Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 320
Sex Ratio Rank : 473
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : A
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 371 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 165 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Chikmagalur has a very low literacy level.
The literacy level among women and children is even more less.
Migration is on a rise, due to coffee and rubber plantation many
people migrate to our district in search of jobs.
The laborers do not send their children to school. Children remain
ignorant about many issues.
Brief About Chickmagalur District
Chickmagalur district was called Kadur district till 1947. It
is situated roughly in the south-western part of Karnataka state.
A large area of this district is 'malnad', i.e., a largely forested
hilly region of heavy rainfall. The district takes its name from
the headquarters town of Chickmagalur which literally means younger
daughter's town - Chikka+Magala+Ooru-(in Kannada). It is said
to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada,
the legendary chief of Sakrepatna.
Another part of the town bestowed on the elder daughter is known
as Hiremagalur. But some old inscriptions reveals that these two
places were known as Kiriya-muguli and Piriya-muguli.
Situated in a fertile valley south of the Baba-Budan hill range
is the headquarters town of the district. A centre of education,
trade and commerce. The town enjoys a salubrious climate and has
venerated monuments of all religions- Kodandarama temple a synthesis
of Hoysala and Dravidian styles of architecture, Jamia Mosque
and the new St.Jpseph's Cathedral with an attractive shell shaped
portico. Hiremagalur which is now part of Chickmgalaur town has
an Ishwara temple with a 1.22 metre high curious rotund figure
of Jademuni. The temple also has a Yoopastambha supposed to be
installed by King Janamejaya during his serpent sacrifice. There
is also a Parashurama temple and a Kali shrine.
Location of Chickmagalur District
The district is situated between 12° 54´ 42´´ and 13° 53´ 53´´
north latitude and between 75° 04´ 46´´ and 76° 21´ 50´´ east
longitude. Its greatest length from east to west is about 138.4
kilometers and from north to south 88.5 kilometers. General boundaries
are East - Tumkur district ,South - Hassan district, West - Western
Ghats which separates it from Dakhina Kannada (South Kanara),
North - East : Chitradurga district, North - Shimoga district.
Chickmagalur district has all this and more. Every little village
or town has some story behind it and some jatra or festival is
on throughout the year ... it could be one of the fifty festivities
celebrated during the year at Sri Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Dhakshinamnaya
Mahasamsthanam Sri Sharada Peetha at Sringeri or Sri Renuka Jayanthi
or Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Mahotsava at Rambha Puri Matha at Balehonnur.
The Dassera Mahotsava of Mailaralingeswami of Birur where one
can see the Dollu Kunitha and Veeragase, the thrilling and heroic
folk dance of the area, the Urs at Baba-Budan Giri, the Girija
Kalyana Mahotsava of Kalaseswaraswamy at Kalasa or the Veerabhadra
Devara Rathotsava of Koppa. Or any of the annual festivals of
local temples held in many of the villages and towns.
Suggi habba or harvest festival is celebrated with great rejoicing
in the rural parts and provides the rare opportunity of witnessing
Kolata, Salu Kunitha, Suttu Kunitha, the Raja Kunitha and Fire
walking too.
DEVANUR
35 Kms north-east from Chikmaglaur, is famous for the 17th century
Lakshmikantha temple and the 13th century Siddeshwara temple
TURUVANAHALLI
44 Kms north-east of Chikmagalur town, has a cave associated with
Nirvanaswami. The cave has an Ishwara Linga and is visited by
scores of pilgrims.
