Belgaum: Difference between revisions

{{About|the municipality in India|its district|Belagavi District|the country|Belgium}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

| name                     = Belgaum

| official_name           = Belagavi

| other_name               = Belgaon<ref name="Belgaon"/>

| settlement_type         = [[City]]

| image_skyline           = {{multiple image

| border                          = infobox

| total_width                    = 250

| image_style                    =  

| perrow                          = 1/1

| image1                         = Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.jpg

| image_caption           = [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]], Belagavi

| nicknames               =  

| map_alt                 =  

| map_caption             = Location of Belgaum in [[Karnataka]]

| pushpin_map             = India Karnataka#India3

| pushpin_label_position   =  

| pushpin_map_alt         =  

| pushpin_map_caption     =  

| coordinates             = {{coord|15|51|N|74|30|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]

| subdivision_name         = {{flag|India}}

| subdivision_type1       = [[States and territories of India|State]]

| subdivision_type2       = [[List of districts of India|District]]

| subdivision_type3       = [[Region]]

| subdivision_name1       = [[Karnataka]]

| subdivision_name2       = [[Belagavi district|Belagavi]]

| subdivision_name3       = [[Western ghats]]

| established_title       =  

| established_date         =  

| founder                 =  

| named_for               =  

| government_type         = District Administration

| governing_body           = [[Belagavi Mahanagara Palike]]

| leader_title             = [[Deputy Commissioner|DC]]

| leader_name             = K Harish Kumar<ref>{{cite news |title=New DC for Belagavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/new-dc-for-belagavi/article34132058.ece |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=22 March 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

| leader_title2           = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]]

| leader_name2             = Mangala Angadi<ref>{{cite news

| unit_pref               = Metric

| area_footnotes           = <ref name="Belgaum city summary">{{cite web|url=http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in |title=city/town summary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929123745/http://www.belgaumcity.gov.in/ |archive-date=29 September 2006}}</ref>

| area_total_km2           = 94

| area_rank               = 4

| elevation_m             = 784

| population_total         = 490045

| population_as_of         = 2011

| population_footnotes     =

| population_demonym      = Belagavians <ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Belagavians take the lead to get rid of potholes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/belagavians-take-the-lead-to-get-rid-of-potholes/articleshow/70910713.cms |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> <br>Belgaumites {{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} , Belgaonkar

| demographics_type1       = Languages

| demographics1_title1     = Official

| timezone1               = [[Indian Standard Time|ST]]

| utc_offset1             = +5:30

| postal_code_type         = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]

| postal_code             = 590001 to 590020

| area_code               = (+91) 831

| area_code_type           = Telephone code

| registration_plate       = KA-22

| website                 = {{URL|https://belagavi.nic.in/en/|belagavi.nic.in}}

| footnotes               =  

| leader_title3           = [[Mayor]]

| leader_name3             = Basappa Chikkaldinni<ref name="toi-mayor">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/belagavi-gets-1st-kannada-mayor-in-5-yrs/articleshow/63130913.cms|title=Belagavi gets 1st Kannada mayor in 5 yrs|date=2 March 2018|access-date=3 March 2018|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

| leader_title4           = [[Deputy Mayor]]

| leader_name4             = Madhushri Pujari<ref name="toi-mayor"/>

| demographics1_info1     = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=14 January 2019|page=108|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>

'''Belgaum''' ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: ''Bēḷagāma''; also '''Belgaon'''<ref name="Belgaon">{{cite book |last= Malleson |first=Colonel |author-link= |date= 31 January 2021 |title= KAYE and MALLESONS HISTORY OF INDIAN MUTINY  |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5ysKAQAAIAAJ&q=Belgaon+history&pg=PA22|location= [[London]] |publisher=William Clowes and Sons|page=22|isbn=}}</ref>  and officially known as '''Belagavi''')<ref>{{cite web|title = Official Website of Belgaum District|url = http://www.belgaum.nic.in/|website = www.belgaum.nic.in|access-date = 28 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150630210052/http://www.belgaum.nic.in/|archive-date = 30 June 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgavi Belgavi], Encyclopædia Britannica</ref> is a city in the Indian state of [[Karnataka]] located in its northern part along the [[Western Ghat]]s. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous [[Belagavi division]] and [[Belagavi district]]. The [[Government of Karnataka]] has proposed making Belagavi the second capital of Karnataka alongside [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], hence a second state administrative building [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] was inaugurated on 11 October 2012.<ref name="Belgaum to be declared second capital of Karnataka">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-13/bangalore/28142614_1_suvarna-vidhana-soudha-belgaum-legislature-session |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015042825/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-13/bangalore/28142614_1_suvarna-vidhana-soudha-belgaum-legislature-session |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 October 2012 |title=Decision on second capital status for Belgaum soon |date=13 August 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>

Belagavi has been selected in first phase out of 20 cities, as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a [[smart city]] under [[Narendra Modi|PM Narendra Modi's]] flagship [[Smart Cities Mission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/why-only-98-cities-instead-of-100-announced-all-questions-answered-about-smart-cities-project-2410576.html |title=Only 98 cities instead of 100 announced: All questions answered about the smart cities project |website=Firstpost |date=28 August 2015}}</ref>

When India became independent in 1947, Belgaum and its district were part of [[Bombay State]]. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines by the [[States Reorganisation Act]] and Belgaum including 10 taluks of Bombay State were transferred to [[Mysore State]], which was renamed [[Karnataka]] in 1973.<ref name="TOI-Dispute">{{cite news |title=Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute Explained: What is Belagavi border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/explained-what-is-belagavi-border-dispute-between-karnataka-and-maharashtra/articleshow/80493402.cms |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=Jan 28, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2006, the [[Government of Karnataka]] announced that Belgaum would be made the state's second capital, and that the city would be a permanent venue for the annual 15-day winter session of the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213061758/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=418913|url-status=dead|title=Belgaum to be made Karnataka's second capital|archive-date=13 February 2009|magazine=Outlook |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>

On 1 November 2014, the city's name was changed from Belgaum to Belagavi by the Karnataka government, with approval of the [[central government of India]] along with 12 other cities.<ref>{{cite news|title=It'll be 'Bengaluru' from 1 Nov|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp|access-date=4 January 2011|date=8 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406020325/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct82006/index2044162006107.asp|archive-date=6 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New name for cities|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/from-bangalore-to-bengaluru/article6553314.ece|access-date=1 November 2014|work=The Hindu}}</ref> Belgaum is known as Belgaon (IPA: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[beːɭɡaːʋ]]]) in Maharashtra and amongst [[Marathi people]].

===Climate===

According to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum were [[Kannada]] speakers and 26.04% spoke [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref name="TOI-Dispute"/>

 

|title=Religions in Belgaum (2011)<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population By Religion - Karnataka|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11378/download/14491/DDW29C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=census.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

|bars=

{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Hindus]]|darkorange|73.24}}

{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|20.62}}

{{bar percent|[[Jainism in Karnataka|Jains]]|brown|4.22}}

{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Karnataka|Christians]]|dodgerblue|1.10}}

 

As per the 2011 India [[census]], the population of Belgaum city is 490,045. Males constitute 246,537 of the population and females 243,508. Belgaum has an average literacy rate of 88.92%: 93.78% for males and 85.84% for females. 10.71% percent of the population is under 6 years of age.<ref name="Census of India">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Hand Book: Belgaum |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/588/download/2000/DH_2011_2901_PART_A_DCHB_BELGAUM.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

{{Pie chart

|thumb = left

|caption = Languages of Belgaum city (2011)<ref name="language"/>

|label1 = [[Kannada]] |value1 = 37.46 |color1 = darkslateblue

|label2 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value2 = 32.91 |color2 = red

|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 19.82 |color3 = green

|label4 = [[Konkani language|Konkani]] |value4 = 2.64 |color4 = salmon

|label5 = [[Hindi]] |value5 = 2.42 |color5 = orange

|label6 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value6 = 1.92 |color6 = aqua

|label7 = Others |value7 = 2.83 |color7 = grey

[[Kannada]] (37.46%) and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] (32.91%) are the predominant languages. [[Urdu]] is spoken by 19.82%, while [[Konkani language|Konkani]] (2.64%), [[Hindi]] (2.42%) and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (1.92%) are also spoken.<ref name="language">{{Cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10255/download/13367/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2900.XLSX|title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue (Urban): Karnataka|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Government and politics==

===Administration===

Belgaum is located in the [[Belgaum (Lok Sabha constituency)|Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency]].

====Assembly session====

In 2006, the Government of Karnataka decided to hold one week sessions of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly every year during the winter season at the [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] administrative building, constructed and inaugurated in Belgaum in 2012.

[[File:Suvarna Soudha.jpg|thumb|[[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]]]]

The [[Belgaum border dispute]] is a dispute involving the Indian states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]]. Belgaum, currently a part of Karnataka and earlier the erstwhile [[Bombay Presidency]], is claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds. In 1956, the States Reorganization Act incorporated the Belgaum district including the 10 taluks in the [[Mysore state]], which became Karnataka in 1973. Though according to the 1881 census, 64.39% of the population of Belgaum were [[Kannada]] speakers and 26.04% spoke [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref name="TOI-Dispute"/>

 

On 11 November 2005, Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV) activists daubed Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint (and later surrendered to the police)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/13/stories/2005111316210300.htm | title=Ten Vedike Members Surrender | date=13 November 2005 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=24 January 2019 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> in the wake of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) passing a resolution<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/27/stories/2005112704240500.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 November 2005|title=Karnataka / Belgaum News : Supersession of BCC came as no surprise}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111719950100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120043640/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/17/stories/2005111719950100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 January 2016|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 November 2005|title=Front Page : Belgaum corporation: decision today}}</ref> to include the district of Belgaum into [[Maharashtra]], a neighbouring state. Upon his return to Belgaum, Vijay More was served with several show-cause notices by the Government of Karnataka and later dissolved the council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30207658.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912201954/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2225/stories/20051216007912400.htm|url-status=dead|title=A dispute revived|first=Ravi|last=Sharma|archive-date=12 September 2012|website=Frontline}}</ref>

In 2019, Deputy CM of Maharashtra [[Ajit Pawar]] called for the incorporation of Belgaum along with Karwar and Nipani area in [[Maharashtra]] citing it was of dream of [[Shiv Sena]] founder [[Bal Thackeray]], a statement reiterated by CM [[Uddhav Thackeray]] in January 2021.<ref name="TOI-Dispute" /> Thackeray went on to term the region as 'Karnataka-occupied areas'.<ref name="ET_Jan2021">{{cite news |title=Will incorporate 'Karnataka-occupied areas' into Maha: Uddhav |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-incorporate-karnataka-occupied-areas-into-maha-uddhav/articleshow/80312433.cms |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=Jan 17, 2021}}</ref> The case regarding the dispute is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.<ref name="TOI-Dispute" />

The city's humble industrial growth begin when an entrepreneur named Babu Rao Pusalkar set up a small unit in city over a century ago and that transformed Belagavi city into foundry and hydraulics base.<ref name=thehindubusinessline>{{cite news |last1=Urs |first1=Anil |title=Belagavi: A city on the frontlines reinvents itself |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/belagavi-a-city-on-the-frontlines-reinvents-itself/article8310110.ece |access-date=14 December 2019 |work=@businessline |language=en}}</ref>

Belgaum is an important source of vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, mining production, and wood (due to heavy rainfall, rivers and the abundance of water). Trading in [[North Karnataka]] is mainly with [[Goa]] and [[Maharashtra]] along with major cities like [[Pune]], [[Bangalore]] and [[Mangalore]]. Rich deposits of [[Bauxite]] are found in [[Belgaum district]] and have led to the creation of the Indian [[aluminium]]-producing company [[Hindalco Industries]] of the [[Aditya Birla Group]].<ref name="karnatakaindustry.gov.in">{{Cite web|url=http://www.karnatakaindustry.gov.in/natural_resources.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206051236/http://www.karnatakaindustry.gov.in/natural_resources.php|url-status=dead|title=Natural Resources in the State of Karnataka - Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka|archive-date=6 December 2007}}</ref> [[Uranium]] deposits have been found at Deshnur, a small village near [[Bailhongal]] town.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/Belgaum-poised-for-further-growth-in-industrial-and-farm-sectors/article16197921.ece | title=Belgaum poised for further growth in industrial and farm sectors | date=16 July 2010 | newspaper=The Hindu | first=Vijaykumar | last=Patil | access-date=24 January 2019 }}</ref>

A {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Special Economic Zone]] (India's first Private [[Aerospace]] [[Special Economic Zone|SEZ]] ) is being set up along the Pune-Bangalore National Highway (NH-4) to cater to the [[precision engineering]] requirements of the global aerospace, automotive and industrial verticals.<ref name="economictimes.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|first=Chiranjoy|last=Sen|date=4 July 2007|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/quest-plans-300-acre-aerospace-sez-in-belgaum/articleshow/2173031.cms|title=Quest plans 300-acre aerospace SEZ in Belgaum|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref>

Belgaum's salubrious climate, proximity to the coast and strategic position near [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] [[Goa]] commended it to the British as a suitable location for an army training centre and [[cantonment]], which it continues to be today for the [[Indian Armed Forces]], along with an air force station of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The British had a sizeable [[infantry]] post here, having realised the military importance of its geographical location.

Development of a rail network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the [[British East India Company|East India Company]] and the British to exert control over India. Belgaum houses the [[Maratha Light Infantry]] Regimental Centre (MLIRC). It also houses the Commando Training Wing which is a part of the Junior Leaders Wing (formerly known as Infantry School,Belgaum). This establishment is affiliated to The Infantry School, [[Mhow#The Indian Army and Mhow|Mhow]]. Herein, Infantry Officers and Soldiers are trained in endurance, escape and evasion, guerrilla and commando warfare techniques and to live off the land. The [[commando]] course at Belgaum is mandatory for all Infantry Officers. Officers of Other branches of the military and even some foreign officers undertake the course, upon being nominated to do so. In between the Military Hospital and the Junior Leaders Wing lies the [[Belgaum Military School]], established in 1945 spread over an area of {{convert|64|acre|ha}}. The School provides quality education to sons of wards of Servicemen and Ex Servicemen of the Armed Forces. Several of them go on to join the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]].  

The [[Central Reserve Police Force]] Institute of elite central paramilitary forces is setting up a national-level training institution (for jungle warfare) at Khanapur in Belgaum. The establishment, called the [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action|CoBRA School of Jungle Warfare]] is already operational.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Munish Chandra |title=CBI books 5 CRPF personnel for taking bribes to induct failed candidates into elite CoBRA unit |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/crpf-cobra-unit-cbi-books-personnel-recruitment-racket-bribes-1864890-2021-10-14 |work=India Today |date=October 14, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Culture/Cityscape==

Belgaum is known for ''kunda'', a sweet made from milk.<ref>{{cite news|language=mr|url=http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4821635585688496968&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&fb_comment_id=674028245959753_1051389811556926|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724161057/http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4821635585688496968&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&fb_comment_id=674028245959753_1051389811556926|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2015|work=[[Sakal]]|first=Amit |last=Jadhav|title=खिम्याचे उंडे, बेसन चटणीची भेळ, कुंदा...|trans-title=Khimyācē Uṇḍē, Bēsan Caṭaṇīcī Bhēḷ, Kundā...|date=17 June 2012|access-date=24 July 2015|location=[[Solapur]]}}</ref> A special sweet called ''mandige'' in Kannada and in Marathi as ''maande'', is a prerequisite for weddings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4759825881811668649&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&NewsDate=20120408&NewsTitle=%27%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%27,%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AF,%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87...%20(%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0)|language=mr|work=[[Sakal]]|title='लावलेले पोहे', दाळीतोय, मांडे...|trans-title='Lāvlēlē Pōhē', Dāḷītōy, Māṇḍē...|first=Anant |last=Manohar|location=Belgaon|date=8 April 2012|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724162238/http://www.esakal.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=4759825881811668649&SectionId=3&SectionName=%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97&NewsDate=20120408&NewsTitle=%27%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%27,%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AF,%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87...%20(%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0)|archive-date=24 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Belagavi Airport.jpg|thumb|[[Belgaum Airport ]]]]

The city is served by [[Belgaum Airport]] at Sambra, which is the oldest airport in [[North Karnataka]] and lies {{convert|10|km}} from the city on [[State Highway 20 (Karnataka)|State Highway 20]]. Belgaum airport is included in UDAN 3 scheme. [[Alliance Air (India)|Alliance Air]], [[Spice Jet]], [[Star Air (India)|Star Air]], [[IndiGo]] and [[TruJet]] have flights to [[Bangalore]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Mysore]], [[Kadapa]], [[Tirupati]], [[Surat]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Indore]], [[Mumbai]], [[Pune]], [[Nagpur]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Nashik]] and [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profile of Belgaum airport|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/belgaum|url-status=live|website=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Flight connectivity to [[Jodhpur]] will be soon started by [[Star Air (India)|Star Air]] in the future days.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=17 February 2021|title=Now, Star Air flight connects Belagavi with Jodhpur|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/now-star-air-flight-connects-belagavi-with-jodhpur/article33855138.ece|access-date=22 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 January 2022|title=Star Air celebrates 3 years of Connecting Real India|url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/star-air-celebrates-3-years-of-connecting-real-india/813998/|access-date=22 February 2022|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), named after Bharat Ratna Sir M Visweshwariah, is located in Machhe in Belgaum. It has more than 208 affiliated colleges. Over 67,000 students graduate from VTU every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vtu.ac.in/index.php/about-us/about-vtu.html |title=About VTU |publisher=VTU |date=15 October 2011 |access-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010150420/http://www.vtu.ac.in/index.php/about-us/about-vtu.html |archive-date=10 October 2011 }}</ref>

 

{{Main|Rani Channamma University, Belgaum}}

Before the Rani Channamma University came into being in 2010, [[Karnatak University]] KRCPG Centre of Karnatak University, [[Dharwad]] was functioning at Belgaum. The Karnatak University PG Centre was established at Belgaum in the year 1982, to provide an opportunity to develop access to the students for higher education hailing from North Karnataka Region. In 1994 the PG centre was shifted to the present campus of 172 acres of land at Bhutramanahatti adjacent to the Pune-Bangalore National Highway – 4 [[National Highway 4 (India, old numbering)|NH 4]], about 18&nbsp;km from Belgaum. Karnatak University PG Centre has been declared as Rani Channamma University in the month of July 2010 with the jurisdiction of Belgaum, [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Vijaypur]], and [[Bagalkot]] districts.

== Media ==

Newspapers include ''[[Vijaya Karnataka]]'', ''[[Vijayavani|Vijay Vani]]'', ''[[Kannada Prabha]]'', ''[[Samyukta Karnataka]]'', ''[[Prajavani]]'', and ''Kannadamma'' in [[Kannada]]; ''[[The Times of India]]'' and ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' in ''English'', and ''[[Tarun Bharat]]'',''[[Sakaal]]'', ''[[Pudhari]]'' in [[Marathi language|Marathi]].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

* [[Raosaheb Gogte]], industrialist of the [[Gogte Group]]. Namesake of the [[Gogte Institute of Technology]], Gogte College of Commerce and Science, and the Gogte Circle in Belgaum.

* [[Pavani Reddy]], actor