Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🗺️

Karnataka

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Karnataka is a large state in the southwestern part of India.

Political map of Indian state of Karnataka
Political map of Indian state of Karnataka

It sits next to the Lakshadweep Sea to its west. The state is surrounded by six other Indian states. These neighbors include Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Karnataka is the sixth-largest state in India by total area. The name likely comes from Kannada words meaning "elevated land."

karnataka declaration
karnataka declaration

It is a place where many different people and cultures live together.

The land in Karnataka has three very different zones. First, there is the coastal region called Karavali and Tulu Nadu. Next, there are the hilly Malenadu regions within the Western Ghats.

Jog Falls 05092016
Jog Falls 05092016

Finally, most of the state is made of the Bayaluseeme plains. This area is part of the Deccan Plateau. The highest point in the state is the Mullayanagiri hills.

Jog Falls 05092016
Jog Falls 05092016

Many rivers flow through these lands, such as the Krishna and the Kaveri. Some rivers flow east to the Bay of Bengal. Others, like the Sharavati, flow west to the sea.

History in this region goes back a very long time. People lived here during the Paleolithic age, using stone hand-axes.

Vishnu image inside cave number 3 in Badami
Vishnu image inside cave number 3 in Badami

Many powerful empires once ruled these lands. The Kadambas and the Western Gangas were among the first native kingdoms. Later, the mighty Badami Chalukyas and the Rashtrakuta Empire rose to power.

Mallikarjuna and Kasivisvanatha temples at Pattadakal
Mallikarjuna and Kasivisvanatha temples at Pattadakal

These empires helped art and literature grow. They even built beautiful temples that are famous today. The Vijayanagara Empire was another huge power that ruled for over two centuries.

Karnataka has a very busy and modern economy today. The capital city is Bengaluru, which is a huge city.

Infosys (4911287704)
Infosys (4911287704)

People call Bengaluru the "Silicon Valley of India." This is because it has so many information technology companies. In 2007, there were 1,973 companies in the IT sector. The state also has many other important districts like Dakshina Kannada and Belagavi.

Mumbai-banglore highway eagleeye view
Mumbai-banglore highway eagleeye view

These areas help the state produce a lot of wealth. The state's population was over 61 million in 2011.

Language and culture are very important parts of life here. Kannada is the main official language and is a classical language of India.

Language Map of Karnataka (2011 Census)
Language Map of Karnataka (2011 Census)

Many other languages are spoken, including Urdu, Konkani, and Tulu. There are even some villages where people primarily speak Sanskrit. The state is also known for its special music traditions. It has contributed to both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music.

Kondadakuli
Kondadakuli

This mix of old history and new technology makes Karnataka a unique place.

404 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:Mallikarjuna and Kasivisvanatha temples at Pattadakal.jpg
Mallikarjuna and Kasivisvanatha temples...
File:karnataka declaration.jpg
karnataka declaration.jpg
File:Jog Falls 05092016.jpg
Jog Falls 05092016.jpg
File:Coraciasbenghalensis.jpg
Coraciasbenghalensis.jpg
File:Tigers at the water hole.jpg
Tigers at the water hole.jpg
File:Political map of Indian state of Karnataka.png
Political map of Indian state of Karnataka.png
File:Vishnu image inside cave number 3 in Badami.jpg
Vishnu image inside cave number 3 in Badami.jpg
File:Gomateswara.jpg
Gomateswara.jpg
File:Language Map of Karnataka (2011 Census).svg
Language Map of Karnataka (2011 Census).svg
File:Halmidi oldKannada inscription mounted.JPG
Halmidi oldKannada inscription mounted.JPG
File:Vidhana Soudha 2012.jpg
Vidhana Soudha 2012.jpg
File:Infosys (4911287704).jpg
Infosys (4911287704).jpg

+ 9 more

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.