Belgaum, earlier known as "Venugrama or the "Bamboo Village" is one of the oldest, prominent and well cultured historical places located high in the Western Ghats. Belgaum has a rich cultural heritage that has much to be discovered. The place has a glorious past.
Belgaum is renowned for its sweet dish Kunda. It is prepared from milk and is available in sweet marts across the city. Belgaum is also known for other sweet dishes such Balushais .
Geography
Belgaum is located on the northwestern border of Karnataka, within striking distance from Goa and Mumbai. Panaji. Belgaum is located at 15.87° N 74.5° E and has an average elevation of 751 metres. It is one of the oldest towns in the state. The river that flows through this district is river Markandeya. There are about 1278 villages in the district with an area of 13,415 km. Belgaum is situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range at an altitude of about 779m, 100km from the Arabian Sea. Belgaum is a city that is gifted with a plesant climate throughout the year. The annual average rainfall is 50".
History
Map of BelgaumBelgaum was built in the 12th century AD by the rulers od Ratta dynasty. Belgaum served the capital of that dynasty between 1210 and 1250, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri. In 1300 the Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region and ruined the indigenous powers of the region. In 1336, Vijayanagara Empire established power here. After a century the town became a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom. In 1474, the Bahmani Sultanate captured the fort of Belgaum. In 1518, Bahamani sultanate split into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur.
In 1686, Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor overthrew the Bijapur sultanate, and Belgaum passed nominally to the Mughals. In 1707, after the death of Aurangazeb the Mughal empire declined and the Maratha confideracy took control of the area.
In 1776, the country was overrun by Hyder Ali of Mysore but was retaken by the Peshwa with British assistance. In 1818, British Raj deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.
Belgaum participated actively in the Freedom Movement with whole country. One of the prominent ladies of the time Rani Channamma of Kittur along with Sangolli Rayanna and Babasaheb was first to start this movement. On December 1924, Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of Indian National Congress under the President ship of Mahatma Gandhiji. The city was a military installation for the British Raj as a result of its nearness to Goa which was then a Portuguese territory. After the British left, the Indian Government continued to have Armed forces installations in Belgaum. In 1961, Government of India under the Prime Ministership of Nehru used forces from Belgaum to end Portuguese rule of Goa.
In 1947, when India became independent, Belgaum became part of Bombay State. In 1956, Belgaum District was transferred to Mysore State.
The District Headquarters, Belgaum is a picture of contrasts. On one side is the old town area where the cotton and silk weavers still create magic with their fingers. And on the other side the modern, bustling, tree-lined Cantonment built by the British.