajinagar. Surrounding this temple area is called "DEVARA HATTI". According to legend, around 200 years ago a stone brought from Duggatti village worshipped as Godess Durgamma known by different names such as Dugamma, Durgavva, Durgambika, etc., During 1932, the small temple was converted into a beautiful and biggest temple. Every Tuesday and Friday, a special pooja is arranged by the Committee. Once in 2 years a grand fair will be celebrated by the Hindu religious people regularly. People from far off district like Chitradurga, Haveri, Bellary, Dharwad, Shimoga etc., take part in this occasion.

City life: Davanagere City is bustling from day break to late evenings. The city has old cinema Theatres such as Shanthi Talkies, Mothi Talkies, Vasanta Talkies, Ashoka Talkies, and new generation theatres such as Pushpanjali, Geetanjali, Padmanjali, Aruna and others.

Transportation

Davangere is well connected by road to Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Mangalore and Chennai through NH - 4 (Previously Pune-Bangalore Highway and now Mumbai-Pune-Bengaluru-Chennai Highway). Railways also play a major role in connectivity. There are daily trains to Mumbai, Mysore, Bijapur and Bangalore, and tri weekly trains to New Delhi, Bhopal including Karnataka Sampark Kranti. Two trains per week to Jodhpur, Ajmer, Chennai, Kochuveli, Goa and many daily passenger trains mainly connecting the small places along the Bangalore - Hubli line.

There are proposals to start trains to Mangalore, Shimoga, Indore, Jabalpur, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore via Davangere as it lacks direct rail connectivity with these cities.

Railway Station under use is constructed at British Time and small maintenance is keeping it to serve the purpose.Now parking place has been reconstructed in front of railway station. They kept huge place for parking with clean.Railway station is located in front of Davanagere Municipality and it is very near to old bus stand.

City public transportation is provided by private bus services. Auto-rickshaws (Three wheel) are also available for transportation. A new proposal to lay a rail track between Davangere to Tumkur would further reduce the timings from Bangalore to Davangere. This would further connect to Shimoga, Kotturu, etc. along with the Harihara-Kotturu Rail Line which is already under construction.

Cuisine

Davangere has mixed style of North and South Karnataka foods. Jowar Roti which is common in North Karnataka and Ragi mudde which is common in South Karnataka are seen in Davangere.

Davangere is also famous for its special cuisine, particularly Dose, Benne dose, Benne kali dose, Benne Open Dose, Benne Masala Dose, Set dose and Open Dosa. Kara-mandakki (spiced puffed rice), Menasinakaayi, Nargis Mandakki, Attikai Bonda and Gulladaki Undi, and Manjula.

Davangere Benne dose is a famous dish across the state and it has found its own well-deserved place in the menu cards of all well-known restaurants in Karnataka. There are a few restaurants in Singapore and USA that serve this specialty of Davangere

Also famous is the variety of juices available here, and some of the noted juice stalls are the Archana juice stall and Rasavanthi Juice Stall (Ram & Co Circle). One of the old shops for "Kara Mandakki " is "Hotte Nanjappa" shop at Vijayalakshmi road near B S Channabasappa Shop.

Business

Davangere town is a major trading center of Karnataka state. It was called the "Manchester of Karnataka" for housing many cotton mills and supported trade and business. Being at the center of the State makes it suitable for trading. The surrounding hinterland provide support to business at Davangere. Crops like Rice, Arecanut and Cotton are traded here. There are many rice mills making puffed rice and beaten rice in and around this town. Davangere is famous for textiles mills. Shankar Textile Mills, Chigateri Mills, Chandrodaya Mills Ltd, Yallamma Cotton Woollen and silk mills Ltd all contributed the economic development of the city. The Cotton mills which are existing till date are Anjaneya Cotton mill, Ganesh Mill, Siddeshwara Cotton Mill. Davangere was a major cotton textile exporter during the 1960s till the 80s. But most of the mills were shut down during the 90s and currently the major agro-industrial activity around Davangere revolves around Rice and Sugarcane, with a number of sugar mills in and around this area. The Shamanur Sugar Mills situated in the Dugavathi village near Davangere is a Major Industry in Davangere. Many of the rice Mills are established in the Industrial area near the Bye Pass Road. Davangere has a big Garment and clothing Shop i.e. B.S. Channabasappa and Sons. This is a big garment shop of the city with its branches spread all over the city.

Sports

Davangere houses major cricket and football clubs which provide opportunities to youngsters of this locality. R Vinay Kumar is a famous cricketer from Davangere who plays for team India and Karnataka Ranji Trophy cricket team as a leading pace-bowler. He plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. Davangere is also famous for the weightlifting athletes K. Gangappa and Akram Basha who represented India on the international stage.

The high school ground, in the heart of city, is home to most of the sports events. The district stadium near Bapuji Hospital is a key place for cricket coaching camps.

Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose is an Indoor stadium on the Kundwada Kere Road.

Photo Gallery:

Sri Anjaneya Swamy,Shamanur