• Overview: Belagavi district, formerly known as Belgaum district, is located in Karnataka, India. It is known as the sugar bowl of Karnataka with 150,000 hectares used for commercial sugarcane production. The district headquarters is in Belgaum (Belagavi), which houses the Second legislative building where the Karnataka Legislature holds a session once a year. The district is famous for its native sweet, Kunda.
• Population: According to the 2011 Census of India, Belagavi district has a population of 4,779,661, with 24.03% living in urban areas, making it the second most populous district in Karnataka. The district covers an area of 13,415 km², the largest in Karnataka.
• Geography: The district is bordered by Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra to the west and north. Major rivers include Krishna, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Mahadayi, Pandari, and Hiranyakeshi.
• History: Belgaum, originally Venugrama (Bamboo Village), is the Divisional Headquarters of North Karnataka. Halsi was once the capital of Kadamba kings. The region has been ruled by the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Rattas, Yadavas of Devagiri, Delhi Sultanate, Peshwa, and the British East India Company before becoming part of Belgaum district.
• Government and Politics: The district is divided into 15 taluks and three revenue sub-divisions. It includes Belgaum City Corporation, 17 municipalities, 20 towns, 485 gram panchayats, 1,138 inhabited villages, and 26 non-inhabited villages.
• Industry: The district has seven industrial areas, one special economic zone (SEZ), and 16 industrial estates. Key industrial areas include Kanbargi Auto Complex, Kakati, Honaga, Kangrali, Gokak, Kittur, and Kanagala. Industrial clusters include foundry, powerloom, artistic activities, wooden furniture, machine tools, jaggery processing, and leather clusters.