Athani, Belagavi

Athani is a city in the Belagavi district of Karnataka, India. It is 140 kilometers from the city of Belagavi, 70 kilometers from Vijayapura, 55 kilometers from Miraj, 100 kilometers from Kolhapur, and 624 kilometers from Bengaluru.

The main profession here is agriculture, particularly sugarcane, jawar, and grapes. The river Krishna flows 110 km around the southern part of Athani Taluk. the city 18 km from river Krishna. It is famous for leather chappals. Athani is the oldest municipal town of Karnataka; it was established in 1853 according to the municipal act of 1850. The municipal council completed 160 years.

Transportation

Athani is connected to various places like Shedbal, Vijayapura, Miraj, Sangli, Chikkodi, Ugar, and Jamkhandi and the town has NWKRTC bus service. The nearest railway station is Ugar railway station which is 25 km from the city and Miraj junction 55 km from Athani. Belagavi and Kolhapur are the nearest airports. There are 24×7 buses for the cities Vijayapura and Belagavi.

There is a proposal for a new railway line between Vijayapura – Shedbal- Athani to connect Vijayapura with Belagavi. A survey of this 112.3-km new railway line is completed and submitted to the Railways .

The city is well connected by roads. The three state highways pass through the city: SH-12(Jewargi-Sankeshwar), SH-31(Jath-Jambothi), and SH-72 (Nippani-muhanddi). Four major roads pass through the city. the national highway (vijapur-sankeshwar) is sanctioned.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Athani had a population of 63,625 acc to the area 15 km² including adjacent two villages in it . Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Athani has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average, with 69% of the males and 79% of females literate. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Climate

Being situated in upper region of Belagavi district which lies in the elevated terrain of north-western Karnataka, Athani has a tropical climate. It is known for its moderately climate throughout the year. Athani receives rainfall from both the northeast and the southwest monsoons and the wettest months are June–September. It has a distinct normal climate in every season. extreme climate should not found here. June and August have a good deal of rainfall, while the winters have very little. The coldest month is December with an average low temperature of 25.3 °C and the hottest month is may with an average high temperature of 40 °C. Winter temperatures rarely drop up to 18 °C (54 °F), and summer temperatures seldom exceed 30–40 °C.The driest month is January, with 10 mm of rainfall.

Culture

The ancient temple of 500 years old, Amruthalingeshwar temple is the city.

Aigali husbandry fair is a noted fair in the region. Athani has produced many well-known Kannada poets and writers. Kannada is the main and spoken language, Marathi also spoken here.

History

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Battle of Athani is a Part of Maratha War of Independence Location Athani, Karnataka Results Decisive Maratha victory Belligerents Commanders and leaders Santaji Ghorpade of maratha & Kasim Khan of mughals.The Battle of Athani, was fought between Maratha Empire and Mughal Empire during the War of 27 years. Santaji Ghorpade defeated Kasim Khan, a noted Mughal general.

Athani Taluk

Athani Taluk is the largest taluk in a Belagavi district; it has a total area of 2070.54 km², 74% is cultivated. This includes 115 inhabited villages and hamlets with a rural population of 4,07,485 as per the 2011 census. The total population of taluk is 5,25,832 . The taluk is bounded by Sangli district of Maharashtra in the north, Vijayapura district in the east, and Krishna river in the south.it flows 110 km in the taluk.Geologically the area is covered by Deccan Trap formation. The average annual rainfall is 582 mm. The two rivers that flow here are Krishna and Agrani river. Agrani is beside the pandegao, shirur, ajur, sambargi, nagnur (p.a.), tawanshi, and kalloti.

The five largest towns of Athani Taluk (sorted in order of decreasing population) are Athani, Ugar, Ainapur, Kagawad, Shedbal. The river Krishna flows around the Athani taluk. Five sugar industries are in this taluk. They are located in Athani, Shinal, Kagawad, Kokatnur, Ugar and Kempwad . There are four hobalis in this taluk: Athani, Kagawad, Telsang and Anatapur. Most of the land is fully fertile; some of the land is dry and hilly.

Tourist attractions

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• Kohalli Sri Sangameshwar Temple, The Village is located on the Way of Athani to Guddapur (Sri Dannamma Devi Temple)
• Khavatakopp Anjaneya Temple. (sarakari Anjaneya). This temple located near krishna river.
• Athani kalmeshwara temple is built in chalky and hoisalas.
• Athani Siddeshwara Temple has the architecture of a mosque. Built in stone, it was recently clad with marble. It is main deity of Athani town. It is said that Adilshah of Vijayapura got it constructed sometime in 15th or 16th century AD.
• Athani J.A. High School is one of the oldest schools in Athani which was established in 1918. Main building has a unique architecture.
• Khilegavi (Basaveshwar Temple situated in Khiilegavi)
• Kokatanur (Yellamma temple)
• Gachhina math (Athani Shivayogi temple) is a place of lord Murugendra Shivayogi and Marulashankar Devaru .
• A Raghavendra Swamiji Math was built by the late Shri Bhimdas. This place is also known as Abhinav Mantralaya.
• Shri Murugendra Swamiji Math in Shegunasi is an oldest Math in Shegunasi wel design and architecture, the Math conducting fest in akshadata amavashya of every year.
• Savadi Venu Gopal Temple (also known as Gopalkrishna Temple) situated on the bank of Krishna River at Savadi is perhaps the oldest temple in Athani Taluka. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple Venu Gopal is the presiding deity. It is a typical Trikuteshwar type temple where apart from the presiding deity, other two vigrahas on either side of the main sanctum sanctorum are two impressive Shivlings. According to the archeological study the temple is about 1000–1200 years old
• Chamakeri: (sadashiva swamiji (babaladi)) located in Chamakeri 15 km from Athani taluk.
• Statue of Shivaji: in Sambargi Shivaji is one of the statues in north Athani. Is proud of all Sambargi people.
• CHANDRAGIRI TEMPLE IN SAMBARGI; Gramdaivat of SAMBARGI PEOPLE
• TANVASHI shree dattareya temple
• Ramathirth: there is a temple of lord Rameshwar of old stone temple of 800 years old and one of the cave is located behind the temple; it is a tourist place.
• AVARKHOD: hanuman temple, it is a tourist place.it is oldest temple.
• badgi: badgi is the small village in Athani it is the one of the tourism place, kalmeshwara temple which was dated in 12th century basavannas time there founded rear monuments and shivalinga and also that times SHASANA which is written in old Kannada language. There is no development of the temple.
• Nandgao: old temple is located near school. Old monuments founded

Agriculture

In Athani agriculture is the main occupation. About 60% of the total population is engaged in agriculture. The main crops are: jawar, wheat, sunflower, toordal, and kushbi. The commercial crops are sugarcane, grapes, wheat and ground nut. Few varietiesof vegetables like tomatoes, brinjals, ladies fingers, green leaves and redchillies are also grown With the limited rainfall, diesel power pumpsets are in vogue for the available water supply. And the main commercial crop is sugarcane. Athani is one of the largest sugarcane cultivation taluks in Karnataka. 70% of the land is fertile. Sugarcane is cultivated near river Krishna and river Agrani. It is cultivated more than 1,50,000 acres in taluk. Irrigation facilities of Hipparagi barrage of Upper Krishna Projectis in athani. By this project canals were constructed. It is very helpful for cultivation of sugarcane and grapes. The Hipparagi project is useful to farmers. Most of farmers cultivate sugarcane and jawar.

Industries

There are many industries located in Athani taluk like sugar industry, chappal factories, glucose and mills.

Chappal factories

The Athani is famous for leather chappals scheduled caste families forming considerable chunk of the local population. This serves a special mention because of the valid contribution of few sub groups to the now famous leather products of Athani. The sub-groups are Dhors and Samagars who are mostly engaged in this leather trade and are traditional leather workers. Dhors are specialized in tanning of hides and skins, while Samagars have proved as intricate craftsmen to produce leather foot wears .Recognizing this, the Khadi and village industries commission established a footwear manufacturing centre under the name “Lidkar”. The success of this paved the way towards another milestone, where ‘Lidkar’ backed by the State Government, saw the light of the day, boosting the activity of footwear manufacturing further. The foot-wears are marketed throughout India by the respective outlets. The traders from other part of the country also procure leather goods from Athani, to market them in their areas. Through the State Trading Corporation, these leather goods are also exported to many countries where they have found a sizeable market.Athanic Footwear The category which has established itself by way of its design and quality is known as ‘Kolhapuri Chappals’ which has a great demand in local as well as the export markets. These goods were exported to foreign countries like Scotland, Netherlands, England and others..

Sugar Industry

Previously there was no sugar industry was there in this taluk but farmers transported the sugarcane to Maharashtra. Then farmers requested to establish the sugar industry in Athani Taluk and then many sugar industries were started in this taluk. Presently 5 sugar industries are located in Athani taluk there are:

• Krishna co-operative sugar industry, Athani
• Ugar sugars pvt ltd, Ugar
• Shree Renuka sugars pvt ltd, Kokatnur
• Athani farmers sugar industry, Kempwad
• Shiraguppi sugars pvt ltd, Kagwad

In Athani Taluk the first sugar industry was established by Ugar sugars pvt ltd in Ugar, it produces more than 12,000 tonnes. Athani taluk is the largest sugarcane crushing & sugar producing in Karnataka. it ranks number 1 in Karnataka