Gadag district General information
The District is bounded on the north by Bagalkot District, on the east by Koppal District, on the southeast by Bellary District, on the southwest by Haveri District, on the west by Dharwad District, and on the northwest by Belgaum District. Gadag District was formed in 1997, when it was split from Dharwad District.
Gadag-Betageri twin city is located in the Northern Region of Karnataka State. The city Municipal council (CMC) of Gadag-Betageri was constituted in 1873, it is one of the Grade-I CMC in Karnataka state, located at city centre of Gadag-Betageri.It has a population of 1,54,849 as per 2001 census. The CMC has 35 Wards and equal number of Councilors. The Gadag-Betageri CMC stretches to an area of 54.55 Sqkms. It has important railway junction connection solapur to the north, Bellary to the East & Hubli to the west. It is at a distance of 480 km from Bangalore.
Gadag immediately brings to mind the name of Naranappa, popularly known as Kumara Vyaasa, the author of karnataka BharataKathamanjari. It is the classic Mahabharata in kannada,he composed his work sitting before Lord Veera Narayana. The Temple of Veera Narayana and Trikuteshwara are places of religious and historic importance.Jumma Majid it consists hindu muslim trust.
The blind singer Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawayi belonged to Gadag. His music school is famous, very shortly going to get an entry in Guinness book. The two main jain Temples are dedicated to Parsvanatha Thirthnkara and Mahaveeera belongs to Gadag district. Tontadarya Matha of Veerashaiva sect of Hindus is doing a lot of educational and Literary activities in and around Gadag.and also St.Johns Church.
Gadag contribution in the field of music&sports is immense Pt.Bhim sen Joshi,hails from this place only. It is matter of great pride. A nearby village Kanaginahal has made its name throughout India by establishing cooperative sector. Today all over India is celebrating his century .
Climate
Gadag district has an agreeable and health climate. Within the district the southern belt has a more pleasant weather. The year is usually divided into four seasons. Summer sets in during the second half of February and lasts till the end of May. This season is marked by harsh eastern winds, rising temperatures whirlwinds, and occasional thunderstorms accompanied by sharp showers. South-west monsoon season starts during early June and lasts till the end of September. This is a period of cool and damp climate. The months of October and November constitute the post monsoon or the north-west monsoon season and this period witness a gradual rise in day temperatures and a substantial amount of rainfall as well. The winter season covers the period from December to mid February. The district enjoys a moderate weather and is not subject to extremes either during summer or winter. The average maximum temperature of 37.3 C is in the month of April. December has the minimum temperature of 16.5 C. The wind blows at the speed of 18.2 km/ph, 19.6 km/ph and 17.5 km/ph in the months of June, July and August respectively.
Gadag district receives average annual rainfall of 612.5 mm and within the district the quantum of rainfall and the average number of rainy days decreases as on moves from west to east. During the south west monsoon 56% of the annual rainfall precipitates. There are 15 raingauge stations in the district
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[9], Gadag-Betageri had a population of 154,849. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Gadag-Betageri has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 64%. In Gadag-Betageri, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Healthcare infrastructure
Advanced diagnostic facilities are now available at Gadag leading to improved patient care.
The Basel Mission started the hospital in Betgeri in 1902. For decades afterwards the hospital provided the only healthcare available. The Hospital is fondly called the “German” hospital by the local people, because of the German doctors who served here. The hospital is today the busiest in the district and serves as a referral centre. It is now run by Indian doctors and continues to provide quality and affordable care to its patients, who are mainly from the poor farming community in the surrounding villages. The Hospital has ICU facilities and is equipped with the latest medical technologies including CT scan. Private sector Gadag Scan Centre has state of art diagnostic facilities like CT scan, ultrasound with colour doppler, endoscopy, radiography and pathology lab with 24 hours emergency service.
Transport
Gadag is a small junction station on Hubli-Hospet-Guntukal railway line. It connects to Hotgi junction on Pune-Solapur-Wadi railway line. The Hotgi-Gadag railway track was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge in stages and completed in December 2008. Now broad gauge trains from Bangalore via Hospet and from Hubli run through Gadag to Bijapur and Solapur. The famous tourist centre Hampi is served by this railway line.
Education
List Of Educational Institutions in Gadag
Gadag has been a renowned centre of learning, with many famous high schools, colleges These include:
VDSTC Boys High School Gadag
J.T.College Gadag
Places of interest
Trikuteshwara temple complex
Trikuteshwara temple complex has triple shrines, once housing Shiva, Brahma and Surya. The Saraswathi temple has the finest shining decorative pillars, and the Saraswathi image, and is one of the largest examples of Chalukya art.
Veeranarayana temple
Gadag has the Veeranarayana temple dating from the Chalukya era. The great Kannada poet Kumara Vyasa composed his famous Mahabharatha (known as Kumaravyasa Bharata or Gadugina Bharata) in this temple.
DAMBALA temple
Famous for its grapes and Guavas, Dambala lies 20 kms from GADAG. It boasts of many fine temples – the best being the Dodda Basappa temple.Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Dodda Basappa temple belongs to the Kalyani Chalukya period. It is renowned for its multigonal stellar shape. It contains one of the most beautifully designed door steps that can be seen in any temple in western India. This doorstep is exquisitely engraved with festoons, rosetter and small figures. Apart from this the temple also has marvelously carved pillars and walls. Also at Damabla is situated a Buddhist shrine dedicated to the godess Taradevi.
Gadag also has a mosque dating from the Adilshahi era and a church. Betageri has many artistic hero stones dating from the ninth and tenth centuries.