Pandavapura

"French Rocks" redirects here. For the New Zealand island formerly known as "French Rock", see L'Esperance Rock.
Pandavapura
city
Pandavapura

Location in Karnataka, India

Coordinates: 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°ECoordinates: 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°E
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Mandya
Population (2001)
 • Total 18,236
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Website www.pandavapuratown.gov.in

Pandavapura is a panchayat town in Mandya district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Geography

Pandavapura is located at 12°30′N 76°40′E / 12.5°N 76.67°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 709 metres (2326 feet). Earlier, Pandavapur was known as Hirode , Dandu , and French Rocks.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Pandavapur had a population of 18,236. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pandavapura has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Pandavapur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

The name 'Pandavapura' means "Town of Pandavas". Mythology states that the Pandavas during their period of exile stayed here for sometime, and Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, liked the hillock so much that it became one of her favorite haunts. The town is also named after the Pandavas because of their brief stay in this region. The name "French Rock" dates back to India's Pre-Independence days, the place was used as the camping ground by the French army, which came to help Tippu Sultan in his war against the British. It is believed that French named the small town as "French Rocks", as the town is in the vicinity of two rocky hills. After Indian Independence these rocky hills called as "Kunti Betta" by locals.
Pandavapura is approximately 130 km from Bangalore and 25 km from Mysore.

Sunrise in Kunti Betta.

About the Town

Pandavapura town is surrounded by beautiful paddy and sugar cane fields. Agriculture is the main occupation around the town. The town is surrounded by many villages and the town is central point for farmers everyday business. Every Thursday, a farmer's market (called as "Santhe" in Kannada) is held in the heart of the town, where farmers directly sell their agricultural products. Apart from agricultural products, you can also find handicrafts, ayurvedic products etc.,. Surrounding villages have Jaggery manufacturing units and it is a nice experience to watch the process of making Jaggery out of sugar cane. The Visweswarayya Canal (VC Canal) flows in the heart of the town, by dividing the town into two halves. The water for this canal is sourced from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), which is Reservoir across the river Cauvery.

Lake which resides in between Pandavapur town and Kunti betta.

Transport

Pandavapur is well connected by trains and buses. Most of the trains which run between Bangalore and Mysore stop in Pandavapur. The Pandavapur railway station is 4 km away from the Pandavapur town, and auto rickshaws and buses are available for Pandavapur town. There are very few direct buses runs from Bangalore to Pandavapur. However travelers from Bangalore, can reach Mandya town by bus, and change for a Pandavpura bus in the Mandya KSRTC bus stand. Train is the best and easiest mode of transportation for Pandavapur from Bangalore. The current MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) is K S Puttannaiah from Karnataka Sarvodaya Paksha.[3]

Tourism

Pandavapur town is surrounded by well-known tourist spots.

Following are tourist spots:

1. Lakshmi Narayanaswamy Temple, Harohalli .
2. Melkote
3. Krishnaraja Sagar
4. Kere Thonnur
5. Aarathi Ukkada (Ahalya maathe Temple).
6.

Popular Educational Institutions

1. Vijaya Vidya Prachara Sangha.

  a.Vijaya High School.

  b.Vijaya Junior College.

  c.Vijaya First Grade College.

  d.Vijaya Teachers Training Institute.

  e.Vijay Polytechnic (Future Plan).

2. Government Primary School, 5th Division, Harohalli, Pandavapura Town.
3. Government Primary and High School and Junior College Pandavapura.
4. Nirmala Higher Primary And High School, Pandavapura.
5. Sri Shambhulingeshwara Education Trust (R).
6. Sri Shaneshwara Education Institute.
7. Balagangadharanatha swamy Education Trust.
8. Manipal Institute of Computer Education(MICE).
9. BIT English & Computer Education Centre .
10. kuvempu high school.
11. Buds Foundation, Pandavapura.
12. Nilgiris Convent, Pandavapura.
13.Adithya Convent, Pandavapura.
And more quality educational institutions

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Pandavapur
  2. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  3. ↑ http://kla.kar.nic.in/13lamembers.htm

MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER EDUCATION (MICE), 1ST FLOOR, NEAR HORTICULTURE OFFICE, DOLLERS COLONY, PANDAVAPUR.