Vijayanagara district
District of Karnataka
Hampi Bazaar from Matanga Hill, Kalleshwara Temple Temple at Bagali, Temples on Hemakuta Hill, Tungabhadra Dam, Kalleshwara Temple at Hirehadagalli
Location in Karnataka
Location in Karnataka
Country India
StateKarnataka
DivisionKalaburagi
Formation2 October 2021
(2 years ago) (2021-10-02)
Named forerstwhile Vijayanagara Empire
HeadquartersHospet
Taluks
Government
 • BodyVijayanagara Zilla Panchayat
 • Deputy Commissioner and District MagistrateM S Diwakara, IAS
 • Superintendent of PoliceShrihari Babu B L, IPS
 • Chief Executive OfficerSadashiva Prabhu B
Area
 • Total4,252 km2 (642 sq mi)
Elevation
449 m (1,473 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,353,628
 • Density320/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Language
 • OfficialKannada
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone codeHospet 08394
Vehicle registrationKA-35
Websitevijayanagara.nic.in

Vijayanagara district is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, located in the Kalyana-Karnataka region.[1][2]

Vijayanagara was officially carved out of Ballari on 2 October 2021 to become the 31st district of the state with Hospet as the district headquarters.[3][4] It is home to Hampi, the former capital of the famous Vijayanagara Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and several historical places are located in the district.[5]

History

During late-mediaeval India, the region comprising present-day Vijayanagara district was the seat of the Vijayanagara Empire. During British Rule, it was part of Madras presidency. After India's independence, during the organisation of Indian states in the Republic of India, with the formation Andhra Pradesh in 1953, the Vijayanagara region was part of Bellary district of the newly formed Mysore state. In 2020, six divisions were planned to be split up from Bellary and form out of them a new district. During the 2020 premiership of B. S. Yediyurappa, the government of Karnataka approved the plan and notified the formation of Vijayanagara district on 18 November 2020, thus making it the 31st district of Karnataka in 2021.

At present, Vijayanagara district is part of the Kalyana Karnataka region.

Administration

Vijayanagara district comprises six divisions, two subdivisions, and 18 village clusters. Hospet is the administrative headquarters of the district.

Anand Singh, MLA from Vijayanagara, was appointed as the district's minister in charge for the state government.[6]

Parliament and assembly seats

In the national legislature's lower house, Vijayanagara district is part of Bellary Constituency (reserved for scheduled tribes), except for Harapanahalli, which is part of Davanagere Constituency.

In state legislature's lower house, Vijayanagara district has five assembly seats: Harapanahalli; Hagaribommanahalli (scheduled castes); Vijayanagara; Kudligi (scheduled tribes); and Hoovina Hadagali (scheduled castes).

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, the area that is now Vijayangara district has a population of 1,353,628, of which 359,694 (26.57%) live in urban areas. Vijayanagara district has a sex ratio of 976 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 322,603 (23.83%) and 235,724 (17.41%) of the population respectively.[7][8]

Religion in Vijayanagara district (2011)[9]
Hinduism
 
 88.75%
Islam
 
 10.41%
Other or not stated
 
 0.56%

Languages of Vijayanagara district (2011)[10]

  Kannada (78.09%)
  Urdu (9.37%)
  Lambadi (5.82%)
  Telugu (3.97%)
  Tamil (1.07%)
  Others (1.68%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 78.09% of the population spoke Kannada, 9.37% Urdu, 5.82% Lambadi, 3.97% Telugu and 1.07% Tamil as their first language.[10]

Tourism

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Education

Kannada University, a research-oriented public university, is situated in Hampi. The university was founded by the government of Karnataka during the premiership of S. Bangarappa with the aim to develop the Kannada language and to promote its literature and traditions.

References

  1. ^ "Vijayanagar to be Karnataka's 31st district, BSY Cabinet gives in-principle nod". The New Indian Express. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Cabinet approves boundaries of Vijayanagara district". The Hindu. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Bommai to declare Vijayanagara as 31st district in Karnataka on Saturday". The New Indian Express. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Karnataka formalises creation of new Vijayanagara district". The Economic Times. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  5. ^ Buradikatti, Kumar (19 November 2020). "Ballari set to lose Hampi and more". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Karnataka cabinet approves borders for new Vijayanagara district". The News Minute. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. ^ "District Census Handbook: Bellary" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  8. ^ "District Census Handbook: Davanagere" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. ^ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Karnataka". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Karnataka". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
Categories