Hubli

Hubli-Dharwad are the two great twin cities of Karnataka. If Hubli is an important Commercial center, then Dharwad is known for some of the India’s most prestigious Educational institutions. Dharwad is the main adobe for all prestigious education institutions, like Karnataka University, which caters to graduate and research students.

Hubli too has an engineering college like B.V.B College of Engineering and Technology, also the Karnataka Medical College & other institutions.

Hubli is a major industrial town of Dharwad district & second largest commercial place in Karnataka. Handloom textile units and many cotton ginning and processing mills are based in the city. The other name for Hubli city as per common man is “Chotta Mumbai “ for its business activities.

Hubli City, situated about 20 km east of Dharwad, is the commercial centre of the district. Cotton and peanuts (called groundnuts locally) are grown aplenty in the surrounding rural areas, and Hubli is a major trading center for both commodities. Fish from Karwar, a coastal town 165 km away, is packed and shipped from Hubli. It is also an important city for the Indian Railways, being the zonal headquarters of South Western Railway and the Hubli Division. It also has a wagon workshop.

Hubli is an important industrial centre, with more than 1000 allied small and medium industries already established. There are machine tools industries, electrical, steel furnitures, food products, rubber and leather industries and tanning industries. With the establishment of Bhoruka textile Mill, N.G.E.F and K.M.F. it has gathered momentum in industrial development.

Kundgol, den for renowned Hindustani classical music singers, is a town situated about 20 km south-east of Hubli. Sawai Gandharva, Kumar Gandarva, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi, etc. have had their birth as singers from the very place. On the occasion of celebration of golden jubilee of formation of Karnataka state called Suvarna Karnataka, the Hubli city was named as Hubballi. Also 10 cities of Karnataka state were renamed from November first marking the Karnataka State Formation Day also called as Kannada Rajyotsava Day.

Dharwad

Dharwad is also known for Dharwad Pedha, a sweet made from milk; she-buffaloes for their milk and other delicacies. Due to extremely favourable climatic conditions and because of the aesthetic people, it is often called the 'paradise of pensioners.

Dharwad is the seat of learning with Karnataka University and Agricultural University. There are large number of Arts, Science, Commerce and Law Colleges in the city. Karnataka Medical College, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Engineering and technical institutions are crowning additions to the educational facilities in the city. Due to these educational and industrial facilities, the city attracts considerable floating population.

The city has an advantageous location being surrounded by a number of important historical and mythological places within a radius of about 200 km. There are important tourist and historical places such as Ghataprabha, Gokak Falls, Soundati Yellamma Temple, Kittur, Badami, Pattadkal, Aihole, Kudalasangam, Bijapur, Bagewadi, Basavakallyan on northern side, on the western and southern sides there are Dandeli, Port-town of Karwar, Gokarn Magod falls, Ulavi, Banavasi, Jog-falls, Shimoga and Bhadravathi, Laxmeshwar and Tungabhadra Dam and on eastern side Hampi, Lakkundi and Mantralaya.

Dharwad is the cultural capital of Northern Karnataka. It is home of great maestros of Hindustani classical music such as;

Kumar Gandharva
Basavaraj Rajguru
Gangubai Hanagal
Bhimsen Joshi
Mallikarjun Mansur
Alur Venkatrao etc.

It is a centre of learning with numerous famous high schools, colleges and universitites.

Karnatak University
Nehru Science College
Anjuman Arts College
Sana College of Nursing & Medical Sciences
SDM College of Engineering and Technology
SDM College of Dental Sciences
SDM College of Medical sciences
Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences
BVB College of Engineering & Technology
Karnatak College, Dharwad
Kittel College
Basel Mission
St.Joseph's
University of Agricultural Sciences
S.K.Arts&H.S.Kotambri sc.Institute
PC Jabin College
Dakshina Bharata Hindi Prachar Sabha
Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya

It is home of many poets such as

Da Ra Bendre
Chennaveer Kanavi
V K Gokak
NK etc.

Spiritual personalities associated with this city are

Kumara Swamiji
Hurakadli Ajja
Mrityunjaya Appagalu
Mahanta Appagalu
Siddharudh Swami
Shishunal Sharif Saheb