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| State of Karnataka | |
|---|---|
| Name | Karnataka |
| Capital | Bangalore |
| Largest city | Bangalore |
| Established | 1 November 1956 |
| Area km2 | 191791 |
| Population | 61095297 |
| Motto | "Work is Worship" |
State of Karnataka is a federal state in southwestern India centered on Bangalore, Mysore, and the Deccan Plateau. It borders Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh and contains parts of the Western Ghats and the Karnataka Plateau. The state hosts landmarks such as Hampi, Mysore Palace, Belur, and the Bandipur National Park while being a hub for Bangalore-based firms like Infosys, Wipro, and Biocon.
The name derives from Carnatic and Kannada linguistic traditions linked to medieval polities such as the Kadamba dynasty, Western Ganga dynasty, and Chalukya dynasty; later powers included the Vijayanagara Empire, Bahmani Sultanate, and the Kingdom of Mysore. Colonial-era events involved the East India Company, the Mysore Kingdom under rulers like Tipu Sultan and princely arrangements with the British Raj culminating in integration after the Indian Independence Movement and reorganisation under the States Reorganisation Act on 1 November 1956.
Karnataka spans the Deccan Plateau, the Eastern Ghats foothills, and the Arabian Sea-facing Western Ghats with rivers including the Cauvery River, Krishna River, and Tungabhadra River flowing through reservoirs like Krishna Raja Sagara. The climate varies from tropical monsoon in coastal districts such as Udupi and Mangalore to semi-arid in northern districts like Belgaum and Kalaburagi with weather influenced by the Southwest Monsoon and phenomena recorded at observatories like Indian Institute of Science and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting.
The state is administered under the Constitution of India with a Governor appointed by the President of India and a Chief Minister usually leader of the majority party such as the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, or regional entity Janata Dal (Secular). Legislative functions occur in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Karnataka Legislative Council while courts include the Karnataka High Court at Bengaluru. Political history features coalitions, movements like the Gandhian-era activism, and electoral contests at constituencies represented in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The state's economy mixes information technology clusters in Bangalore with manufacturing in Mysore and mining in Bellary and Raichur; major corporations include Infosys, Wipro, Bharat Electronics Limited, HAL, and Suzlon. Agriculture produces staples in districts like Davanagere and Mandya with irrigation projects such as Krishna Raja Sagara and energy generation at Nagarjuna Sagar and thermal plants in Raichur; transport networks include Kempegowda International Airport, Mysore Junction railway station, National Highways like NH 48, and ports such as New Mangalore Port. Financial centers host institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India regional offices, regional branches of State Bank of India, and stock-related activities linked to corporate listings like Infosys.
The population includes speakers of Kannada, Tulu, Kodava, Urdu, Konkani, and Beary with communities such as Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Brahmin subgroups, and minorities represented in urban centers like Bengaluru and Mangalore. Social indicators are tracked by agencies including the Census of India and development schemes administered by bodies like the Karnataka State Police and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation with urbanization seen in precincts like Whitefield and Electronic City and rural patterns in taluks such as Haveri and Shimoga.
Cultural heritage embodies classical arts linked to institutions like Mysore Palace, Hampi Group of Monuments, and music traditions associated with composers such as Purandara Dasa and performers connected to the Bharatanatyam and Yakshagana traditions; festivals include Dasara (Mysore), celebrations at Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, and pilgrimages to Dharmasthala and Shravanabelagola. Tourist circuits highlight UNESCO sites like Hampi, architectural works at Belur and Halebidu, wildlife reserves including Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park, and beaches at Gokarna and Puducherry-adjacent coasts frequented via routes through Mangalore.
Higher education is anchored by institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, National Law School of India University, University of Mysore, and Visvesvaraya Technological University with research facilitated by labs like DRDO establishments and biotechnology firms including Biocon. Technical and medical education occurs at colleges like Bangalore Medical College and engineering campuses associated with Bengaluru-based startups and incubators linked to Startup India initiatives.