Davanagere district

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Davanagere district is in the state of Karnataka, in central-southern India. The district headquarters is the city of Davanagere.

Formation and geography
- Davanagere district was created on 15 August 1997 by splitting areas from the old Chitradurga district. It now has six taluks: Davanagere, Harihar, Jagalur, Honnali, Channagiri, and Nyamati.
- It is bordered by Shimoga and Haveri districts to the west, Chitradurga to the east, Vijayanagara to the north, and Chikmagalur to the south. The district lies on the Deccan Plateau, with parts in the plain region (Bayaluseeme) and other parts in the hilly Malnad region. The area is known for wind energy due to its favorable winds.

Size and people
- The district covers about 4,460 square kilometers.
- In 2011, its population was around 1.64 million, with about 32% living in towns. Population density was roughly 368 people per square kilometer. The sex ratio was 967 females for every 1,000 males, and literacy was about 76.3%.

Language and administration
- The official language is Kannada. As of 2011, about 77% spoke Kannada as their first language, with Urdu, Telugu, Lambadi, and Marathi also spoken by smaller communities.
- Administratively, the district has 20 hoblis, 197 gram panchayats, 652 villages, two city municipal councils, and one city corporation.

Economy and development
- In 2006, Davanagere was named one of India’s 250 most backward districts and receives funds under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). The area also has wind energy projects, thanks to its windy conditions.

History and landmarks
- Over centuries, the region was ruled by many dynasties, including the Mauryas, Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Yadavas, Cholas, Kalachuris, and Nayaks of Belagutti, followed by Mysore and Tipu Sultan, and later the Vijayanagara Empire. After various changes, it became part of modern Karnataka.
- Notable places include Bhimeshwara temple at Nilagunda, Harihareshwara temple at Harihar, and the Shanti Sagara dam.