Nargund

Nargund Naragunda ನರಗುಂದ
—  city  —
Nargund Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 15.72°N 75.38°E / 15.72; 75.38
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Gadag
Elevation	605 m (1,985 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	32,548
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Website	www.naragundatown.gov.in

Nargund or Naragunda (Kannada: ನರಗುಂದ )is a town in Gadag district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

The name Naragunda means hills of jackals. The astrologist and a Jain Sridharacharya from this town was the author of Jatakatilaka.

History

Nargund was ruled by the Venkat Rao of the Bhave dynasty during the late 18th century on behalf of the Maratha Peshwas of Poona. Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore subjugated it in 1778. It was attacked by Tipu Sultan in 1784. The Marathas and the Bhave family and the Pethe family (who were their accountants) were humiliated by means of brutal torture and rape at the hands of Tipu and his commanders. They were imprisoned in Mysore until their release in 1799 by the Marathas. They returned to Nargund. Nargund is also famous for its cotton crop.

Geography

Nargund is located at 15.72°N 75.38°E / 15.72; 75.38. It has an average elevation of 605 metres (1984 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Nargund had a population of 32,548. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nargund has an average literacy rate of 56%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 45%. In Nargund, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

nargund was earlier called narigunda (ನರಿಗುಂದ)meaning hills of jackals. Probably jackals were abundant in this town. The famous astrologist and a Jain by name Sridharacharya is from this town. He has written Jatakatilaka. It is one of the big commercial city in gadag district