Belgaum city has been the divisional as well as district headquarters since long the city is located at a distance of 502 kms.  from Bangalore.

Belgaum city has been the divisional as well as district headquarters since long the city is located at a distance of 502 kms.  from Bangalore. The place is almost equidistance from Mumbai and Bangalore. The city is on National Highway No. 4 and directly approachable from Bangalore by Rails it is important station between Bangalore and Miraj. There is also an Airport at Sambra about 12 kms. east of Belgaum.

            The name Belgaum is originated from Velugrama or Ikhsugrama. The earliest mention of this is made in the Nesari Plates of 805 AD. The archaeological inscriptions under A Sunder in the Vadgaon - Madhavapura area reveal a properous town of the Satavanhana times. Chalukyas and Rastrakutas administrated the territory. Later on Kadambas of Goa and Rattas ruled Belgaum. It was made the capital city under the Rattas. Afterwards Yadavas of Devagiri and Vijayanagar rulers governed the city.

In 1472 AD Bahamanis conquered Belgaum. The Adilshahis of Bijapur captured it in 1489. Asad khan a noble of Bijapur, who ruled Belgaum from 1511 to 1540. His tomb is in the city area. In about 1550, Sherkhan a Bijapur coommander built the present town Shahapur, originally called shahpet. Shivaji, the Maratha ruler in 1673 invaded Belgaum.

When the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb defeated the kingdom of Bijapur. He transferred Belgaum to the Nawab of Savanur. In 1756, Belgaum was conquered by the Marathas. It was under the Maratha until it was occupied by the British in March-April 1818. The British made it

the headquarters of a Sarkar (District) with 15 paraganas (Talukas) in 1838.

The British experienced the heat and chill of the 1875 Revolt in Belgaum also. A leaders of the Revolt was sentenced to death at the Military Dairy. He was Nargund Bhaskar Rao alias Babasaheb. His ' Samadhi' is located at the Military Dairy.

Foreigners have left behind their indelible impressions of Belgaum. Ralf Fitch(1583) calls the place " The first town between Bijapur and Goa ". Geographer Ogliby (1680) remarks as one of the four eminent castles in Konkan. Italian traveller (1695) calls it a populous city and a place of much trade with a large market.

Belgaum was one of the five military stations that were established in the Old Bombay Presidency. In 1878, it was made the headquarters of the Southern Division under the Bombay Presidency.

During the national movement Belgaum hosted the 1924 annual Congress section. Presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. It assumes greater importance. It was the one and only congress session held in Karnataka as well as presided by Mahatma Gandhi.

Interesting Monuments and Places:
Fort: The Belgaum Fort is located near NWKRTC Bus stand. AT the entrance, there are two shrines, Ganapati and Durga. The fort is encircled by a moat. There are two Jinalayas in later Chalukya style. One of them is Kamal Basti. This Jain Temple was built in 1204 AD by Bichirja, a minister of Kartavirya IV of the Ralta Dynasty. The Sanctum Hill has the seated idol of Neminath. The temple has Kadamba Nagara Shikara. The other Jinalaya is almost a ruined one.

 Kapeleshwar  Temple : The temple appears to be the oldest as the 1204 AD Kamal basti inscription makes amention of this and is renovated now. This being a shiva Temple has flat peetha with Shivalinga. The annual jatra is held during Shivaratri .

 Safa Masjid:  The Moqsue is located inside the Fort. It is built in typical Mughal and Deccani styles with minars, domes and arches. Outside the mosque, to the right is an underground passage believed to lead to Yellurgad. This mosque in all has three entrances to the Jamia Hall with arches having floral and calligraphic designs.

 St. Mary's Church: The church in the camp was built in 1869. Reverend Francis Gell designed the building. This imposing stone church of the Anglicans has fine pillars in the prayer hall and gorgeous stained glasses at its doors and windows. The paintings on the inner walls have pleasant colour combinations and reflect biblical episodes. In front of the West Porch almost at the meeting of the four chief cantonment roads, stands a lofty memorial cross raised in memory of the 64th Regiment coldies who fell in the 1857 Revolt.

 Sri Naganuru Math:  The math was setup in 17th century AD The Belgaum math is a branch of it. It is located at Nehru nagar. The Veerasaiva Lingayat Library founded by Sri Siddharam Swamiji has very rare collections of manuscrpts. The Library is indespinsible for Research Scholars in Veerashiva Studies.

 KLES Hospital:  Karnataka Lingayat Education Society has setup a full-fledged Hospital. The hospital is a 1000 bedded multi-speciality teaching hospital with high-tech facilities. The hospital also has Mobile ICU. The excellent maternity services with a dedicated Child Development Unit is another feature.

Kittur Rani Channamma and Sangali Rayanna   The attractive Icons of freedom fighters Kittur Channamma who was the first women of India to fight against British Govt. and her listinent Sagoli Rayanna are located at the Prime places of cities.  

Education Centres:  The city has many reputed educational institutions. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Gogte Insitute of Technology, KLE's College of Engineering and Technology, Raja Lakhamgouda College of Law, Lingaraj College for Arts and Commerce are major centres of Higher Education.

Belgaum school for the Blind and KLE's School of Agriculture are very special institutes with a rare noble cause. the city has a large well built stadium.  

Industries:  The city has a multinational Aluminum Factory. The factory has recently been taken over by the Birla Group of Industries. Gogte Textile is another major Industry. Few minor industries like knitting, forging are functioning.  

Local System of Governance:  The city has been administered by an elected corporation. Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, Congress, Janata Dal, B.J.P. and Shivsena are the major political parties. The election for the corporation is held after every five years.  

Literature:  Famous research scholar Dr. Shamba Joshi was from Belgaum district. His works Karnataka Veera Shatrij Karnataka Nudiya Halter. Won him Kendra Sahitya Academy Award.

Dr. Bitagiri Krishna Sharma, Dr. Basvaraj Katimani, Dr.D.S. Karke, Dr. S.D. Inchal, Dr. A.N.Upadhya, Dr. C. Nadimatt, Dr. Mirgi Annary where few among the very famous laureates.

The District Headquarters, Belgaum is picture of contrasts. One side is the old town area where the cotton and silk weavers still create magic with their fingers. And on the other - the modern, bustling, tree-lined Cantonment built by the British.

In the heart of Belgaum, near the bus terminus is the Fort. At the entrance are  two shrines. One devoted to Ganapathi and another to Durga.

Inside the Fort are two basts in the Late Chalukyan styles. Of these, the more famous us the Kamala Basti, built in 1204.

Come out of the Kamala basti and you will find another ruined Jain Temple to its right. Co-existing harmoniously with these temples are two ancient mosques the Safa Masjid and the Jamia Masjid.

Near the 16th century Jamia Masjid is a dargah of Khanjar wali. Step out of the Fort and you have a wide choice of temples and churches to visit. 

The Kapileshwar Temple - said to be the oldest, the Anathashayana Temple, the Maruti Temple and the temples of Shiva, Vithoba, Dyamavva aand Military Mahadeva.

Belgaum also has some very impressive churches. St. Mary's Church, St. Xavier's Church (the oldest), St. Anthony's Church, the Cathedral of Our lady and the Methodist church.

No story of Belgaum is complete without a mention of Kittur Rani Chennamma. One of India's first freedom fighters, the queen's heroic resistance is still commemorated locally in song and story. Her statue stands sentinel over Belgaum at prominent square. Another historical site is the Pampa Sarovara. Built specially for the 1924  All India Congres Session which was presided by Mahatma Gandhi.

Belgaum  also has some well laid-out parks. The Sambhaji Udyan, the Nath Pai Park and the Shivaji Udyan. Perfect places to relax. Put your feet up. And let your imagination soar free.

Languages Spoken:  Kannada. Hindi. English. Marathi.

Local Food Speciality: "Kunda"-a delicious sweet.

When To go there:  Belgaum enjoys  a pleasant and agreeable climate almost all through the year. If you're  visiting Belgaum between November and February, carry some light woolens.

How to go there:

Air : Belgaum has an airport.

Rail : Belgaum is connected by rail to Bangalore (via Londa), Bombay (via Miraj), Vasco da Gama.

Road : Belgaum is connected by road to most places in south and west