Badami
Badami, in today’s Bagalkot district of Karnataka, is the ancient Vatapi, famous as the early capital of the…
State
Karnataka
Karnataka, in southern India, has a long history shaped by powerful dynasties, trade and culture. In ancient times, much of present-day Karnataka was part of Mahajanapadas and early kingdoms, but the first major historical power here was the Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi (4th–6th century CE). Soon after, the region became the heartland of the Badami Chalukyas, who ruled large parts of the Deccan from the 6th–8th centuries and built sites like Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
Later, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (8th–10th centuries) and the Kalyani Chalukyas continued Deccan dominance. From the 11th–14th centuries, the Hoysala Empire (with temples at Belur, Halebid) turned southern Karnataka into a major centre of art and Vaishnavite–Shaivite devotion. After them, much of the region came under the Vijayanagara Empire, whose capital at Hampi symbolised Hindu power and flourishing trade until its fall in 1565.
Subsequently, different parts of Karnataka were ruled by the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, Nayakas, the Marathas and especially the Mysore kingdom under the Wodeyars, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Under the British, it was mainly the Mysore princely state and parts of Bombay/Madras Presidencies. In 1956, Kannada-speaking regions were unified as the state of Mysore, renamed Karnataka in 1973, which today is known for its IT hubs, rich heritage and diverse languages and landscapes.
Cities in Karnataka
Belagavi (Belgaum)
Belagavi (earlier Belgaum), in north-west Karnataka, has a history shaped by its border location between Karnataka, Maharashtra and…
Bengaluru
Bengaluru (Bangalore) has a layered history that begins long before it became India’s tech capital. The region was…
Chitradurga
Chitradurga, in central Karnataka, has a history dominated by its rocky hills and great fort. The area shows…
Davanagere
Davanagere, in central Karnataka, has grown from a small trading village into a major commercial and educational city…
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala, in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, has a unique history built on dharma, charity and religious harmony. For…
Gokarna
Gokarna, on the Karwar coast of Karnataka, is an ancient Shaivite pilgrimage town whose history is wrapped in…
Hampi
Hampi, in present-day Karnataka, is the site of the once-magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of South…
Hassan
Hassan, in south Karnataka, has a history closely tied to the rise and glory of the Hoysala Empire…
Hubballi–Dharwad
Hubballi–Dharwad, the twin cities of north Karnataka, have a shared history built from trade, education and transport. Dharwad…
Karwar
Karwar, in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, has a history deeply linked to the sea, river trade and…
Madikeri (Coorg)
Madikeri, the headquarters of Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka, has a history shaped by hill clans, small kings…
Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Mangalore), in coastal Karnataka, has a long history shaped by the Arabian Sea, rivers and spice trade.…
Murudeshwar
Murudeshwar, on the coast of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, has grown from a small fishing–pilgrimage village into a…
Mysuru
Mysuru (Mysore), in southern Karnataka, has a history closely linked with the rise of the Wodeyar dynasty and…
Shivamogga
Shivamogga (earlier Shimoga), in central Karnataka, has a history shaped by the Malnad forests, river valleys and changing…
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola, in Karnataka’s Hassan district, is one of the holiest centres of Jainism and has a recorded history…
Sringeri
Sringeri, a quiet temple town on the banks of the Tunga River in Karnataka’s Western Ghats, is one…
Tumakuru
Tumakuru (earlier spelled Tumkur), now a major city and district headquarters in Karnataka, has a history shaped by…
Udupi
Udupi, on the Karnataka coast, is best known today for its Sri Krishna temple and as the home…
Vijayapura (Bijapur)
Vijayapura, historically known as Bijapur, in northern Karnataka, has a rich history as the capital of a powerful…