RAHUL DRAVID

It's hard to plot Rahul Dravid on the graph of cricketing greats. There has rarely been a historic Indian win without a vital contribution from 'The Wall', yet, playing in the Tendulkar era, his achievements have been eclipsed by the blinding presence of the 'Little Master'.

One of three prominent Karnataka cricketers to make their mark in the 90s, along with Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, Dravid seemed like he was born out of a batting text book with a strikingly "copybook" technique. In an age where batsmen were innovating and tweaking the norm as the game evolved, Dravid stuck by the methods that he was blooded with.

His earliest Test impact of note following a 95 on debut was against South Africa in 1997, when he backed his maiden century (148) with a half-century to lead India to a rare away draw. A series of impressive knocks helped cement the foundation of 'The Wall'. A lack of flamboyance was his lone limitation during his formative years. Whilst effective in Tests, it often frustrated fans in limited overs. A metamorphosis took place during the 1999 World Cup, beyond which Dravid's batting became a marvellous sight to behold in all forms of the game. By 2002, he successfully shed his defensive style and no longer seemed shadowed by the famed Tendulkar-Ganguly opening duo. Since then, the Number 3 batsman carved his own niche as India's batting anchor. Now, a decade and a half later, he is the only Indian batsman, barring Tendulkar, to have never been dropped from the Test side since his debut.

Following the match-fixing controversy, he was appointed deputy to captain Sourav Ganguly and the added responsibility egged Dravid to greater consistency. He notably played a vital supporting role to VVS Laxman in India's historic defeat of an all-conquering Australia in 2001. By 2004, he had scored centuries against every Test-playing nation. Captaincy duty soon arrived but the spotlight repulsed him. It also affected his ODI form and after a poor 2007 World Cup he relinquished the armband to focus on his batting. Consequently, he was dropped from ODIs and left out in the cold for 2 years.

Still, his position in the classic format remained untouched, unquestioned. Few could match his Test achievements, which remained consistent as ever, vindicating him even when people around were losing faith. But Rahul Dravid battles on tirelessly, the epitome of an unsung hero in the annals of world cricket.

ANIL KUMBLE

India's legendary spinner Anil Kumble is undoubtedly one of the best bowlers the game has seen. There are very few who can match his achievements which include many a records. His retirement from international cricket was a significant milestone in the sport's rich history as he will forever be remembered as a fierce competitor and a true sportsman to have ever played the sport.

Born on 17th October 1970 in Bangalore, Kumble was a strong student and showed a knack for cricket from a very young age. He started playing competitive cricket at the age of 13 when he played for a 'street club' called Young Cricketers in Bangalore. He played his first class game in 1989 when he played for Karnataka against Hyderabad. His good performances at the domestic leagues as well as in the under 19 tournament earned him a call to the national One Day side. He made his ODI debut on April 25, 1990 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah during the Australasia Cup. The same year, he made his test debut against England.

Every cricketer's dream is to feature in the Cricket World Cup and Kumble, a veteran of several World Cups, will be remembered as a star performer for India. His most memorable tournament was the 1996 World Cup held in the Indian sub-continent. Kumble ended the tournament as the highest wicket taker, bagging 15 wickets in all. The 10th match of the tournament saw Kumble at his best when India played against West Indies. The spinner rattled the West Indian middle order, bowling out three batsmen which included the wicket of dangerous all rounder Roland Holder for a golden duck. Kumble almost replicated the feat against Kenya when he crippled the last hope of the African nation by taking the wickets of Hitesh Modi and Thomas Odoyo in quick succession.

Kumble took part in the 2003 and 2007 editions as well and made his presence felt especially in the former tournament. He retired from ODIs after India's dismal outing in the 2007 World Cup hosted by West Indies.

Apart from his incredible performances in the World Cups, Kumble's list of achievements in his highly successful cricketing career is staggering. His 10-wicket haul in a test match inning against Pakistan in Delhi in February 1999 is perhaps the most memorable of them all. He is the only player, other than England's Jim Laker, to achieve this feat. Kumble was also a successful Test captain for India from November 2007 to 2008. He announced his retirement from international cricket on November 2, 2008 after representing India for 18 years.

ANIL KUMBLE

KARNATAKA STATE

The criteria for formation of Indian States is language [and of course politicians these days!]. India became a Republic in the year 1950 and in same year linguistic provinces were formed. The state of Mysore is one such state in south India.

The state of Mysore was created taking into fold various parts of the region, which were ruled by kings. Several districts in, now called North Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka were dissolved in the new state. The new state was named after Mysore, which by itself was a princely state.

People of North and Hyderabad area did not accept the name Mysore. People of this region were demanding a change in the name. After prolonged debate the name of the state was changed to Karnataka on November 1, 1973.

Late Devaraj Urs the then Chief Minister of state took this landmark decision. Officially the new state was born on Nov. 1 and on this day every year birthday of the state is celebrated. This is popularly called as Kannada Rajyotsava or Karnataka Rajyotsava. Rajyotsava means "birth of a state".

KARNATAK STATE DISTICTS

1. Bangalore Urban
2. Bangalore Rural
3. Bagalakot 
4. Belgaum
5. Bellary 
6. Bidar 
7. Bijapur  
8. Chamarajanagar  
9. Chikballapur 
10. Chikkamaglur  
11. Chitiradurga 
12. Davanagere  
13. Dharwad
14. Gulbarga 
15. Gadag  
16. Hassan  
17. Haveri  
18. Kolar  
19. Koppal  
20. Mandya  
21. Mangalore 
22. Mysore 
23. Raichur  
24. Ramanagram 
25. Shimoga 
26. Tumkur 
27. Udupi  
28. Uttara Kannada
29. Chikkodi
30. Yadgir

MAP OF KARNATAKA

Karnataka Tourism places

Karnataka is one of the four southern states of India. Bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west, it is surrounded by Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu andKerala. The state has three main regions: the coastal plains abutting the sea; theWestern Ghats running parallel to the coastline; and the inland plains of the Deccan Plateau. One of the most industrialised states in India, Karnataka also produces 90% of India's gold, almost 60% of its coffee and a significant amount of raw silk and sandalwood products.

Bangalore (now called Bengaluru) in southeast Karnataka is the capital as well as the biggest city. Bangalore has more than 50% of software companies in the country based in it and is called the Silicon Valley of India. It is also famous for its pubs and gardens and has a pleasant climate through the year. South of Bangalore is the city of Mysore, the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyar kings. The festival of Dussehra, with caparisoned-elephant processions being its main attraction, is celebrated in October-November.

At Hampi in central Karnataka, are the ruins of the capital of one of South India's largest historical empires the Vijaynagar Empire (14^th-16^th century); the 16^th-cenuryVittala Temple is a World Heritage site. The towns of Belur and Halebid are in the south, famous for their 12^th-century temples built by the Hoysala dynasty.Sravanbelgola is also in south Karnataka and is host to probably the world's tallest monolithic statue a 17-m high image of a Jain deity built in the 10^th century. Thevillage of Badami in the north is famous for its ancient cave temples built between the 6^th and 8^th centuries.

Madikeri is the main town of the hilly tracts of southwestern Karnataka called theKodagu (Coorg) region. The area has a number of spice and coffee plantations and is good for trekking. Popular spots here are the Jog Falls and Kudremukh. Further south are the Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks.

The western coastline of the state along the Arabian Sea has a number of beach towns including Mangalore, Karwar, Gokarna, Malpe and Marwanthe.

KANNADA LANGUAGE

Kannada emerged as an independent language in the 9^th century. It is spoken by 65% of the population of Karnataka. Kannada is almost as old as Tamil, the truest of the Dravidian family. Initially the area of the Kannada speech extended much further to the north than present Karnataka, but was pushed back by the Aryan Marathi.


¤ The Kannada Literature
The early (pre 800AD) bits and pieces of Kannada literature are insufficient to lay claims to the literature’s origins. The oldest extant book is king Nripatunga’s literary critique Kavi Raja Marga (circa 840). Jainism being a popular religion at the time, there were some Jaina poets like Srivijaya and Guna Varman I. 
A new trend began with the ‘Three Gems’ of Kannada literature, Pampa, Ponna and Ranna in the 10^th century, where prose and verse were mixed – the campu style. The three poets extensively wrote on episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and Jain legends and biographies. Chavunda Raya, Ranna’s elder contemporary then came up with an elaborate work – a history of all the 24 Jaina tirthankaras (saintly teachers). The Chola kings of Tamil-land got too aggressive around the 11^th century and fought wars.
This meant a lean phase in literary activities except for the works of a few writers like Naga Chandra, known for his Jain Ramayana, the Jain poetess Kanti, the grammarian Naga Varman II who wrote Karnataka Bhasha Bhushana in Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms), and Kirtti Varman and Vritta Vilasa.

¤ The middle phase--(1150-1800AD)
The middle phase of Kannada literature (1150-1800AD) saw the power of Puranic Hinduism over Jainism. A very distinct phase of writing began the second half of the 12^th century in the Vira-Shaiva phase with Basava’s Vachanas.
There was a spate of writers like Harihara, Raghavanka and Kereya Padmarasa writing fervently about Shiva in the 12^th-13^th centuries.
Rebellion against the orthodox rituals came from the brilliant poetess Akkamahadevi, a harbinger of Bhakti poetry (see below). 
The Jains, too, weren’t idle all this while; they composed legendary histories of various tirthankaras (ford makers). In all, the 13^th century was chock-full with poems, literary criticism, grammar, natural science and translations from Sanskrit.

¤ Kannada literature Has Strong Hindu Influence
Kannada literature took a strong Hindu bend with the orthodox Vijayanagara kings (14^th-15^th AD). Some eminent names were Bhima Kavi, Padmanaka, Mallanarya, Singiraja and Chamarasa. The Bhakti movement also affected Kannada literature in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. The Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas were translated afresh using the folk meters satpadi and regale. Devotional songs of dasas or singing mendicants were compiled, which formed an important part of popular literature.

¤ The Change of Language From Middle To Modern Kannada
The next two centuries were a busy period with many rules, of the Wodeyar kings, Bijapur Sultans and Mughals, and much literary activity.
Bhattakalanka Deva’s Karnataka Shabdaushasana (1604AD) on grammar, Sakdakshara Deva’s romantic campu the Rajshekhara Vilasa (1657AD), the historical compositions of the Wodeyar period (1650-1713AD), Nijaguna Yogi’s Viveka Chintamani of Shaiva lore (mid 17^th century), Nanja Raja’s Puranic works the Shiva Bhakti Mahatmya and Hari Vamsa (circa 1760), were some of the notable creations.
All this while the language was changing from Middle to Modern Kannada. The popular Yakshagana, dramatization of Puranic tales with much singing, was an innovation of the late 18^th century. A good mass of folk poetry thus came to be written.

Modern education made a late entry in Karnataka as compared to other parts of India. Works based on Sanskrit models, like Shakuntala of Basavappa Shastri, continued till the late 19^th century. With a little initiation from the Christian missionaries, the Academy of Kannada Literature was set up in Bangalore in 1914.

Gradually modern literature gained tempo and translations were made from English, Bengali and Marathi. Kerur and Galaganatha attempted the first novels in Kannada, followed by a host of novelists like Shivarama Karanta, K. V. Puttapa, G P Rajaratnam, Basavaraja Kattimani, Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba (the first major woman writer in modern Kannada) and others.

The short story too made its advent with Panje Mangesha Rao and Masti Venkatesha Ayyangar. A new trend in drama began with the use of colloquial language. Poetry, too, wasn’t left behind; B. M. Shrikanthayya too Kannada poetry to great heights with innovations like the blank verse.

Literature in Kannada today is a big enterprise, with bustling centres like the University of Mysore, the Karnataka University at Dharwar and the Kannada Sahitya Parishad of Mysore.

KARNATAKA HISTORY

History of Karnataka

In ancient times, Karnataka was called Karunadu, literally meaning elevated land. 

¤ The Early KarnatakaThe evidence of Maurayan dynasty in Karnataka is the Ashoka's rock edicts found in the state. The great Chandragupta Maurya ruled the state and adopted Jainism at Shravanabelagola. After him many other dynasties like the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagars ruled it. These dynasties added value to the cultural and spiritual value of the state.

At Aihole in Karanataka, the Chalukyas constructed the early Hindu temples in India. These temples are regarded as the architectural wonders. Similarly, the Hoysala's who ruled from the 11th to the 13th century, built more than 150 temples having excellent architecture. 

¤ Karnataka Under Vijayanagar Empire 
The most celebrated dynasty that ruled Karnataka is the Vijayanagar dynasty. The Vijyanagar kings were the greatest of all medieval Hindu empires and were lovers of fine arts. They have contributed a lot to the culture and traditions of the state. Many foreign visitors who came to this place during this period have described it as one of the most prosperous states.

¤ The Fall of Vijayanagar Empire 
The grand Vijayanagar dynasty disintegrated with its capital at Hampi after the attack of the Deccan Sultan in 1565 A.D. Therefore, Bijapur was established as the capital and many monuments were build around the city. It was ruled by the Bahmani Shahis and the Adilshahis, who have contributed a lot to the architecture, art and the spread of Islam in the state.

¤ The Muslim Domination and The British Control
Later, the state was ruled by Hyder Ali and his brave son Tipu Sultan. They were responsible for the expansion of the Mysore kingdom. Tipu was a great scholar and lover of literature. He was a good administrator and offered expensive gifts to the Hindu temples. Tipu Sultan was also known as "Tiger of Karnataka", since he fought bravely with the British and never allowed them to overpower Mysore . He was killed in 1799 A.D. and thus the throne of Mysore went into the hands of Wodeyar's. In the beginning of the 19th century, entire Karnataka came under the control of the British.

¤ Karnataka Post-Independence
After India's Independence, the state of Mysore was governed by the Maharaja of Mysore, who was appointed by Independent India. But later, on November 1, 1973, the integrated state was renamed as Karnataka.

dharawada temple list

SOMESHWARATEMPLE	Someshwara Temple: is one of the oldest temples just outskirts of Dharwad built in 12th century by Chalukyas, near SDM college.The temple has statues of MahishaMardini , Chaturbhuja Ganapati .Da Ra Bendre in one of poems said "Banthanna sanna somavara kanabekanna Someshwara ". River Shalmala takes birth near by but she flows under ground. Someshwara is a beautiful place with surrounding hills and trees and pond.
MURUGHA MATH	Murugha Math: This is situated on Savadatti Road. The great Sant Mrityunjaya who was the head the math, fed hundreds of students who came from villages to study @ schools and colleges of Dharwad. Lord Mahantappa passed away in 1994 and now lord Shivayogiappa has taken over the deeksha of the math. Every Monday there will be lectures / music conducted in the premises of the math.
SHANKARA-MATHA	Shankara Matha: is located near JSS college off of NH4. Its architecture is new comprising tiles and ceramic statues, grass lawns. It has big peaceful meditation hall ,between the two "gopuras" as you can see in the picture.
DATTATREYA TEMPLE	Dattatreya Temple: The God with four heads representing 4 vedas.Usually called as Dattana Gidu,Situated in Gandhi Chawk.
The Vittal Mandir : Also known as 'Vithoba devara gudi'. Constructed in 1796 by the Maratha rulers.	Vanavasi Rama Mandira: It is Temple of famous God Sri Rama Along with Sita,Laxmana & Hanuman,Situatated in Malamaddi.
Temple of Milaralinga: This temple is situated behind J.S.S College. It is one of famous temple in Dharwad built in 12th century. The building was built in style of Chalukya's architecture. However its been renovated. There is a saying that long ago Adilshahi's converted it as a mosque and again Pashwe's reconverted as Temple (The Persian stone writing, which said so is missing now). Is also called as "Milaralinga Gudda" because it's up on Hill. Out side of this temple there is a damaged Chlukya's "Shivalinga". Inside the temple there are beautifully carved stone pillars and 'garbha gudi' has idol of Chaturbhuja (having four arms) Milara holding Dhamaru, Trishul, Khadga and Kapala. Besides this idol there are sculptures of dog, Horse etc. AT the center of four pillars, there is statue of Nandi and roof has beautiful design of lotus ( Kamala).The statue of temple is so situated that first sunrays touch the statue , before daylight breaks over rest of Dharwad. There are Dargas right infront of temple, Peer Anwarsha and Moonawarsha ,and every year in the month of Rajjab , Uruus takes place.	Ulavi Basappana temple : Chennabasavanna and his team (desciples of Lord Basaveshwara) fled from the hostile Kalyana. On their way to the forests of ulavi they rested here. It is a big stone temple with 63 mantaps constructed by the saints of Shaiva cult. A Mela (Jatri) in August every year (Shravana Masa) celebrates the occasion. A group of people wearing colorful dresses dance in the streets of Dharwad every Monday during 'Shravana Masa' Sri Raghavendra swami Matha Nuggikari hanumata devara Gudi Ganapati Temple: A small temple of Ganapati or vighneshwara situated in KCD circle
Durgadevi Temple : A temple of the Goddess Durga. Situated near the Corporation building.There is a heavy round stone in the temple. A belief among young svhool going kids "if you lift the stone and place it back without making sound, you will pass in the exam". Its true , it worked for me	Laxmi-Narayana Temple: Situated in Javali Peth in the center of Dharwad. Two beautiful marbal idols of Laxmi and Narayana are decorated everyday and even more specially during the month of the Dasera festival for 10 days. These idols are dressed according to the various mythological stories. A big mela for 10 days.
Shri Shri Kumar Swami	Tapovan: This is the temple near University. A great learned Saint callled Kumaraswami established it. People from all over the country came here to listen to his lectures. Since his death last year his follwers are maintaining it. Formarly this math was called Navakalyana math in the city and then it got shifted to Tapovan. The Photographs are provided by Josip-Akshay Valcicak -from Croatia.
	Renuka (Yellamma) Devi-TempleThis is a well-known temple in North Karnataka visited by pilgrims mainly from Karnataka, Maharashtra & AndhraPradesh. Yellamma temple is situated atop hill, near Soundatti in Belgaum district. The number of devotees visiting the temple is estimated to be around 30 lakhs, their number is the highest on Bharat Hunnime day. Several other famous temples situated at this holy place include Sri Jamadhagnishwar Temple, Sri Parashuram Temple, Yekhanath Joghinath temple, Ganesh temple & Sri Aanjaneya temple.