Karwar

Karwar
City
Beach at Karwar
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Uttara Kannada
Government
• Commissioner	Shri Ujwal Kumar Ghosh
• MLA	Roopali Naik
Area
• Total	27.9 km2 (10.8 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
• Total	1,51,739
• Density	5,563.18/km2 (14,408.6/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	581301
Telephone code	91-8382-XXX XXX
Vehicle registration	KA-30
Website	www.karwarcity.gov.in

Karwar (formerly Carwar) is a city in Uttara Kannada district in the South Indian state of Karnataka and the administrative centre of Uttara Kannada district. Karwar lies on the west coast of Southern India at the mouth of the Kali river. Its geography creates a natural harbour with protection against monsoon weather. Being a port town, Karwar is a centre for agriculture, some manufacturing and tourism. It is situated between Sahyadri ever green forest in east, blue Arabian Sea to the west, towards south ends with harbour and North the beautiful Kali river. It is one of the green city of India with eco tourism. Hills has created a natural harbour with protection against wind and sea tides naturally. Being a port town, Karwar is a centre for fish business, agriculture, known for manufacturing of golden ornaments in Karwarian style and under developed tourism. It has a population of about 77139 . Karwar was part of the Bombay Presidency until 1956. Karwar is known as Kashmir of Karnataka by Rabindranath Tagore, Kuvempu and D. R. Bendre. Tagore wrote his first Drama on Karwar beach. Notable people include Rama Raghoba Rane, Former Chief Justice of India Justice D. G. Palekar and spiritual guru Shri Padmanabh Maharaj.

Etymology

Karwar derived its name from the nearby village of Kadwad (Kade Wada, the last wado). Kade means last and wado means precinct or area in Konkani. Before Indian independence, the name Karwar was spelt Carwar.^[2] The name Baithkhol, is an Arabic term. Bait-e-kol, means bay of safety. This is in the Indian History for the Port wherein the paper will be exported from this Kadewad port and after the fighting with the Veer Henja Naik,(1803) the port activity is shifted to the Baithkol and the port of Kadwad is isolated and Kurmagad Fort is activated by the portugise.

History

Kali River and Sadashivgad fort as seen from Nandangadda village

Kali river bridge, Karwar, Karnataka

Leisure boats on Kali River

Kot Siveshvar, another fortress, was built near Karwar (in Siveshvar village) by the Sultan of Bijapur to counterattacks from the north. At the ruins of Fort Siveshvar are a Muslim graveyard and a tunnel at the eastern gate.

Portuguese traders knew Karwar as Cintacora, Chitrakul, Chittakula or Sindpur. In 1510, the Portuguese captured and burnt a fort at Karwar. They called it Fort Pir, Forte de Piro or Pito due to the presence of a Muslim Dargah (tomb of a Sufi saint, Shahkaramuddin). In the 17th century, refugees from Portuguese rule in Goa moved to Karwar.

In 1638 the English trading Courteen Association established a factory at Kadwad village, 6 km east of Karwar and traded with merchants from Arabia and Africa. The common commodities were muslin, black pepper, cardamom, cassier and coarse blue cotton cloth. In 1649 the Courteen Association merged with the British East India Company, and Karwar became a company town.

The East India Company built fighting ships in the Karwar harbour. For example, the Britannia (1715) which had 18 guns was built to defend Bombay from attacks by Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre.^[3]

In the 1700s Karwar was part of the Maratha Empire. In 1784, at the time of the Treaty of Mangalore between Tipu Sultan and the East India Company, Karwar and Sadashivgad were spelt Carwar and Sadasewgude, respectively.^[4] After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Karwar fell to the British.

The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who visited Karwar in 1882, dedicated a chapter of his memoirs to this town.^[5] At 22 years, Tagore stayed with his second brother, Satyendranath Tagore, who was a district judge in Karwar.

From 1862 to the re-organisation of the states, Uttara Kannada district was part of the Bombay Presidency. During this time, major public works carried out included improvement of roads, building of a wharf, wharf road and a sea wall at the Karwar port as well as the construction of a multi-floor storage building, staff housing, a post office, kutcheri (kutcherries or zamindar's offices) and a Christian burial ground.^[6]

At the same time, the local Konkani-speaking people had close connections with Mumbai. Many Marathi middle schools were established in the Karwar and Joida taluks. Marathi films were released in Karwar. The visit of Marathi drama troupes from Mumbai and Pune was an annual feature.

During World War II Karwar was an Indian Naval training site.^[7]:172

The local unit of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) at Sadashivagad and its leaders including Vishnu Kalgutkar and Shivanand Rane joined the GSKEM and said they would dissolve the MES unit and fight for a merger of Karwar and Joida in Goa.

Karwar Town was built by British in the year 1857 after the Mutiny. Kawar is also known as 'Kashmir of Karnataka'. There is only Karwar Market [i:e Karwar city], Habbuwada, Kajubag, Kone village, Baad Village, Kodibag, Kathinkon and Sunkeri village, Binga village. Earlier to 1857 there was no existence of Karwar city. Before that Honnavar was District Head of Canara District consisting up to Mangalore to Kodibag Karwar- till Kali river. After that another bank towards northern bank the rule of Sadhashiv Nayak and Marahta province. After the mutiny of 1857 British have made division of Canara District into two parts as South Kanara [Dakshin Kannada] with headquarters at Mangalore attached to Madras Province and North Kanara [Uttar Kannada] with headquarters at Karwar newly built town which attached to Bombay province. It is one of the well planned city like Goa, Mumbai, Dharwad, Bangalore. After the rule of Indian Government from 1947 the Karwar is totally neglected by politically and kept the Karwar as it is. Kot Siveshvar, another fortress, was built near Karwar (in Siveshvar village) by the Sultan of Bijapur to counterattacks from the north. At the ruins of Fort Siveshvar are a Muslim graveyard and a tunnel at the eastern gate.

Marathas: Having marched from Bednore in the south, visiting on his way the sacred temple at Gokarna, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj seized Ankola and the next day came to Karwar (then known as Kadwad).[1] Both the East India Company and Sher Shah, the sardar of Bijapur, were very much alarmed at this sudden development. They collected huge amount and offering it to Shivaji, prayed that they may be spared. Satisfied at the recognition of his authority, Shivaji crossed the Kali River and conquered Sadashivgad on 21st Feb 1665;

The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who visited Karwar in 1882, dedicated a chapter of his memoirs to this town.^[5] At 22 years, Tagore stayed with his second brother, Satyendranath Tagore, a district judge in Karwar who was also India's first ICS . Satyanedranath Tagore lived here with his erudite wife Jnanadanandini Devi and their two children, son Surendranath (1872- 1940) and daughter Indira Devi Chaudhurani (1973- 1960) were born here. Rabindranath also spent few months in Karwar with his newly married wife Mrinalini Devi in 1883.

From 1862 to the re-organisation of the states, Uttara Kannada district was part of the Bombay Presidency. During this time, major public works carried out included improvement of roads, building of a wharf, wharf road and a sea wall at the Karwar port as well as the construction of a multi-floor storage building, staff housing, a post office, kutcheri (kutcherries or zamindar's offices) and a Christian burial ground.^[6]

Famous temple in karwar is: Shri Kshetra Baad Math, Karwar Gurumath,

Shri Kshetra Gurumath is a pilgrim institution that was established in 1906. This spiritual centre was set up by Shrimath Paramahamsa Padmanabhteerth in the Sahyadri Hills, where visitors can view the Kali river meeting the Arabian Sea. Otherwise called the Shri Kshetra Baad Math, the centre was established with the aim of spreading knowledge about vedantic subjects among the masses. It should be visited by those who are interested in learning about Shri Padmanabhateertha's teachings, such as thinking beyond the definition of 'concepts' and receiving good from everybody and anybody.

Geography

Local bird, Sturnia blythii. Karwar is rich in flora and fauna

Karwar is a seaside city on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. To the east are the Western Ghats. Karwar is situated on the banks of the Kali river (Kali nadi) which flows west to the Arabian sea from its headwaters at Bidi village in the Western Ghats. The Kali river has a length of about 153 km and is the main source of irrigation for Karnataka. Karwar is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the Karnataka - Goa border and 519 kilometres (322 mi) north-west of Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka.

Baitkhol port at Karwar is a natural harbour with land side hills and ocean side islands protecting it from cyclonic weather. The four fathom mark lies close to the shore. The tidal range is 1.2 to 2.5m.^[7]:172

Demographics

The total population in Karwar is 157,739 as of 2014 by Indian Government. Karwar had an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 74%: male literacy was 85%, and female literacy was 75%. In Karwar, 10% of the population were children under 6 years of age.

Border issues

Uttara Kannada district was originally been Kannada and konkani native land before Britishers came to India and then became part of Bombay Presidency during the British rule. Before reorganization of the States, the district was in Bombay State. The local Konkani-speaking people had close connections with Mumbai then. They had matrimonial relations also with the people in Bombay. Many Marathi-medium schools had also been established in Karwar and Joida taluks. Marathi films were released often in Karwar. The visit of Marathi drama troupes from Mumbai and Pune was an annual feature. However, Konkani-speaking people were disenchanted when Marathis began to claim that Konkani was a dialect of Marathi. They disputed it and asserted that Konkani had independent status as a language. It was the Konkani-speaking people led by late P.S. Kamat who argued before Mahajan Commission that Karwar was an integral part of Karnataka.

Religion

Karwar at dusk

Most people in Karwar are Hindu. Christianity was introduced to Karwar by the British and by the Portuguese in Goa in the 17th and 18th centuries. Muslim seafaring traders migrated to Karwar from the Deccan (Bahamani) kingdoms. Karwar was called Baithkol meaning the house of safety or "Bait-e-kol" meaning place of safety in Arabic. Muslim villages in Karwar include: Shiveshvar, Kadwad, Sunkeri, Chittakula, Sawar Pai and Hotegali. Islamic tradition holds that two brothers, descendants of Ali, the son in law of Mohammad, settled in Shiveshvar and made the village a place of Islamic learning. In Shiveshvar, there are three shrines dedicated to Muslim saints: Gaiby Pir, Nizam Pir and Shamshuddin pir-in Kot. Christianity was introduced to Karwar by the British and by the Portuguese When Ruling Goa in the 17th and 18th centuries. Portuguese Also Visited Karwar In Those Days.

Economy

Primary industry

Fishermen returning home at sunset, Devbagh, Karwar

Karwar is an agricultural region. The common crops are rice, groundnuts, green vegetables, onions, watermelons and flowers. Other primary industries include animal husbandry, sericulture, horticulture, beekeeping, gathering and lumbering and the growing of homeopathic medicinal plants.

The coastal location of Karwar lends to fishing and fisheries which are concentrated in Harikanth, Konkan Kharvis, Gabiths and Ambigas. The common types of fish are mackerel, sardines, hardheads and prawns. Fishing is done from land with nets or from boats such as pandy (motor launch) and dhoni (dug out canoes). There is also mechanised trawling. The brackish water of the Kali estuary is suitable for prawn farming.^[10]

Secondary industry

Muslin used in dress making

Members of the Daivadnya Brahmin caste are engaged in jewellery design, manufacturing and goldsmithing. Leather works are common. In Binaga township, a chemical company Aditya Birla Chemicals Division (earlier owned by Ballarpur Industries Ltd / Solaris Chemtech), manufactures caustic soda, lye flakes, liquid and powdered chlorine, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, kestra pipes and bromine.^[8]:246 Since 1638 when William Counten opened a mill, Karwar town has been a producer of fine muslin. Members of the Daivadnya Brahmin caste are engaged in jewellery design, manufacturing and goldsmithing. Leather works are common. In Binaga township, a chemical company Aditya Birla Chemicals Division (earlier owned by Ballarpur Industries Ltd / Solaris Chemtech), manufactures caustic soda, lye flakes, liquid and powdered chlorine, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, kestra pipes and bromine.^[8]:246 Since 1638 when William Counten opened a mill, Karwar town was a producer of fine muslin. In 1660 the factory was prosperous, exporting the finest muslins in Western India; the weaving country was inland to the east, at Hubli and other centres, where as many as 50,000 weavers were employed. Besides the great export of muslin, Karwar provided pepper, cardamoms, cassia, and coarse blue cotton cloth (dungan). I^[11]

Tertiary industry

At Kaiga, 50 kilometres (31 mi), the Nuclear Power Corporation of India operates a nuclear power plant. The Kadra hydroelectric power corporation (K. P. C.) operates a dam between Kadra and Mallapur townships, approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Karwar town.

Karwar Airport

The proposed Karwar Airport will be built by the Indian Navy at Alageri village^[12] near Ankola, in Karnataka. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will operate a civil enclave at the naval air base which is part of the Navy's Rs 10,000 crore Phase 2 of Project Seabird.

Konkan railway

Karwar railway station

The Konkan railway connects Karwar to most major towns and cities. Karwar has three railway stations: Karwar, Asnoti and Harwada. The nearest Goan station is Canacona, 36 km away. Madgaon station lies 68 km to the north.^[13]

INS Kadamba

Main article: INS Kadamba

The Indian Navy operates a naval base at a bay near Binaga township. It is the navy's third largest base. The base was founded as part of Project Seabird. Casurina beach near Binaga (now called Kamat Bay) and Arga beach were incorporated into naval property. The public has access to the base during Navy Week in December and in visiting educational groups. The naval base includes a civilian support community at Amadalli, a ship lift and an hospital. INS Kadamba is the homeport of India's largest aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

INS Vajrakosh

Main article: INS Vajrakosh

INS Vajrakosh, commissioned on 9 September 2015, is the latest establishment of the Indian Navy at Karwar which will serve as special storage facility for specialised armaments and missiles. INS Vajrakosh will have all the required infrastructure and will be manned by specialists to provide specialised servicing facilities for these sophisticated missiles and ammunition.^[14]

Port

Karwar beach looking towards Madlimgadh and Kurumgad Islands

Karwar port is located at Baithkol, Karwar Bay. Hills and coastal islands make the port a natural harbour, sheltered from the Arabian sea. The port which is operated by the Government of Karnataka, services the hinterland of northern Karnataka, Goa and southern Maharashtra.

The length of the port is 355 metres (388 yd). The quay has two berths, with a draft capacity of 9.25 metres (30.3 ft). Karwar port also berths coastal vessels and there is a jetty for fishing vessels.^[15] The Government of Karnataka has planned to develop Karwar port on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis to provide six additional berths, a container terminal, and a rail link to Shirwad railway station.

The port is able to handle all types of commodities, including "B" and "C" class petroleum products. There port has liquid storage tanks for bitumen, furnace oil, molasses, and HSD. A ban of iron ore mining and export in Karnataka state reduced congestion at the port. The port has arrangements for berthing coastal vessels, and a jetty for fishing boats.

In 2012 the Government of Karnataka carried out maintenance dredging in the port, the approach channel and the nearby anchorage. The port may be closed from 16 May to 15 September (the monsoon season).^[15] Part of the 2008 Hindi film Golmaal Returns was filmed at Karwar port.

Tourism

Rabindranath Tagore beach

Rabindranath Tagore Statue At the Beach

Tagore beach

"The sea beach of Karwar is certainly a fit place in which to realize that the beauty of Nature is not a mirage of the imagination, but reflects the joy of the Infinite and thus draws us to lose ourselves in it. Where the universe is expressing itself in the magic of its laws it may not be strange if we miss its infinitude; but where the heart gets into immediate touch with immensity in the beauty of the meanest of things, is any room left for argument?" - Rabindranath Tagore^[5]

Places of interest

Maritime museum at Tagore beach, Rabindranath

Sadashivgad Fort from the Kali River Bridge

Seaside

• Binaga beach
• Devbagh beach
• Kali bridge
• Karwar beach
• Kurumgad island
• Majali beach
• Oyster Rock Lighthouse, a round white masonry construction with red trim protects ships from the rocks of Devgad Island, the largest off the Kali Estuary.^[15]
• Tilmatti beach

Hinterland

• Anshi national park
• Chaitanya park
• Chendia and Nagarmadi falls (a small waterfall which passes under a large rock)
• Devkar falls
• Guddahalli peak
• Habbu mountain
• Hyder Ghat pass
• Mudgeri dam
• Shirve Ghat
• Makkeri

Historic sites

• Kot Shiveshvar
• Sadashivgad Fort
• Shahkaramuddin dargah, Sadashivgad (tomb of a Sufi saint)
• Maritime museum

Culture

Cuisine

Karwar is known for its seafood cuisine. Fish curry, with cashews, coconut and rice is a staple dish. Kawar curries use ginger and turmeric but not always garlic.^[16]

Kurle Ambat (crab masala), a local dish

Notable residents

• Rama Raghoba Rane, (1918 - 1994). The only Param Vir Chakra Award winner the Karnataka state.
• Jayshree Gadkar, a Marathi movie actress of the 1960s, born to a Konkani speaking family in Kanasgiri village near Sadashivgad.
• Indian Playback Singer In Bollywood Anuradha Paudwal She Was born in Karwar as 'Alka Nadakarni' in a Konkani Speaking Family and was brought up in Mumbai

Connectivity

• Karwar also have a fiber broadband and 3g network of BSNL network for fast internet.

Villages of Karwar

Karwar comprises the following blocks or villages:

Geographical orientation from Karwar

See also

• Sadashivgad
• Kali river
• Mangalore
• Uttara Kannada

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karwar.

• Karwar City Municipal Council
• Zilla panchayat Karwar