Karnataka has 31 districts as of 2023. The state was reorganised and the number of districts increased after the bifurcation of Dakshina Kannada into three districts. The state capital is Bengaluru (Bangalore), which is also one of India's largest cities and a global technology hub. Karnataka is divided into administrative divisions and districts for effective governance. Major districts include Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada), Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Tumkur.
Karnataka has 31 districts as of 2023; the state capital is Bengaluru (Bangalore).
Karnataka was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act; previously known as Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Major districts: Bengaluru Urban (IT hub), Mysuru (heritage city), Mangaluru (port city), Belagavi (largest by area), Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Vijayapura.
Bengaluru Urban is Karnataka's largest city and India's IT capital — home to ISRO, Infosys, Wipro, and HAL.
Gol Gumbaz in Vijayapura is the world's second largest dome; Jog Falls in Shivamogga are among India's highest waterfalls (253 m).
Coastal Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada) borders the Arabian Sea; Canara Bank was founded in Mangaluru.
Kodagu (Coorg) is called the 'Scotland of India' and is a major coffee and spice producing district.
Karnataka — Key Facts: • State capital: Bengaluru (Bangalore) • Total districts: 31 (as of 2023) • Total area: 1,91,791 sq km — sixth largest state in India by area • Population: approximately 6.1 crore (2011 census) — one of the larger states by population • Official language: Kannada • Formation: Karnataka was formed as a separate state on 1 November 1956 (Kannada Rajyotsava Day) by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 • Previously known as Mysore State; renamed Karnataka in 1973 • High Court: Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru
Administrative Divisions: Karnataka is divided into administrative divisions:
Governance: • State government: Legislature consists of Karnataka Legislative Assembly (224 seats) and Karnataka Legislative Council (75 seats) • Rajyotsava Day: 1 November — celebrated as Karnataka Formation Day or Kannada Rajyotsava • Karnataka has contributed greatly to India's software/IT industry — Bengaluru is called the 'Silicon Valley of India'
The 31 Districts of Karnataka (as of 2023):
Note: The official count and grouping of some districts can vary based on the latest government orders. Historically, Karnataka had 30 districts and reorganisation in recent years has adjusted counts.
Major Districts and Their Importance:
Bengaluru Urban: • State capital: Bengaluru (Bangalore) • India's IT hub — home to ISRO, Infosys, Wipro, HAL, and hundreds of tech companies • Largest city in Karnataka and one of the largest in India • Bengaluru Metropolitan Area is among India's largest urban agglomerations
Mysuru (Mysore): • Historical royal city — seat of the Wadiyar dynasty • Famous for Mysore Dasara (national festival), Mysore Palace, Mysore Pak (sweet) • Known for sandalwood, silk sarees (Mysore Silk), and incense sticks (agarbatti) • Home to Mysore University (established 1916)
Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada): • Major port city on the Arabian Sea • New Mangalore Port — one of the major ports on India's west coast • Important centre for cashew processing, coffee export, and banking (Canara Bank, Corporation Bank founded here)
Hubballi-Dharwad: • Twin city — administrative (Dharwad) and commercial (Hubballi) centre of North Karnataka • Second largest urban area in Karnataka after Bengaluru
Belagavi (Belgaum): • Largest district by area in Karnataka • Located near the Goa and Maharashtra border • Important military cantonment and industrial centre
Kalaburagi (Gulbarga): • Headquarters of the Kalyana-Karnataka region (formerly Hyderabad-Karnataka) • Famous for Gulbarga Fort and Sharana tradition (Basavanna's influence)
Shivamogga (Shimoga): • Known as the 'Gateway to Malnad' (hilly, forested region) • Jog Falls — one of India's highest plunge waterfalls — is in Shivamogga district
Vijayapura (Bijapur): • Famous for the Gol Gumbaz — the world's second largest dome, mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah • Rich in Adil Shahi dynasty heritage
Kodagu (Coorg): • Known as the 'Scotland of India' • Major coffee and spice producing district • Home of the Kodava people, famous for military tradition
Karnataka's Districts by Region:
North Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka / Hyderabad Karnataka Region): • Districts: Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir, Ballari, Vijayapura • Historically part of Hyderabad State under the Nizam — merged with Karnataka in 1956 • Relatively less developed; special development funds allocated under Article 371(J)
Coastal Karnataka (Karavali): • Districts: Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru), Udupi, Uttara Kannada • Arabian Sea coast — major fishing, port, and tourism activity • Tulu language widely spoken in coastal districts
Malnad (Hilly) Region: • Districts: Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan, Uttara Kannada (partly) • Western Ghats — biodiversity hotspot, coffee and spice cultivation • Jog Falls (Shivamogga), Kudremukh National Park (Chikkamagaluru)
Mysuru Region (Old Mysore): • Districts: Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur • Historically under the Mysore kingdom; more developed in terms of literacy and infrastructure
Bengaluru Region: • Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur • Urban agglomeration — rapidly growing IT corridor
Notable Records: • Kodagu (Coorg) — highest number of military medal recipients per capita of any district in the world • Bengaluru — India's fastest growing metropolis and IT capital • Shivamogga — home of Jog Falls, where the Sharavathi river falls 253 metres
Karnataka has 31 districts as of 2023. The state capital is Bengaluru (Bangalore), which is also India's IT capital and home to ISRO, Infosys, Wipro, and HAL. Karnataka is the sixth largest state in India by area (1,91,791 sq km) and was formed on 1 November 1956 as a Kannada-speaking state.
Five major districts of Karnataka: (1) Bengaluru Urban — state capital, India's IT hub. (2) Mysuru — historical royal city famous for Dasara and Mysore Silk. (3) Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada) — major port on the Arabian Sea. (4) Belagavi — largest district by area, near Goa and Maharashtra border. (5) Vijayapura — famous for Gol Gumbaz, the world's second largest dome.
Karnataka was formed as a separate state on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which reorganised states along linguistic lines. The state was previously known as Mysore State. It was renamed Karnataka in 1973. The date 1 November is celebrated as Kannada Rajyotsava (Karnataka Formation Day).
Shivamogga (Shimoga) district is home to Jog Falls, one of India's highest plunge waterfalls, where the Sharavathi river falls approximately 253 metres. Shivamogga is known as the 'Gateway to Malnad' — the hilly, forested Western Ghats region of Karnataka.
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