Dharwad is a city in the north-western part of the state of Karnataka, India. Together with the adjoining city of Hubli, it forms the twin-city municipal corporation of Hubballi-Dharwad, the second-largest urban agglomeration in Karnataka after Bengaluru. Dharwad serves as the administrative headquarters of the Dharwad district and is widely recognised as a centre of education, Hindustani classical music, and Kannada literature.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Dharwad |
| Region | North Karnataka |
| Civic body | Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) |
| Languages | Kannada (official), Urdu, Marathi, Hindi |
| Known for | Education, Hindustani music, Dharwad pedha, Kannada literature |
The name Dharwad is generally traced to the Sanskrit and Kannada term dwarawata, meaning "a gateway" or "a resting place on a long journey." The city historically lay on the route between the Deccan plateau and the coastal regions, and the name reflects this transitional position.
Dharwad lies on the western edge of the Deccan plateau at an elevation of roughly 750 metres above sea level, giving it a milder climate than much of interior Karnataka. It sits on the transition zone between the lateritic uplands of the Western Ghats and the black-soil plains of the Deccan. The city is about 20 km west of Hubli, with which it is connected by a continuous urban corridor along National Highway 48 (the old Pune–Bengaluru route).
Dharwad's recorded history reaches back to the period of the Chalukyas of Kalyani, with inscriptions from around the 12th century mentioning the settlement. It later passed under the Seuna Yadavas, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Bahmani Sultanate and its successor the Adil Shahis of Bijapur.
A fort was constructed at Dharwad during the Vijayanagara period and was strengthened under Bijapur. After the decline of Bijapur, the region came under the Mughals, then the Marathas, and briefly under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Following the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1791 and again in 1799, Dharwad passed to the British East India Company.
Under British rule, Dharwad became the headquarters of a large district of the Bombay Presidency. With the linguistic reorganisation of Indian states in 1956, Dharwad district was transferred from Bombay State to the new state of Mysore, which was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Dharwad is administered along with Hubli by the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, formed in 1962 by merging the municipalities of the two cities. The corporation is divided into wards represented by elected councillors, with a Mayor heading the council and a Commissioner serving as the chief executive.
Dharwad is among the oldest centres of higher education in Karnataka. Notable institutions include: