Banakal

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Banakal| latd = 13.0596
longd=75.5393
state_name= Karnataka
district= Chickmagalur
area_telephone= 08263
postal_code= 577 113

Banakal ( _kn. ಬಣಕಲ್) is a Malnad village in Mudigere Taluk, Chickmagalur district of Karnataka, India. This village is situated atop Charmadi hills in the Western Ghats section. The Western Ghats is one amongst twenty-five identified hot-spots for bio-diversity conservation in the world. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3707888.stm BBC NEWS | Science/Nature |
] ] Banakal is surrounded by coffee estates and paddy fields and known for its pleasant weather through out the year. Banakal town is the head quarter of Banakal Hobli.

Banakal lies on the banks of Hemavati River. Hemavati which flows through Banakal, originates in Western Ghats. This 245 km long river covers about 5,410 sq.km of drainage area and considered as a prime source of irrigation along with natural rainfall [ [http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/documents/rivers.htm Rivers of Western Ghats - Rivers of Western Ghats ] ] . The geographical location of Banakal is 13°0'59" North and 75°53'9" East.

One of the immensely beautiful natural waterfalls of Karnataka known as Alekan waterfalls is just six kilometers away from Banakal towards Charmadi. [ [http://www.dreamroutes.org/western/alekan.html alekan falls near CharmaDi in Western Ghats - dreamroutes.org ] ]

Culture

The people lead a monotonous way of life irrespective of the religious diversities. Generally life is slow paced as it is seen in the most of agriculture dominant villages of Chickmagalur district. Gowda community is dominant and owns most of the landed property like agricultural fields and coffee estates. Folk songs and folk dances are given much importance. During special occasions men play "Kolata" - a group dance using sticks, and women do perform folk dances and folk songs like "Bhaagyada balegaara hogi baa nanna tawarige" are note worthy.

Cuisine

Malnad food style is followed. Rice and wheat is a part of the daily menu. Traditional dishes like Rotti, Ganji-oota, Kadubu-chatni,shevije are a few other dishes. Generally people are non vegetarian. Some traditional dishes like Edi-chatni, Iruve-chatni [chigaLi chuttney] , Maralu-meen-saru are now vanishing from daily menu.

Language

Like Are Bhashe spoken by the Gowdas of Sullia in Dakshina Kannada the people in this region speak another dialect of Kannada which can be called as "Gowdra bhashe". This dialect is sweet and has powerful expressions. People belong to Tuluva community like, Shettys, Poojarys speak Tulu with "Ghatta" accent, little different than actual Tulu used in South Canara. Local Muslims speak a dialect of Urdu known as Dakni. Bearys, the immigrant Muslims hailing from neighboring district, Dakshina Kannada are engaged in various small scale business activities do speak Beary bashe.

Festivals

"Suggi Habba" is the main festival celebrated at the time of harvesting. All Hindu festivals are celebrated by Gowdas and local communities. Tulu speaking people also celebrate Hindu festivals. Muslims observe Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha as it is universally observed. Christians celebrate all Christian events and local church festival is called "Sant-Mary". "Banakal Jatre" is the car-festival that occurs once a year and attracts a lot of people from adjecent villages. Bhuta Kola and "Kori Katta" are the other events celebrated by mainly Tulu speaking communities.

Economy

Agriculture is the main source of economy. Rice which forms the chief food of people in southern India is the main crop and is being produced in large scale. Coffee plantation is another prime source of economy which makes the region distinctive and contributive to national economy. The coffee estates in this regeon gains limelight and becomes world famous when it began to compete with Brazil in both producing and exporting coffee beans. Both the genetic subspecies of high quality coffee namely Robusta and Arabica are being produced, processed and exported. Black pepper, cardamom are the other economic crops. Oranges have also been produced in some areas. Honey and alike forest products also contribute to the economy.

Flora and fauna

Most of the land is brought under cultivation. Paddy or rice fields provide multiple crops in a year based on monsoon. Coffee (both Robusta and Arabica) is the main plantation crop. Other crops include black pepper, cardamom and produces of forest. Good quality honey is abundantly available in this region. Tall straight Nilgiri plantation is found on the southern bank of river Hemavati alongside coffee plantation. Natural forests surround the village. Wildlife and rich birdlife can also be seen. Teak and sandalwood are abundant.

Because of irregular prices lately people have lost interest in food crop. Economic crop is taken the place of food crop and more land is used for that purposes.

People

Generally life style is slow paced and people do live cordially irrespective of cast and religious differences. Although Gowdas are economically dominant, Shetty and Poojary are the immigrant Tulu communities from adjacent Dakshina Kannada also are seen. The Muslim community can be identified as local Deccani (a dialect of Urdu and Hindi) speaking farmers and immigrant Byari business community. A good number of Christians belonging to Roman Catholic speaking Konkani and some Protestants also are inhabitants of Banakal.

Schools and educational institute

* Government Junior College
* Government High School
* Vidyabharati – Nursery to 7th & High School
* Government Model Higher Primary School
* Government Urdu Higher Primary School
* Nazareth Convent
* River View School - Nursery to 7th
* Banakal Village School
* Sabli Village School

Religious institutes

Temples

* Kallinateshwara Temple
* Shreedevi Temple

Mosques

* Jamia Masjid
* Mohiyuddin Juma Masjid
* Quba Masjid

Church

* Ravi Ashrama

Banks and financial institutes

* Karnataka Bank Ltd
* District co-operative Bank

Getting there

* By bus: any bus that commutes between Mangalore and Chickmagalur goes via Banakal
* 3 km from Kottigehara on K.M. Road, towards Chickmagalur
* The nearest railway station: Mangalore, Kadur and Hassan
* The nearest airport is Bajpe Mangalore International Airport

Nearby places

The nearby places are Mudigere, Chickmagalur, Kottigehara, Dharmasthal, Kalasa, Kudremukh.

References

External links

* [http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/documents/rivers.htm "Rivers of the Western Ghats"]