Kollegal

Kollegal
Maradi Gudda.
Nickname(s): Silk City
Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 12°09′14″N 77°06′03″E / 12.1539301°N 77.1009671°E / 12.1539301; 77.1009671Coordinates: 12°09′14″N 77°06′03″E / 12.1539301°N 77.1009671°E / 12.1539301; 77.1009671
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Chamarajanagara district
Founded by Kolava Muni, Galava Muni
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Municipal Council
Area
 • Total 27.47 km2 (10.61 sq mi)
Elevation 587 m (1,926 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 57,149
 • Density 1,915.07/km2 (4,960.0/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 571 440
Telephone code 08224
Vehicle registration KA-10
Website www.kollegalacity.mrc.gov.in
BSNL office, Kollegal

Kollegala is one of the major taluks in the Chamrajnagar District of Karnataka State in the south of India. It is also the largest taluk in Karnataka, Kollegala is well known for its silk industry which attracts traders from all over the state.

History

Until 1956, Kollegala was part of the Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 moved Kollegala to Karnataka primarily organising it along linguistic lines. Kollegala is the name derived from the names of two hermits namely 'Kauhala' and 'Galava' who were believed to be instrumental in the development of Kollegala. Kollegala, also called "Silk City", is famous for its handloom silk saree industry. Kollegala is one of the larger taluks in Karnataka and was previously the largest. Plans are underway to divide Kollegala, making Hanur the capital of the new taluk in the Chamrajanagar District. This separation has been ongoing for years is not yet entirely in effect.

Kollegala serves as a center for pre-university education in the region. Well known schools in Kollegala include Lions High School, Sree Vasavi Vidya Kendra, St. Francis Assisi High School, Nisarga Independent PU college, Seventh Day Adventist High School, and Mudigundam Gurukaar Subappa Veerappa (MGSV), and Mahadeshwara Degree College.

Gajanuru of Kollegala Taluk is the hometown of Legendary Kannada thespian, the demigod of Karnataka, Dr.Rajkumar. Kollegala was one of the areas which played host to the activities of Veerappan, a notorious bandit who smuggled sandalwood and poached elephants for their tusks.

Nanjundeswara Temple

Many tourists visit the Kollegala area. The Malai Mahadeshwara Hills, and the waterfalls at Hogenakal near Male Mahadeshwara hills and the waterfalls of Gagana Chukki and Bhara Chukki at Shivana Samudra (also known as Bluff) are popular destinations. In Kollegala there is a small hill called "Maradi Gudda" which is located in the heart of the city. Gundal dam is just 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Kollegala. It also Includes BRT Tiger Reserve (2011) Which Approximately 25–30 km From The Town, Which Is A Home To Many Of The Fauna And Flora Including Mammals Like Tigers, Leopards, Indian elephant, Indian Guar, sloth bear etc.

Transportation

Kollegala is connected by two national highways:

  • NH 209 this starts from Bengaluru-Dindukal via Coimbatore, Kollegala
  • NH 212 this starts from Kollegala to Calicut, via Narasipura, Mysuru

The nearest railway stations are Chamarjanagar 38 km (24 mi) and Mysuru (MYS) 60 km (37 mi). The nearest airport is Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), 150 km (93 mi), Mandakalli airport (MYQ), 60 km (37 mi)and Coimbatore International Airport (CJB), 170 km (110 mi) away. Kollegala is the main junction where you can enter Salem, Coimbatore, Ooty, Kozhikode from Mysuru & Bengaluru. The Biligiri Rangana Betta (known as BR hills) is just 30 km (19 mi) away from the town. The K.Gudi (Kyathadevara Gudi) Wilderness camp run by the jungle lodges and resorts (a government of Karnataka undertaking) is near the B.R hills.

There are two bus routes from Bengaluru to Kollegala:

  • Bengaluru->Maddur->Malvalli->Kollegala (Via NH 275) Bengaluru Mysuru highway, take left diversion at Maduur after 80 km from Bengaluru
  • Bengaluru->Kanakapura->Halaguru->Malvalli->Kollegala (Via NH 209)

Karnataka government buses from Bengaluru ply from MCTC which is popularly known as Satellite bus terminal in Mysuru Road. Since the town was in Coimbatore district in the past, buses run between Coimbatore and Kollegal.

Geography

Kollegala is located at 12°09′N 77°07′E / 12.15°N 77.12°E / 12.15; 77.12.[1] It has an average elevation of 588 m (1,929 ft). Since the town is on the foothills of the Western Ghats, it is home to a mixed topography. Temperature is moderate.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census[2] Kollegala had a population of 57,149. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kollegala has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 64%. In Kollegala, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

People in Kollegala speak a variation of Kannada distinct from that spoken in Mysuru and Bengaluru. This dialect of Kannada at times suffixes da when spoken among friends. Kannada, as spoken in Kollegala, was used in the 2005 film Jogi starring Shivarajkumar.

College and Schools

MGSV Junior College, Kollegal

Lions School and PU college, Seventh Day Adventist English school, St. Francis Assisi School and PU college, RC mission, Sree Vasavi Vidya Kendra, Mahadeshwara College, JSS Women's College And College For Nursing are the oldest educational institutions in Kollegala offering best education. Manasa degree college and school and its PU college is a decade old private institution. Wisdom school is a recently opened private institution.

Location

See also

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Kollegal
  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 16 June 2004. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  • Kollegala Online Information Website
  • Kollegala Municipal Corporation Official Website
  • Kollegala Photos
  • Aiyappa, Manu (23 August 2013). "In Kollegal, the nights buzz with sorcery". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
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