Karnataka

Hans Raj Bhardwaj
Chief Minister : B. S. Yeddyurappa
Capital: Bangalore
Legislature: Bicameral
Lok Sabha seats: 28
Judicature: Bangalore High Court
Languages: Kannada
Population density: 275/sq. km
No. of districts: 27
Main crops: Rice, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, rubber, wheat, cotton, tobacco, sunflower,
cardamon and pepper.
Rivers: Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra and small rivers like Sharavati,
Kalinadi, Netravati, etc.
Minerals: Gold, silver, magnesite, iron, mica,
manganese, bauxite, uranium and thorium
Industries: Large industries: HMT, Bharat Earth Movers, Bharat
Electronics, Indian Telephones, Hindustan Aeronautics, Steel plants
Airports: Banglore, Mangalore and Belgaum

PHYSICAL FEATURES
About 750 km from north to south and 400 km from east to west, Karnataka can be divided in four physiographic regions: (i) The Northern Plateau, with a general elevation of 300 to 600 metres from the mean sea level; (ii) The Central Plateau, with a general elevation of 450 to 700 metres; (iii) The Southern Plateau, with a general elevation of 600 to 900 metres; and (iv) The Coastal Region, comprising the plains and the Western Ghats. Among the tallest peaks of the state are Mullayyana Giri, Bababudangiri and Kudremukh.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Karnataka has a recorded history of more than 2,000 years. Apart from its subjection to the rule of Nandas, Mauryas and the Shatavahanas, Karnataka came to have indigenous dynasties like the kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas from the middle of the 4th century AD. The world renowned Gomateshwara monolith at Sharavanabelagola was installed by a Ganga minister  Chavundaraya. Chalukyas dynasty created fine, everlasting and the most beautiful monuments at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, both structural and rock-cut. Aihole has been one of the cradles of temple architecture in the country.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

500-735 AD - The Chalukyas of Badami reigned over a wider area, from the Narmada to the Kaveri from the days of Pulikeshi II (609- 642 AD)

753-973 AD - The Rashtrakutas of Malkhed who heaped tribute on the rulers of Kanauj successively in the So-called ‘Age of Imperial Kanauj’. Kannada literature developed during this period.

973 AD to 1189 AD- The chalukyas of Kalyana and their feudatories, the Hoysalas of Halebidu built exiquisite temples, encouraged literature and various fine arts. Noted jurist Vijnaneshwara (work: Mitakshara) lived at Kalyana. The great religious leader Basaveshwara was a minister at Kalyana.

1336-1646 - Vijayanagar empire patronised and fostered indigenous traditions and encouraged arts, religion and literature in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil. Overseas trade flourished.

Advent of the Portuguese resulted in the introduction of new crops (Tobacco, Maize, Chillies, Groundnut, potato, etc).

1818 - Fall of the Peshwa and Tipu (1799), Karnataka came under the British.

1953 - After Independence, the Mysore State was created.

1956 – Enlarged Mysore state carved of unifiying Kannada dominant areas under different dispensations

1973 - Mysore was renamed Karnataka