Joida

Joida is located at 15.160532°N 74.4804383°E / 15.160532; 74.4804383.[2] It has an average elevation of 532 metres (1745.4), and is situated in the Western Ghats. Joida is covered by 87% of dense forest. It is located around 412.1 kilometer away from the state capital Bengaluru and 90 km from district capital Karwar. River Kali begins at a place near Joida called "Kushavali" and the river spread over 162 km in Joida and flows through all four dams (Supa, Bomnalli, Kodasalli and Kadra). Uttarakannada's highest hill called "Terali Betta" is in Joida its 1048 meter tall.[1][2]

As of 2011 India census, Joida had a population of 3452 within town limits. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% (1687 males and 1765 females). Joida has an average literacy rate of 82.10%, which is much higher than the national average of 74.05% and state average 75.36%: male literacy is 90.21% and female literacy is 74.24%. In Joida population of children with age 0-6 is 401 which makes up 11.62% of total population.[3]

The official language of Joida is Kannada.[4] The main languages spoken are Konkani. Marathi and Urdu are spoken by minority of the population. Joida people use Kannada, Konkani, Hindi and English language for communication.[2]

There is a substantial amount of Chardo families in this area as they had migrated due to the persecution of the Portuguese in Goa.

• Syntheri Rock : A 300 foot tall monolithic granite monolith located deep within the thick Dandeli Wild Life Sanctuary, with the river Kaneri gushing ferociously by its side, the syntheri rock makes a splendid sight. The effect of erosion is clearly seen on this rock, with hollows all over. Innumerable nooks and crannies are home to thousands of pigeons, along with the hives of rock bees hanging alongside, all of which is clearly visible from the Kali wilderness camp across the river. And all it takes in an hour long jeep ride followed by a short walk through the scenic jungle, to reach this incredibly beautiful work of nature.
• Kavala Caves : About 28 km from Dandeli near Ambika Nagar are located the Kavala Caves, on the ridge of a tall hill amidst a captivating forest backdrop. At the centre of the hall in a huge shivalinga-like formation, more than 1 meter in height. It is the outcome of the combination of stalactite and stalagmite, which has resulted in an upward growing conical formation of the floor, formed due to the dripping from the roof or from a ferro stalactite hang resembling icicles.
• Ulvi : About 90 km from Karwar and 42 km from Dandeli, Ulvi is an ancient veerashaiva centre and a place of pilgrimage. The name is mentioned differently-Uli or Ulive means to say hide oneself. At Ulvi, the Gaddige of Channabasavanna is found in a huge temple which was originally built in the kalyana chalukyan style, and was later renovated by the Sonda chiefs.[7]
• Anashi National Park : Anashi pass is in the Sahyadri Range (Western Ghats) 40 km northeast of Karwar. From Kadra to Anashi is a 10 km of steep ghat section, through thick forest. Motoring through the ghat is an experience in itself with thick jungle, number of big and small water falls which are feast to the eyes. Wild life is abound in the area.[8]

Rice, Wheat, Jowar, Maize, Pulses, Oilseeds, Cashews, coconut, arecanut, cardamom, chillies, cotton, sugarcane and tobacco are the major crops that are cultivated mostly in the area.[9]

Ugadi, Dasara, Makara Snakranthi, Tula Sankramana, Deepavali, Eid al-Adha, Muharram, Eid al-Fitr are the major festivals celebrated in Joida.

Uttara Kannada district was a part of Bombay Presidency during the British rule. Before reorganization of the States, the district was in Bombay State.[10] 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.[10]

The Kali News is one of the major local newspapers in the region.

Prof H S Chandrashekar is the Principal of the Government Polytechnic situated here. This Polytechnic has a good infrastructure & students come from various parts of the District to study here.

• Karwar
• Mangalore
• Belgaum

• Joida Taluk
• Supa Dam
• Joida College
• Government Polytechnic Joida
• Shree gavaladevi temple