Davanagere

Davanagere, in central Karnataka, has grown from a small trading village into a major commercial and educational city over the last two centuries. Early on, the area lay within the domains of the Vijayanagara Empire, and later under the Nayakas of Chitradurga and the Wodeyars of Mysore. It was a typical inland plateau region with tank irrigation, millet and cotton cultivation, and small village markets rather than big urban centres.

Davanagere’s real rise began in the 19th–20th centuries, when it emerged as an important cotton and grain trading hub on routes linking coastal Karnataka, Ballari, Chitradurga and Bengaluru. With the coming of the railway and better roads, merchants and mills turned Davanagere into a processing centre for cotton, rice and oilseeds. Textile mills and ginning factories multiplied, and the town earned the nickname “Manchester of Karnataka” because of its strong textile sector.

After Independence, Davanagere continued to expand with schools, colleges, hospitals and small industries, attracting students and workers from surrounding rural taluks. In 1997, it was carved out of Chitradurga district to become the headquarters of Davanagere district, formalising its role as a regional capital. Today, its history is visible in the mix of old trade streets, industrial areas, lakes like Kunduvada Kere and new residential layouts reflecting its steady transformation into a modern city.