Karnataka lies to the South of Goa and
Maharashtra, to the west of
Andhra-Pradesh, to northWest of Tamil-Nadu and to North of Kerala. It has a seacoast of
nearly 260-km (320 kms with inundations). The Sahyadri Ranges run almost parallel to the
Western Ghats. These Ghats are the source of many east and west flowing rivers of
Karnataka. Three great rivers which originate in the Ghats are the Kaveri (or Cauvery)
Tungabhadra and the Krishna. The short westward flowing Sarawati has one of the
magnificent and one of the highest waterfalls in the world called the Jog-falls. Some of
the estuaries of the short fast flowing rivers which flow Westward down the Ghats, still
have mangroves forest, which are in good condition. Thick forests rich in flora and fauna
including Teak and Sandalwood (pleasant smelling wood, fine carvings can be made on this
wood, as it is soft) cover these Ghats. The Western Ghats, also called the Malnad or hill
country, in addition to the lush green forests and breath taking waterfalls has wildlife
parks. The Ghats and Tungabhadra region are a rich source of natural minerals like iron
and its harnessed to generate hydro-electricity. To the east of these ranges is the Deccan
Plateau. Major part of the state lies in this plateau. Being in the rain-shadow region
this area suffers occasionally from droughts. Vast area is scrubland and barren.
Irrigation alone can sustain this region.
Karnataka has a written history of more than 2000 years. At Rangampet, artifacts have been discovered, and evidence of hunter-gatherer communities have been found at several sites. Earliest settlers, it seems, chose thee region between Tungabhadra and the Krishna rivers. Apart from it being subjected to the rule of the Nanda's, Mauryas (India's first emperor-Chandragupta Maurya who renounced worldly possessions and became a Jain monk and retired to Sravanabelagola between Mysore and the Western Ghats) and the Satvahanas, Karnataka came to have indigenous dynasties like the Kadambas of Varanasi and the Gangas from the middle of the fourth century A.D. A Ganga minister also installed Gomateshwara monolith at Shravanabelagola.
The Chalukyas with their capital at Badami (500 A.D.-753 A.D.) ruled over vast areas between Narmada to the Kaveri from the time of Pulekeshin-II (6509-542A.D.). He even defeated the Great Harshavadhana of Kannauj. Fine monuments at Badami, Aihole and Patta dakal are the gift of this dynasty.
The Rastrakutas (753-973 A.D.) succeeded them. Kannada literature developed by leaps and bound during this period.
The Chaulukyas of Kalyana (973 to 1189 A.D.) and later the Hoysalas of Halebidu were responsible for building fine temples. They also encouraged fine arts and literature.
The Vijaynagar Empire (1336-1646 A.D.) was responsible for fostering indigenous traditions and gave impetus to art, religion and literature written in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telgu and Tamil. Trade was also encouraged. This empire reached its Zenith in mid 16th century with Hampi as its capital.
The Badamani Sultan's with their capital at Gulbarga and later Bidar and the Adilshah (dynasty) of Bijapur left their distinctive style of buildings of that time, for e.g. the fortress of Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar. They also encouraged Urdu and Persian literature. The Muslim influence in Karnataka today is because of these dynasties.
After the fall of the Peshwa (1818 A.D.) and Tipu Sultan (1799 A.D.) Karnataka came under the British. There was a revolution in every field with the advent of the British, like imparting of English education, transportation, communication, advent of new industries, introduction of new crops (like tobacco, Maize, chilies, groundnut, potato etc.)
The Hindu royal family from Mysore (with the exception of a 50 year period from 1831 when a British Commissioner was appointed) the Wodeyar's continued to administer the State even upto the re-organization of the State when the Maharaja was appointed the State Governor.
After independence the new Mysore State was created in 1956 and was renamed " Karnataka" in 1973.