Gadag-Betageri

Gadag-Betageri
—  city  —
Viranarayana Temple
Gadag-Betageri
Location of Gadag-Betageri
in Karnataka and India
Coordinates
Country India
Region Bayaluseeme
State Karnataka
District(s) Gadag
Population 154,849 (2001)
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)

Gadag-Betageri (Kannada: ಗದಗ-ಬೆಟಗೇರಿ) is a town and a city municipal council in Gadag district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Gadag District. The original city of Gadag and its sister city Betageri (or Betgeri) have a combined city administration. The municipality of Gadag-Betageri has a population of 154,849 and an area of 54.56 km².

The twin city municipality is situated 80 km from Dharwad and 60 km from Hubli, and lies on the Gutti-Vasco National Highway.

Contents

Gadag style of Architecture

The Gadag style of Architecture [1] marked by Ornate pillars with intricate sculpture[2] originated during the period of the Western Chalukya (or Kalyani Chalukyas) king Someswara I, and it flourished for a period of 150 years (During 1050 to 1200 CE) during which about 50 temples were built. some of the examples are The Trikuteshwara temple (complex) at Gadag, Kasivisvesvara temple, Lakkundi, Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, Amriteshwara temple at Annigeri.

Gadag inscription

Tourism

Someshwara and Rameshwara temples, built in the Chalukya style, are also present.

Great Personalities of Gadag-Betgeri

Gadag immediately brings to mind the name of Naranappa, popularly known as Kumara Vyasa, the author of Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari. It is the classic Mahabharata in Kannada. Naranappa was born in the nearby village of Koliwada. He composed his work sitting before Lord Veera Narayana, his chosen deity. The temples of Veera Narayana and Trikuteshwara [1] are places of religious and historic importance.

The visually challenged singer Ganayogi Panchakshari Gawayi hailed from Gadag. His music school Veereshwara Punyashrama [2] is a renowned institution in north Karnataka. It was headed by Panchakshari Gawayi's disciple, Ganayogi Puttaraj Gawai till 2010, who was also visually challenged and died in late 2010.

Freedom Movement

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[4] Gadag-Betageri had a population of 154,849. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Gadag-Betageri has an average literacy rate of 71%; male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 64%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Healthcare infrastructure

Advanced diagnostic facilities are now available in the cityleading to improved patient care. The Basel Mission started the hospital in Betageri in 1902. For decades afterwards the hospital provided the only healthcare available. The Hospital is fondly called the “German” hospital by the local people, because of the German doctors who served here. The hospital is today the busiest in the district and serves as a referral centre. It is now run by Indian doctors and continues to provide quality and affordable care to its patients, who are mainly from the poor farming community in the surrounding villages. The Hospital has ICU facilities and is equipped with the latest medical technologies including CT scanat very affordable price. Private sector Gadag Scan Centre has state of art diagnostic facilities like CT scan, ultrasound with colour doppler, endoscopy, radiography and pathology lab with 24 hours emergency service.

Transport

Gadag is a junction station on Hubli-Hospet-Guntukal railway line. It connects to Hotgi junction on Pune-Solapur-Wadi railway line. Major tourist centres like Badami and Bijapur lie on the Gadag-Hotgi railway line. The Gadag-Hotgi railway track was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge in stages and completed in December 2008. Now broad gauge trains from Bangalore via Hospet and from Hubli run through Gadag to Bijapur and Solapur. It also connects the famous tourist centre of Hampi with other parts of the country.Rayalaseema express which run from Hyderabad, Tirupathi and Kolapur.

Education

Gadag has been a renowned centre of learning, with many famous high schools, colleges These include:

References

External links