Beautiful Bantwal

Bantwal is a taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India. It is also a town by the same name. The adjacent township of B.C.Road (Bantwal Cross Road) serves as the commercial center.1

The Zilla Panchayats in Bantwal taluk are Golthamajalu, Kolnadu, Kurnadu, Maani, Pudu, Sangabettu, Sarapady, Thumbe and Vittla (Vittal).

History

In the olden days, the town of Bantwal was known for trade. However, flooding caused by the river Netravathi during the monsoons compelled traders and newer settlements to move to the adjacent township of B.C.Road due to its higher altitude. Gradually, most Government offices shifted to B.C. Road.

Prior to 1852, Bantwal Taluk was the largest Taluk in the entire of Canara Province (then comprising of North Canara, Udupi, Mangalore and Kasargod Districts) with 411 villages and a total population of 1,69,416. In 1852, a portion of it was formed into the Taluk of Puttur. (Source: "A Gazetteer of Southern India" published in 1855, searchable via Google Books)

According to this book, Buntwal (as it is spelt in the Gazetteer) was an enterpot for the produce of the province on its way to the Mysore Country and had derived great benefit of late years from the extension of the coffee trade. It contained about thousand scattered houses inhabited by Moplas, Bunters, Konkanies, and a few Jains.

Demographics

As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Bantwal had a population of 36,829. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bantwal has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 53% of the males and 47% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Mostly Bunts, Christians, Bearys and Gaud Saraswats inhabited the town of Bantwal.

Economy

The town is still considered an important trade center for groceries, tobacco, hardware and most importantly gold.

Geography

The taluk is flanked by the state of Kerala in the south, and the towns of Belthangady and Puttur in the east, the city of Mangalore in the west and Karkala in the north. It covers an area of about 720 km square. National Highway 48 cuts through B. C. Road. The highway serves as the conduit for several arterial routes leading to neighboring towns with Mangalore. Mangalore is connected with other cities in Karnataka such as Mysore and Bangalore via NH-236.

The Grama Panchayats in Bantwal taluk are Golthamajalu, Kolnadu, Kurnadu, Maani, Pudu, Sangabettu, Sarapady, Thumbe, Veerakumba and Vittla (Vittal).

Nethravathi river passes in the middle of the taluk. Water supply to Mangalore city is provided by a vented dam at Thumbe to Nethravathi. There is a bridge over Netravathi river at Panemangalore.

Some other places in Bantwal taluk of interest are Ajilamogaru, Alike, Karanje, Naraharibetta and Nandavara.

Education and Places to See

List of schools

• • SVS High School, Bantwal
  • SVS English School, Vidyagiri, Bantwal
  • SVS temple school
  • Infant Jesus school, Modankap
  • Deepika highschool, Modankap
  • Carmel Convent School, Modankap
  • Holy Saviour School, Agrar
  • Christa Jyothi HighSchool, Agrar
  • St.Jacob's School, Farla
  • St Patrick's hr primary school siddakatte
  • Govt pre university college siddakatte
  • B.A, thumbay
  • Sri Sharada High School, Panemangalore
  • Sri Rama High School, Kalladka

List of colleges

• General Courses
  • Sri Venkataramana Swamy College, Bantwal (www.svscbantwal.org)
  • P.A. Fr. Gr. College, Nadupadavu, Kairangala.
  • Govt High school & Junior college, Mudipu
• Engineering
  • P A College of Engineering, Nadupadavu, Kairangala.
  • Canara Engineering College, Benjanapadavu.
  • Government Polytechnic Bantwal

Places to See

• Temples
  • Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple: is one of the oldest temples in the region and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
  • Shri Tirumala Venkatramana Swamy Temple of Bantwal is very famous. It is believed that Lord Venkateshwara or Balaji came here all the way from Tirupati.
  • Shri Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Durgamba temple at Nandavara: is another historical and famous temple situated in the banks of Netravati River.
  • Shree Gopalakrishna Devasthana, Kairangala
  • Shri Seetharam Temple
  • Shri Somanatheshwara temple,Near B.C.Road
  • Shri Chandikeswari Temple,B.C.Road
  • Rakhteshwari Temple
  • Shri Hanumanth Temple
  • Shri Krishna Math
  • Banks of River Netravathi
  • Panekala Padpu and its history
  • Shri Mahamaya Temple
  • Shri Narahari Temple, Kalladka
  • Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Kadeshivalaya
  • Shri Panchalingeswara Temple.Vittal
  • Shri Karinjeshwara Temple, Karinje, Bantval Taluk. This temple is situated at a place called Karinja of Kavalamudur village of Bantval taluk. 38 km away from Mangalore and 14 km away from Bantval. Could be reached from (2 km) a place called Vogga on Mangalore-Belthangady route. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvathi. The temple stands high on the hill amidst beautiful surroundings. The view of the lake below the hill will certainly cool one's eyes. Every year in months of February — March, Shivaratri, the festival of Lord Shiva is celebrated here with much festivity, which attracts large masses of people.
  • Shri Rajarajeswari Temple, Polali, Bantval Taluk, placed at 20 km away from the city and 20 km away from Mangalore city and 10 km away from Mangalore Airport(Bajpe Airport)
  • Nara Hari Betta, Bantwal: This Shiva temple is also historically known as a place where Nara and Hari, incarnations of Lord Vishnu were supposed to have performed the penance. This hill top temple is also known for its lyrical ponds, which are in the shape of Shanka (Conch), Chakra (Wheel), Gadha (Heavy Weapon) and Padma (Lotus), the weapons of Vishnu. Taking a holy dip in these ponds on the day of Karthik Somvar is considered to be sacred according to the Hindu mythology. Location: It is situated 25 km from Mangalore in Bantwal.
  • Shri Pancha Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kakyabeedu, 12 km from Sri Karinjeshwara Temple on Vagga-Uli- Uppinagady Road

• Daiva (Bhuta) Shrines
  • "Panolibail Kalluti Daiva Sthana" which is most famous sthana situated in few km distance from bantal. This holy place famous for "Agelu".

• Churches
  • The Most Holy Saviour Church on the hills of Agrar three kilometers away from the town is more than three hundred years old and has got beautiful paintings on the walls similar to the ones at the St. Aloysius Chapel.
  • Infant Jesus Church, Modankap is also a three hundred year old church which is the main church of the Bantwal deanery headed by the Vicar Var.
  • Our Lady of Vailankani ChurcH, Farla
  • Our Lady of Loretto Church, loretto.
  • St Patrick Church Siddakatte.
  • [Church Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus..Shamboor.(Shambur)**..]

LOCATION: This church is situated at a distance of 37 km from Mangalore, 6 km from Panemangalore and is surrounded by Borimar, Mogarnad, Bantwal, Modankaup and Allipade parishes