Gokak
Gokak is a town and taluk headquarters in the Belgaum District of Karnataka state, India. It is located around 70km from Belgaum at the confluence of two rivers, the Ghataprabha and the Markandeya. The population of the city is approximately 67,000 and the common language in use is Kannada. The town contains old Hindu temples with inscriptions.
Gokak is surrounded by three hills. The Ghataprabha, which has water almost throughout the year, is the chief source of water for local people living in the surrounding villages.
Gokak is a place of philosophical and historical significance. There was once was a dispute and a battle between Rani Abbakka and Gokak Kotawals. A fort can still be seen at the western side of the city.
The Mallikarjun temple, also known affectionately as the "Maliksaab Temple", stands atop a hill, also called the Malik-saab hill. The tomb of the Raja of Kittur Mallasarja is at the nearby Duradundeshwar temple in Arabhavi Math.
During the British rule in India, the Forbes Spinning Mill was started here, and is functional to this day, providing jobs for thousands of people. A small scale hydroelectric power generation plant was also set up in Gokak Falls, one of the oldest such projects in the whole of Asia. This plant is also in good working condition to this day, and is used by the Spinning Mill and the nearby area.
Gokak is also renowned for its sweets, which are known all over India, such as karadantu (a Kannada term, which literally means fried edible gum), a sweet richly stuffed with nuts and edible gum, and ladagi laadu.
The town also specialises in the manufacture of wooden toy fruits, flowers, etc. which are then painted, polished and encased in transparent boxes.
The town is growing rapidly in terms of industries, business, as well as the fields of education, arts, literature and folk-art. It is associated with famous Kannada writers such as Shri Krishna Murty Puranik, Anand Kanda, Basavaraj Kattimani and Kundanagar. Many popular folk-artists such as Padmashri Dr.Chandrashekar Kambar, Ningayya Swami Pujari, Ishwarappa Minachi, Yallappa Pujeri, Dr. Hatapaki and Ishwarachandra Betageri are also associated with the town.
Places of interest
- Godachinamalki Falls
- The Gokak Falls is a tourist attraction located about 6 kilometres northwest of the town.
- Hidkal Dam
- Mahalingeshwar temple in Gokak Falls