Dharwad is known for its prestigious educational institutions. It houses the Karnataka University, which caters to graduate and research students. Dharwad is perhaps best known for its "Pedhas", a sweet made out of milk, and is a must-buy for any tourist visiting the city.
The word "Dharwad" means a place of rest in a long travel or a small habitation. For centuries, Dharwad acted as a gateway between the Malenaadu (western mountains) and the Bayalu seeme (plains) and it became a resting place for travellers. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word 'dwarawata', 'dwara' meaning "door" and 'wata' or 'wada'meaning "town". Another theory is that during the Vijayanagara rule of Dharwad there was a ruler by name "of Dharav" (1403), and Dharwad got its name from him.
Dharwad has contributed to some of the greatest exponents of Hindustani music - Sawai Gandharva, Mallikarjun Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi (now living in Pune), Basavaraj Rajaguru, Kumar Gandharva and Gangubai Hangal.
Places of interest
Someshwara Temple, Murugha Math, Shankara Matha, Dattatreya Temple, The Vithal Mandir, Vanavasi Rama Mandira, Temple of Milaralinga, Ulavi Basappana temple, Sri Raghavendra swami Matha, Nuggikari hanumata devara Gudi, Ganapati Temple, Durgadevi Temple, Laxmi-Narayana Temple, Tapovan
How to get there?
The Airport at Hubli (18 KM). There are other near by airports like Belgaum (80 KM), Goa(160 KM), Bangalore(420 KM) and Mumbai(550 KM). From each of above cities there are numerous luxury buses and trains.