Belgaum General information
Belgaum (Belgaon or Venugram) is a city of Karnataka and is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level. Belgaum is anglicized name of Belgaon/Belagaavi. The names are possibly from the Sanskrit Venugrama - Bamboo village. Belgaum enjoys rich cultural diversity due to its proximity to Maharashtra and Goa. Kannada and Marathi are the main languages. The customs and traditions of Belgaum have been influenced by both the Kannada and Marathi cultures. Traditional dressing in rural Belgaum is similar to the attires of people in the north Karnataka and south Maharashtra. Belgaum's cuisine is a potpourri of Marathi and north Indian food. Belgaum is well connected by road, rail and air. Belgaum has a normally pleasant climate throughout the year. The winter is from November to February and the monsoons from July to September. Belgaum is an important location for trading in vegetables, fish and wood. Deposits of bauxite and uranium deposits are found here.
Belgaum History
Belgaum was built in the 12th century AD by the Ratta dynasty. The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 by Bichiraja. Belgaum was the capital of this dynasty from 1210 to 1250. The Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty. The Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 1300s and destryoed the Yadava and the Hoysalas.
Belgaum Geography
Belgaum has an average elevation of 751 metres (2463 feet) and lies in the northwestern parts of Karnataka, at the border Maharashtra and Goa. It is a distance of 502 km from Bangalore and 500 km from Mumbai. Situated near the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats) 100 kms from the Arabian Sea with the river Markandeya flowing nearby, Belgaum exhibits swift changes in topography, vegetation and climate.
Belgaum Climates
Belgaum - What to see
Inside the city, A wide variety of historical sites, temples and churches exist in and around the city, most notably the fort Kamala Basti, Kapileshwar temple (South Kashi), the hills of Vaijyanath, Ramtirth in Kanbargi, and others.
1) Kamal Basadiis a famous Jain temple located within the walls of the fort.
2) Belgaum Fort
3) The Handloom cottage industries, and Silk weavers located in Vadgaon and Angol are known for the exquisitely designed Saris.
4) Jamboti, 20 km south-west of Belgaum, with its evergreen hilltop forests.
5) Vajrapoha Falls on the Mandovi river at 26 kms from Belgaum.
6) Godchanmalki falls at a distance of about 60 kms from Belgaum.
7) Gokak Falls 62 kms from Belgaum.
8) Amboli falls.
Belgaum - How To Reach
By Plane
By Train