Kolar

Kolar is located at 13.13°N 78.13°E / 13.13; 78.13.[2] with an average elevation of 849 metres (2,785 ft).

It is located at a distance of about 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Bengaluru , 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Bangalore International Airport, 147 kilometres (91 mi) from Hogenakkal waterfalls & 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Kolar Gold Fields. The city is located on the southern maidan (plains) region of Karnataka. The Ammerallikere, a tank, forms its eastern boundary. To the north is the Kodikannur tank, the main source of water supply to the city. The nearest railway junction is Kolar. Kolar is having good road transportation than, Rail amenities. It is situated on the Bengaluru - Chennai National Highway-75.

Kolar is also The gateway for Tirumala and Chennai via National Highway 75

The Western Gangas sovereignty lasted from about 350 to 550 CE, initially ruled from Kolar as their Capital City. The founder of the Western Ganga dynasty was Konganivarman Madhava, who built Kolar as his capital around 350 and ruled for about twenty years. He succeeded by his son Madhava I. Kolar, the headquarters of the Kolar district, was earlier known as Kuvalalapura, also known as Kolahala Pura. Historically, Kolar is said to be associated with the epic age, which recalls many legends associated with Avani in Mulbagal Taluk, which was also called Avani Kshetra.

It was once known as Avantika- Kshetra, a sacred place in Kolar district in Karnataka State. It was famous for its religious establishments from ancient times. It was once known as Aavanya which was under the Ganga prince Madhava Muttarasa, who governed several districts. In about A.D 890, its earliest grant relates that Tribhuvana Kartara Deva, who held the title of Kali Yuga Rudra, ruled over the Avaniya Thana for 40 years. During this period he constructed 50 temples and two large tanks. Maharshi Valmiki, author of the epic Ramayana, lived here. The legend goes further to establish that Seetha Devi, after being sent to exile, gave birth to her twins Lava and Kusha at Avani. The Avani continued to survive as a religious establishment from the 9th to 11th centuries. There are temples dedicated to Lord Rama.

The hill to the west of Kolar, called the Shatasringa Parvata or 'Hundred-Peaked Mountain' is 'Antharagange', associated with the story of Parasurama and his fight with King Kartaviryarjuna over Surabhi, the divine cow. As the story goes, King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) and his army visited Jamadagni, Parasurama's father, when the king demanded the magical cow from Jamadagni. When Jamadagni refused, the King sent his soldiers to take the cow, but Parashurama killed the entire army and the king with his axe. In return, the princes beheaded Jamadagni. Thus, Parasurama took an oath to behead the entire Kshatriya race, which is said to have taken place on the hills. It is said that the 'kolahala' on the death of Kartaviryarjuna gave its name to the town, which later become Kolar. Kannada is widely spoken. Gangas built the temple of Sri Uttameshwara temple in Uttanur Mulbagal Talluk.

Antaragange is one of the tourist attractions Of Kolar. It is also known as "Dakshina Kashi Kshetra". In the temple is a pond which gets a continuous flow of underground water from the mouth of a Basava (stone bull).

The Member of Parliament is Muniswamy of the BJP. Srinivas Gowda is the local member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

As of the 2011 census, Kolar city municipality had a population of 183,462.[1] The municipality had a sex ratio of 978 females per 1,000 males and 11.5% of the population were under six years old.[1] Effective literacy was 84.02%; male literacy was 87.28% and female literacy was 80.69%.[1]

Kolar has transportation amenities such as Buses, Taxis, and Auto Rickshaws.

Kolar also has a local transportation facility " Antaragange Kolara Nagara Sarige" which was inaugurated in July 2012 but Govt has stopped this services and utilising these buses for rural areas.

The district headquarters has a railway station connecting two destinations:

1. Bangalore - Via Bangarpet

2. Bangalore - Via Srinivaspura, Chinthamani, Sidlaghatta, Chikkaballapura, Devanahalli, Yelahanka

Central Govt has proposed to construct new railway line between Kolar-Whitefield and Kolar-Mulbagal but both Govt must show interest in these projects which boosts up the industrial growth around the city.Bangarpet-Yelahanka via Kolar will be electrified which is sanctioned during Budget 2018–19.

• Bengaluru North University, Sri Devaraj Urs Extension, NH 75, Tamaka, Kolar-563103.
• Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College (SDUMC) - Next to Horticulture college, NH 75, Tamaka, Kolar-563103.

• Hyder Ali: Father of Tipu Sultan
• D. V. Gundappa – Kannada poet
• Masti Venkatesha Iyengar: Kannada poet and recipient of Jnanpith Award
• K. H. Muniyappa: Member of Parliament from Kolar
• A. N. Prahlada Rao highest Crossword writer in India
• K. C. Reddy : First Chief Minister of Karnataka, (then Mysore State)
• Soundarya, One of the most versatile actresses in Indian film industry was from Ganjiguntae Mulabaagilu taluk a few kilometres away from kolar.
• Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya – The architect of modern Karnataka and of the Brindavan Gardens.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kolar.

• City Official Website
• Go Plog! - A non-profit initiative started by Sumangali Noah to make Kolar plastic-free.