Karnataka (Kar)

Kan: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ karnāṭaka

‘Black Country’ [Carnatic, Karanāta, Karanāta-desa]

From Dra/Tam: *kar/karu, ‘black’; Dra/Tam: nāṭu (nadu), ‘land’, ‘country’.

In its English form the name Carnatic has been wrongly applied to other parts of the southern region: the name specifically applies to the land (Karnataka, Carnatic, Karanāta) of the people speaking Kannada/Canarese.

The ‘black country’ is probably a reference to the black cotton soil found throughout Karnataka.

In 1947, this state was formed from the princely state of Mysore and in 1956, the Kannada-speaking regions of neighbouring states were added to what was then called Mysore state. The name was changed to Karnataka in 1973.

Karnataka can justifiably claim to be the ‘Coffee Cup of India’: it grows more of it (71% of India’s production) and drinks more of it than any other state.

Aihole (Kar)

Kan: ಐಹೊಳೆ  aihoḷe 'Aryan Village’  [Ayyavole, Aryapura, Aivalli, Ahivolal]...

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Belur (Kar)

Kan: ಬೇಲೂರು bēlūru ‘Radiant Town’ [Velur, Velapuri, Beluhur] Town, Karnataka...

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Bhadravati (Kar)

Kan: ಭದ್ರಾವತಿ bhadrāvati  ‘Bhadra Village’  City, Karnataka (Kar) From Bhadra...

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Bidar (Kar)

Kan: ಬೀದರ್ bīdar ‘Halting Place’  City/District, Karnataka (Kar) From  Kan:...

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Davanagere (Kan)

Kan: ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ dāvaṇagere ‘Wormwood Tank’  City/District, Karnataka (Kar) From...

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Gangavathi (Kar)

Kan: ಗಂಗಾವತಿ gaṅgāvati '(Holy) River Village'  -City, Karnataka  From Ganga or...

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Hampi (Kar)

Kan: ಹಂಪಿ hampi ‘Pampa’  Monument, Karnataka From Pampa river. In the epic...

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Mandya (Kar)

Kan: ಮಂಡ್ಯ maṇḍya ‘Settlement’  City/District, Karnataka Skt: mandira,...

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Pattadakal (Kar)

Kan: ಪಟ್ಟದ್ಕಲ್ಲು  paṭṭadkallu  ‘Coronation Stone’ [Raktapura] From Skt: paṭṭa...

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Raichur (Kar)

Kan: ರಾಯಚೂರು rāyac(h)ūru ‘Royal City’  City/District, Karnataka From Kan:...

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Ranebennuru (Kar)

Kan: ರಾಣೇಬೆನ್ನೂರು rāṇēbennūru ‘Queen’s Town’   City, Karnataka (Kar) From...

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Robertsonpete (Kar)

Kan: ರಾಬರ್ಟಸನ್‌ಪೇಟ್ rābarṭasan‌pēṭ 'Robertson Suburb'   Town, Karnataka From...

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