| Kolar | |
| — city — | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District(s) | Kolar |
| Population • Density |
137,762 (2011[update]) • 5,187 /km2 (13,434 /sq mi) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
26.56 square kilometres (10.25 sq mi) • 821 metres (2,694 ft) |
| Website | http://www.kolarcity.gov.in/ |
Kolara (Kannada: ಕೋಲಾರ) is a city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kolar District. It is known for being one of the gold mining sites in India. It is located at a distance of about 68 kilometres (42 mi) from Bengaluru and 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Kolar Gold Fields. It is situated on the Bengaluru to Chennai National Highway-4.
The city is located on the southern maidan (plains) region of Karnataka. The Ammerallikere, a tank, forms its eastern boundary. To the north is the Kodikannur tank, the main source of water supply to the city. The nearest railway junction is Bangarpet at a distance of about 15 km.
Contents |
The Gangas sovereignty lasted from about 350 to 550 CE, initially ruled from Kolar as their Capital City. The founding king of the Ganga dynasty was Konganivarman Madhava who made Kolar his capital around 350 and ruled for about twenty years.
Kolar, the headquarters of the Kolar district, was earlier known as Kuvalala, also known as Kolahala Pura. Historically, Kolar is said to be associated with the epic age, which recalls many legends associated with Avani in Mulbagal Taluk, which was also called Avani Kshetra. it is the Birth place city of Ramanji.
It was once known as Avantika- Kshetra, a sacred place in Kolar district in Karnataka State. It was famous for its religious establishments from ancient times. <
It was once known as Aavanya which was under the Ganga prince Madhava Muttarasa, who governed several districts. In about A.D 890, it was called Avanya-Nadu under the dynasty of king Anoop. In A.D 931, it’s earliest grant relates that Tribhuvana Kartara Deva, who held the title of Kali Yuga Rudra, ruled over the Avaniya Thana for 40 years. During this period he constructed 50 temples and two large tanks. The Avani Sthana continued to survive as a religious establishment from 9th to 11th century. There are temples dedicated to Rama Dasharathi, Laxmana, Bharata, Bali and Sugriva. This place is renowned as birth place of Lava- Kusa, the twin sons of Rama and also as the hermitage of Valmiki.
Madhava Muttarasa was the Shivamara Muttarasa ( Shivamara –II) who succeeded his father Sripurusha Muttarasa .
It is said that the sage Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana, lived here and Sri Rama stayed here on the way back to Ayodhya, after his conquest of Lanka. The legend goes further to establish that Seetha Devi, after being rejected by Rama, gave birth to her twins Lava and Kusha in this Avani.
The hill to the west of Kolar, called the Satasringa Parvata or 'Hundred-Peaked Mountain' is 'Antharagange', associated with the story of Parasurama and his fight with King Kartaviryarjuna over Surabhi, the divine cow. As the story goes, King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) and his army visited Jamadagni, Parasurama's father, when the king demanded the magical cow from Jamadagni. When Jamadagni refused, the King sent his soldiers to take the cow, but Parashurama killed the entire army and the king with his axe. In return, the princes beheaded Jamadagni. Thus, Parasurama took an oath to behead the entire Kshatriya race, which is said to have taken place on the hills. It is said that the 'kolahala' on the death of Kartaviryarjuna gave its name to the town, which later become Kolar. Kannada, is the main languages spoken in the district of Kolar.
The old city of Kolar mainly consisted of the five areas of Cottenpet (Kataripalya), Gandinagar, M.G road, M.B road, New Bus Stand, Rahmath Nagar, Gowripet, Khutub Ghowri Mohalla, Aralepet and Kurubarapet. Kote, or the fort area once encompassed the temples of Kolaramma, Someshwara and was bordered by the Kolaramma Lake. Now the fort is all but gone, disappeared into new residential areas.
Kolar's Clock Tower is one of the very well known landmarks, which was constructed by Sir. Kolar Mustafa Saheb
Kolar is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 822 metres (2,697 ft).
As of 2011[update] India census,[2] Kolar had a population of 1,540,231. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kolar has an average literacy rate of 74.33%,male literacy is 81.94%, and female literacy is 66.56%. In Kolar, 10.51% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Kannada is the major language, however a significant population speaks Telugu, Tamil is also spoken in few places like KGF.
The major temples in the town are the Kolaramma Temple and the Someswara Temple. Someswara Temple is a fine example of the Vijayanagara style, complete with a massive pillared Mukha Mandapa, heavy Prakara walls, ornate Kalyana mantapa, a Devi Shrine and a lofty Gopura with fine stucco figures on the tower; while the door frame is carved in the typical Vijayanagara style, with dwarapalas, etc. The temple has a large tank (Kalyani) also. There are Vijayanagara inscriptions on the wall of the store room and the yagashala, dated to 15th century A.D.
Kolaramma Temple: This 'L'-shaped temple has two shrines, one for Durga (Kolaramma) and the other for the Saptamatras. Both have a common vestibule. The Durga Shrine has a wagon-roof tower. The stucco figures in the Saptamatras shrine are unusually large. The temple is of Dravida Vimana Style, built in the Ganga Tradition (11 century AD). The Mahadwara has imposing pavilions in the inner side. The temple contains several Chola inscriptions, the earliest belonging to Mr. Yendeti (1012-1045 AD).
Kolaravani is a largest circulated Kannada Regional morning Daily from Kolar is now available in surrounding Five districts. Epaper web site : www.newsvani.com
Kolar is the land of silk, milk, mangoes, tomatoes and gold.