Gadag district

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
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type= district
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district_image_desc = Taluk-level map of district
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state_name = Karnataka
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leader_title = Deputy Commissioner
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area_telephone = + 91 (0)
vehicle_code_range = KA-26
district_timezone = IST (UTC +5:30)
website= Gadag District (Kannada ಗದಗ) had a population of 971,835 of which 35.21% was urban as of 2001. [http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm] Population increased 13.14% in the decade 1991-2001. 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.

A number of late Chalukyan monuments (11th-12th centuries) in the city indicate its historic past. The Temple of Veera Narayana and Trikuteshwara are places of religious and historic importance.Jumma Majid it consists Hindu Muslim trust. There are two main Jain temples are dedicated to Parshvanatha Thirthankara and Mahaveeera.

Gadag consists of five taluks namely Gadag-Betageri, Ron, Shirhatti, Naragund and Mundargi.

About important places of Gadag district

Gadag

The Historic Jumma Masjid is the place where 600 Muslim devotees can offer prayers at a time In the seventeenth, eighteenth centuries, Gadag came under the influence of Mohammada Kings, then Marathas, before being incorporated in to East India Company.

The population of Gadag consists of all religious communities and they have all lived in harmony. Communal violence is unheard of in Gadag.

Poets Kumaravyasa and Chamarasa have become legendary by their exceptional works Mahabharata and Prabhulingaleele respectively. In the twentieth century, Gadag provided many nationalists and freedom fighters. Notable among them is Narayana Rao Huilgol who wrote the famous Kannada freedom song, "Udayavagali Namma Cheluva Kannada Nadu". Other famous literateurs from Gadag are Pandit G.B. Joshi, Pandit Pandharinathacharya Galgali, N.K. Kulkarni, Keertinath Kurtakoti and others.

The Present seer of the famous Tontadaryamath. His Holiness Jagadguru Siddhaling Swamiji has revolutionised and transformed the people of Gadag-Betgeri by his numerous educational,literary, cultural, agricultural and secular religious projects.

The renowned saint and seer Dr.Pandit Puttaraj Gavaigalu, blind by birth, musician,scholar and literateur has perhaps done more for the cause of blind than any other single person in the world.Fact|date=October 2008 That is where the Rotary Club of Gadag Betgeri has built a Residential College of Music for Blind and equipping it with W.C.S. aid and matching grants.

The renowned musician Padmabhooshana Pandit Bhimasen Joshi is the gift of Gadag to this nation.

If there is one man, who is solely responsible for complete transformed of Gadag Betgeri, modernisation and its economic prosperity. it is none other than the late Shri K.H. Patil, father of co-operative movement. The sprawling textile mills, Formers' Co-operative Oil-seeds and Rural Technical and Engineering Colleges in Hulkoti are testimony to this. The contributions of Shri H.K.Patil, MLC and Shri D.R. Patil, MLA are also significant.

Gadag is also the home of printing and publishing industry. There are many famous publicationslike Vijaya, Shabadimath, Vikram and Prabhu Graphics.

Gadag has a lot of printing presses including the "Hombali Brothers and the Shabadi Math Printing Press.

The famous Art Institute Vijaya Kala Mandir is well-known all over the Country.

Weaving is a major industry in Gadag-Betgeri. The sarees woven in Betgeri are famous everywhere.Fact|date=October 2008

Gadag is also well known for theatre and acting. The pioneer in this field was the late Garud Sadashivaraya.

Gadag has a sizeable Christian community and the Mission hospital has served the people for decades.

Places of interest in Gadag District

Gadag region Tourism circuit

A number of late Chalukyan monuments (11th-12th centuries) in the city indicate its historic past. The Temple of Veera Narayana and Trikuteshwara are places of religious and historic importance. Jumma Majid it consists Hindu Muslim trust. There are two main Jain temples are dedicated to Parshvanatha Thirthankara and Mahaveeera.

Sri Saraswathi Temple

The temple is dedicated to Saraswathi, Goddess of learning. It is a wonderful structure with its fine architectural beauty.

Sri Trikuteshwara Temple

The Trikuteshwara temple was built by the early Chalukyas between 6th to 8th Centuries. The temple bears rich evidence of the majesty of Chalukya architecture.

Sri Jagadguru Tondaraya Mutt

This is a 12th Century Mutt founded by Saint Tontada Siddalingeshwar Swamiji who was an accomplished Yogi. His "Samadhi" is situated in front of this Mutt.

Sri Veera Narayana Temple

The legend goes to say that "Naranappa" better known as "Kumaravyasa" narrated the great epic before the lord by invoking the blessings of the Lord. The legend says that Naranappa got the inspiration to narrate the epic only during the time he sat before the Lord in a holy posture in a wet cloth dried up. A Brindavan of saint Raghavendra Swami is also built recently in the temple premises. This temple attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year.It is believed that the Veeranarayana Temple was built in the 11th Century.

The important, ancient and historical places in the Gadag District

Lakkundi

Lakkundi is about 12 km from Gadag. It was once the capital city of Great Chalukyan kings. Lakkundi is famous for 101 stepped wells (called Kalyani or Pushkarni), the multitude of Temples of architectural beauty and the Jain Basadi's. There is sculpture gallery maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Hombal

Hombal, a village at distance of 12 Km from Gadag famous for its old temples.

Venkatapura

Venkatapura is about 15 km from Gadag. The temple is dedicated to lord Venkateshwara.

Beladhadi

Beladhadi is about 10 km from Gadag is famous for Shri Rama Temple. The idols of Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are of unique beauty and were installed by famous saint Shree Brahmananda Maharaj.

Sudi

Ron

Gajendragad

"'Laxmeshwar"

Notable people

*Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawayi
*Kumaravyasa is one of the most famous poets in the Kannada language. He is the author of Karnata Bharatha Kathamanjari (classic Mahabharatha in Kannada). Kumara Vyasa literally means Little Vyasa or Son of Vyasa. Naranappa popularly known as Kumaravyasa born in the near by village of Koliwada.
*Hindustani singer Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
*Sunil Joshi (cricketer*
*Vijay Sankeshwar owner of VRL
*Anant Koppa, a technocrat businessman from Karnataka, India. He was the Founder President of Kshema Technologies, one of India's first venture capital funded software services companies. He has currently started a new company called KTwo Technology Solutions.

*T.P.Akki Founder Vijaya Kala Mandir