Belgaum is one of the 30 districts in Karnataka. Spread over 13,433 square kilometers, Belgaum district shares its borders with two states, Maharashtra and Goa and 5 other districts of Karnataka. Belgaum is the second most populous district in Karnataka, second only to Bengaluru.
History Of Belgaum
Belgaum was initially known as Venugrama or the Bamboo Village. From the 6th century till about 760, the Chalukyas reigned over this area. They were followed by the Rashtrakutas.
Around the year 1210, Venugrama was made capital by the Rattas who succeeded the Rashtrakutas. The Rattas were followed by the Yadavas and in the 14th century, the district fell under the control of the Delhi Sultanate for a short time.
Over the years, the area was also ruled by the Hindu rajas of Vijayanagara, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Mughals.
When the British ruled over India, they gave Belgaum a lot of military importance because of its geographic location. This is one of the reasons, Belgaum is known as the Cradle of the Infantry.
Till today, Belgaum is home to several divisions of the Indian Armed Forces. The regimental headquarters of the Maratha Light Infantry and the Indian Army’s Commando School is situated here.
Demographics and Economy
| Area | 13,433 Sq.kms |
| Total Population | 4,779,661 |
| Literacy | 75.4% |
Belgaum district is an important center for manufacturing of high-pressure oil hydraulic systems and heavy machine tools. It is also an important location for aerospace industries. Apart from this, the district has a number of Medium-scale Enterprise Units and over 20 sugar factories.
Administration Of Belgaum District
Belgaum has 3 Sub-Divisions, 10 Talukas, 35 Hobli’s and 1275 villages. District administration is headed by a Deputy Commissioner. He is aided by Shirshtedars or Managers heading various departments. Each subdivision in Belgaum is headed by an Assistant Commissioner. The talukas are managed by Tehsildars.