Karnataka has 27 main cities that are classified as significant urban centers based on population, economic activity, and administrative importance. These include major cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Tumakuru, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Udupi, Vijayapura, and others. These cities play a crucial role in Karnataka’s economy, education, and tourism.
| No. | City | District |
| 1 | Bangalore | Bangalore Urban |
| 2 | Mysore | Mysore |
| 3 | Hubballi-Dharwad | Dharwad |
| 4 | Kalaburagi | Kalaburagi |
| 5 | Mangalore | Dakshina Kannada |
| 6 | Belagavi | Belagavi |
| 7 | Davanagere | Davanagere |
| 8 | Bellary | Ballari |
| 9 | Vijayapura | Vijayapura |
| 10 | Shimoga | Shimoga |
| 11 | Tumkur | Tumakuru |
| 12 | Raichur | Raichur |
| 13 | Bidar | Bidar |
| 14 | Udupi | Udupi |
| 15 | Hospet | Vijayanagara |
| 16 | Gadag-Betageri | Gadag |
| 17 | Robertsonpet | Kolar |
| 18 | Hassan | Hassan |
| 19 | Bhadravati | Shimoga |
| 20 | Chitradurga | Chitradurga |
| 21 | Kolar | Kolar |
| 22 | Mandya | Mandya |
| 23 | Chikmagalur | Chikmagalur |
| 24 | Gangavati | Koppal |
| 25 | Bagalkot | Bagalkot |
| 26 | Ranebennur | Haveri |
| 27 | Arsikere | Hassan |
Karnataka is home to numerous cities that play a vital role in its economic, cultural, and educational landscape. From Bangalore, the IT capital of India, to Mysore, known for its royal heritage, each city has its unique significance in the state’s development. Below is the table of cities in Karnataka .
The largest cities in Karnataka based on population and area are:
The five biggest cities in Karnataka by population are Bangalore (8.5 million), known as the IT hub; Mysore (998,550), famous for its heritage; Hubballi-Dharwad (950,788), a trade and education hub; Kalaburagi (847,045), rich in history; and Mangalore (627,000), a coastal business center.
The following is the overview of 27 cities in karnataka
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is India's IT hub, often called the "Silicon Valley of India." It is famous for its tech parks, educational institutions, and pleasant climate. The city has beautiful gardens like Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, along with cultural landmarks such as Bangalore Palace and Vidhana Soudha.
Mysore, known as the "Cultural Capital of Karnataka," is famous for its royal heritage and the grand Mysore Palace. The city hosts the famous Dasara festival, attracting thousands of tourists. Mysore is also known for its silk sarees, yoga centers, and well-planned streets, making it a peaceful place to live.
Hubli and Dharwad are twin cities in North Karnataka. Hubballi is an important commercial center, while Dharwad is known for its educational institutions, including IIT Dharwad. The cities are famous for Dharwad Peda, classical music, and temples. They have excellent road and rail connectivity and are growing as a business hub.
Kalaburagi, formerly called Gulbarga, is known for its rich history and Islamic architecture. The city is home to the famous Gulbarga Fort and Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah. It is also a major center for agriculture, producing pulses like tur dal. The region experiences high temperatures but has a strong cultural heritage.
Mangalore is a coastal city known for its beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and rich culture. It is an important port city and has a strong banking sector. The city is home to educational institutions like NITK. Temples, churches, and Yakshagana performances make Mangalore a vibrant tourist destination.
Belagavi, also known as Belgaum, is Karnataka’s second capital. The city has a pleasant climate and is famous for its historical sites like Belgaum Fort. It is an industrial hub with defense and aerospace industries. The city is also known for its unique sweet dish, Belgaum Kunda, and vibrant culture.
Davanagere is an emerging commercial and educational hub. It is known for its textile industry and is called the "Manchester of Karnataka." The city is also famous for its delicious Benne Dosa. With good road connectivity and growing industries, Davanagere is developing into a significant urban center.
Bellary is known for its iron ore mining industry. The city has historical importance with the Bellary Fort built on a massive rock hill. It is close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi, making it a key tourist attraction. The region has a dry climate but is economically significant.
Vijayapura, formerly Bijapur, is known for its stunning Indo-Islamic architecture. It houses the iconic Gol Gumbaz, which has the world’s second-largest dome. The city has several mosques, forts, and historical sites. It was an important center of the Deccan Sultanate and has a strong cultural and historical presence.
Shimoga, known as the "Gateway to Malnad," is surrounded by lush green forests and waterfalls like Jog Falls. The city has rich agriculture, producing areca nut and rice. It is also home to several temples and has a cool climate, making it a beautiful destination in Karnataka.
Tumkur is an industrial and educational city close to Bangalore. It is home to Siddaganga Math and many engineering colleges. Known for its coconut plantations, the city is rapidly developing as a smart city. Tumkur has a growing economy, with industries in steel, food processing, and textiles.
Raichur is an important agricultural and industrial city in North Karnataka. Located between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, it is known for rice cultivation. The city has historical significance with its old fort and ancient temples. It is also home to a major thermal power station.
Bidar is famous for its rich history and architectural wonders. The Bidar Fort and Bahmani tombs showcase Indo-Islamic art. The city is also known for Bidriware, a traditional metal handicraft. Bidar has a pleasant climate and is a major pilgrimage site with important Gurdwaras and temples.
Udupi is a coastal city known for its Krishna Temple and delicious vegetarian cuisine. It is also an educational hub, housing Manipal University. The city has beautiful beaches like Malpe and is famous for boat-building and fishing industries. Udupi attracts spiritual seekers and food lovers alike.
Hospet is known as the gateway to Hampi, the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is a rapidly growing city with tourism and mining industries. Tungabhadra Dam, near Hospet, provides water to agriculture. The city has a rich history and attracts visitors from all over the world.
Gadag is known for its historic temples and cultural heritage. The Trikuteshwara Temple is a famous attraction. The city is an important trade center and has a strong presence in Kannada literature. It is also a hub for agriculture, with major crops like groundnuts and cotton.
Robertsonpet, located in Kolar, is famous for the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), one of India’s earliest gold mining areas. Though gold mining has declined, the city has historical significance. It has pleasant weather and is known for its colonial-era buildings and temples.
Hassan is known for its coffee plantations and the famous Belur and Halebidu temples, showcasing Hoysala architecture. It is a peaceful city with good educational institutions. The ISRO Master Control Facility is also located here, making it an important scientific center.
Bhadravati is an industrial city known for its steel and paper industries. It is surrounded by forests and has a scenic setting. The city has ancient temples and is a significant contributor to Karnataka’s economy.
Chitradurga is famous for its massive fort with stunning architecture and natural defenses. The city has a rich history and is also known for wind energy projects. It plays an important role in agriculture and trade.
Kolar is historically known for its gold mines. Today, it is famous for mango production and silk industries. The city has important temples like Kolaramma Temple and Someshwara Temple.
Mandya is known as the "Sugar City" because of its vast sugarcane farms. It is home to the famous Krishna Raja Sagara Dam and serves as a major agricultural hub in Karnataka.
Chikmagalur is a beautiful hill station known for its coffee plantations and breathtaking landscapes. It is a major tourist destination with waterfalls, trekking spots, and temples.
Gangavati is an important rice-growing region and a commercial hub. It is close to Hampi, making it an important tourist center.
Bagalkot is known for the historic sites of Badami, Aihole, and Pattadakal, which are famous for Chalukyan architecture.
Ranebennur is a trade center known for agriculture and industries. It has good transport connectivity and growing commercial significance.
Arsikere is a small town famous for coconut plantations and historic temples, offering a peaceful environment.
Bangalore (Bengaluru) is the largest city in Karnataka, both in terms of population (8.5 million) and area (741 sq. km). It is known as the IT capital of India and has a vibrant economy, education system, and cultural diversity.
Mysore is the second-largest city in Karnataka, with a population of nearly 1 million. It is famous for Mysore Palace, silk industries, and the Dasara festival, attracting thousands of tourists annually.
The top 5 biggest cities by population are Bangalore (8.5 million), Mysore (998,550), Hubballi-Dharwad (950,788), Kalaburagi (847,045), and Mangalore (627,000). These cities are major centers for education, economy, and culture.
The major coastal cities of Karnataka are Mangalore, Udupi, and Karwar. These cities are known for beaches, seafood, ports, and temples, making them important trade and tourism hubs.
Mysore is considered the cultural capital of Karnataka due to its rich heritage, royal history, art, and festivals like the world-famous Mysore Dasara.
Hubballi-Dharwad are the twin cities of Karnataka. While Hubballi is a commercial and industrial hub, Dharwad is known for its educational institutions and cultural heritage.
Hampi (near Hospet) is the most historically significant city in Karnataka, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, known for its stunning ancient temples and ruins.
The coldest cities in Karnataka are Chikmagalur, Coorg (Madikeri), and Sakleshpur, known for their cool climate, coffee plantations, and hill stations, making them popular tourist destinations.
Apart from Bangalore, some of the fastest-growing cities in Karnataka are Mysore, Hubballi-Dharwad, Tumakuru, and Mangalore, due to rapid industrialization, urban development, and improved infrastructure.
Kolar is famous for the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), once known as the largest gold mining center in India, though mining operations have significantly declined over the years.
Davanagere is called the "Manchester of Karnataka" due to its large textile industry and cotton mills. It is a key industrial hub and is also famous for Davanagere Benne Dosa.
Belagavi (Belgaum) is the second capital of Karnataka, known for its pleasant climate, defense industries, and trade hub with Maharashtra and Goa.
Chikmagalur is famous for coffee plantations and is often called the "Coffee Land of Karnataka." It is a popular hill station with scenic landscapes.
The major industrial cities in Karnataka include Bangalore (IT & startups), Hubballi-Dharwad (manufacturing), Mangalore (port & banking), Belagavi (defense & aerospace), and Ballari (mining & steel production).
Dakshina Kannada district (Mangalore) has the highest literacy rate, with over 88% literacy, known for its educational institutions, including medical and engineering colleges.
Bangalore is considered the best city to live in due to its job opportunities, infrastructure, and cosmopolitan culture. Mysore is another preferred city for its clean environment and peaceful lifestyle.
Karwar, a coastal city in Uttara Kannada district, is the closest to Goa and is known for its beautiful beaches, naval base, and seafood.
Chitradurga is famous for wind energy projects, with large wind farms generating renewable electricity, making it an important city for green energy.
Bangalore, Mangalore, and Hubballi-Dharwad have international airports. Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport is one of the busiest airports in India.
Mandya is called the "Sugar City" because of its large sugarcane plantations and sugar mills, contributing significantly to Karnataka's sugar production.
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