Bellary district
takes its name from the word Balari which refers to goddess Durugamma
as this goddess had marijested herself in the town. Some of the events
in the great epic Ramayana are related to this historical place. It
is said that Rama while searching for Sita met Sugreeva and Hanuman
at a place which is very near to Hampi, the celebrated capital of Vijayanagara
kingdom. The history speaks volumes about significant role it acquired
during Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas of Kalyana, Kalachuryas, Sevunas
and Hoysalas period. There upon the Vijayanagara rulers built the " City
of Victory " on the bank of Tungabhadra river at Hampi in Hospet
Taluk. This area which had witnessed the prosperity to its peak fell
into political turmoil after the fall of Vijayanagara in 1565. This
district was transferred to the erstwhile Mysore State on 1st October
1953 from Madras State. With the re-organisation of the districts during
1997, the number of taluks is reduced to 7. The Harapanahalli taluk
has been transferred to Davanagere district.
Bellary district is spread from South-West to North – East and
is situated on the eastern side of Karnataka State. The district is
situated between 14o 30’ and 15o50’ north latitude and
75o 40’ and 77o 11’ east longitude. This district is bounded
by Raichur district on the north by Dharwad district on the west, Chitradurga
and Davangere districts on the south and Anantapur, Kurnool districts
of Andhra Pradesh on east.It comes under the administrative control
of Gulbarga division and development jurisdiction of H.K.D.B, Gulbarga.
