Welcome to Gulbarga |
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Historical background
History of Gulbarga dates back to the 6th century when the Rashtrakutas gained control over the area, but the Chalukyas regained their domain and reigned for over two hundred years. The Kalachuri who succeeded them ruled till the 12th century. Around the close of the 12th century the Yadavas of Devagiri and the Hoysalas of Halebidu took control of the district. About the same period the Kakatiya dynasty kings of Warangal came into prominence. The present Gulbarga District and Raichur District formed part of their domain.
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The Kakatiya power was subdued in 1321, and the northern Deccan, including the district of Gulbarga, passed under the control of the Muslim Sultanate of Delhi. The revolt of the Muslim officers appointed from Delhi resulted in founding of the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347 by Hassan Gangu, who chose Gulbarga to be his capital. When the Bahmani dynasty came to an end, the kingdom broke up into the five independent Deccan sultanates, Bijapur, Bidar, Berar, Ahmednagar and Golconda. The present Gulbarga district came partly under Bidar and partly under Bijapur. With the conquest of the Deccan by Aurangezeb in the 17th Century, control of Gulbarga passed to the Mughal Empire. In the early part of the 18th Century, when Mughal Empire was declining, Asaf Jah I, a general of Aurangzeb, became independent and formed state of Hyderabad in which a major part of Gulbarga area was also included.
In the middle of the 14th century, this town was made the capital of the Bahamani Dynasty that became independent from Delhi. In the old fort, only remarkable monument is Jama Masjid, which resemble the great mosque of Cardoba, Spain. It is an important building of the early Bahmani period built by Muhammad Shah. In the current town centre, Shah Bazar Masjid, which was built around the same time as Jama Masjid, is situated.
Mausoleums of the royal family of Bahamani are located in two areas. Up until the 8th king of the Bahamani all are entombed at Se Gumbad in the western outskirts and Haft Gumbaz in the northeastern outskirts. In 1428, the capital of the Bahamani was moved to Bidar. However, Gulbarga kept its popularity because of the dargah of Khaja Bande Nawaz who was the saint of Chishti order and temple of Sharan Basaveshwara, the founder of Veershivism. There remain a few mausoleums from the Bahamani period. In recent times it has become the abode of Education.
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Demographics |
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As of 2001 India census, Gulbarga had a population of 427,929. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Gulbarga has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 60%.
The Economy and Politics
Agriculture is the main source of income here. Though the land here is very fertile, much of the farming is dependent on rains (non-irrigated). However, this is changing rapidly with the construction of the Upper Krishna Project.
Geography
Gulbarga is located at 17.33° N 76.83° E. It has an average elevation of 455 metres (1492 feet). Gulbarga district covers an area of 16,224 square kilometres.
The district comprises 10 taluks. The climate of the district is generally dry and healthy with temperature ranging from 15ºc in the winter to 45ºc in the summer, and an annual rainfall of about 750 mm.
Visiting Gulbarga
Gulbarga does not have an airport of its own yet. (Coming up by 2011)
BY RAIL - As Gulbarga is on the main Mumbai-Bangalore line, a number of express trains are available from here. There are number of trains for Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi.
BY ROAD - Gulbarga is well connected with different parts of Karnataka. There is good bus service from Gulbarga to Bidar (3 hours) and Bijapur (3 hours). Night buses are available for Bangalore and Hyderabad.
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