Hospet
Hospet or Hosapete is the largest and fastest-growing industrial city and district headquarters of the Vijayanagara district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Hospet is known as "the steel city of Karnataka".[2] It is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River and is 13 km (8.1 mi) from Hampi (Vijayanagar). The present day Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hospet is the connecting link between North and South Karnataka. It is 333 km (207 mi) from the state capital Bengaluru.
Hospet | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Hosapete | |
 Tungabadhra Dam near Hospet | |
| Nickname(s): Steel City, Back Door of Vijayanagara | |
  Hospet Location in Karnataka, India | |
| Coordinates: 15.2689°N 76.3909°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Vijayanagara |
| Talukas | Hospet, Harapanahalli, Hagaribommanahalli, Huvinahadagali, Kudligi, Kottur |
| Established | 1520 |
| Founded by | Krishnadevaraya |
| Named for | Nagalapura |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Municipal Council |
| • Body | CMC |
| Area | |
| • City | 70.12 km2 (27.07 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 479 m (1,572 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • City | 206,167 |
| • Rank | 224th India, 14th Karnataka |
| • Density | 2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 244,048 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 583 201, 02, 03, 11, 23, 25 |
| Telephone code | 08394 |
| Vehicle registration | KA-35 |
History
Hospet was built in 1520 AD by Krishna Deva Raya, one of the prominent rulers of Vijayanagara Empire. He built the city in honor of his mother Naagalaambika. The city was originally named Naagalapura; however, people referred to the city as Hosa Pete, which means "New City". The area between Hampi and Hospet is still called Naagalapura. This was the main entrance to the city of Vijayanagara for travellers coming from the west coast.
The current MLA for this area is Anand Singh.[3] The government approved a request to rename the city in October 2014, and Hospet was renamed "Hosapete" on 1 November 2014.[4]
The city currently holds the nation's tallest flagpole. During the Independence day on August 15, 2022, Hospet hoisted the tallest national flag on a 405 ft (123 m) pole.[5]
About
Hospet is well connected to several important cities in India. Ballari is located approximately 60 km (37 mi) away. Hosapete Junction railway station lies on Hubballi-Guntakal railway line.[6] The nearest airport from the city is Jindal Vidyanagar airport (Bellary airport) approximately 30 km (19 mi) away from Hospet which serves flights to and from Bangalore and Hyderabad every day. Bangalore is 330 km (210 mi) away. In addition, the city has a well-developed market area. Hospet is a well-known tourist destination, mainly due to its proximity to Hampi and Tungabhadra Dam.
The Municipal Ground is good for evening walks, the sports club, occasional exhibitions and is also surrounded by snacks counters.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census, the total population of Hospet was 206,167, of which 102,668 are male and 103,499 are female. The town has an average literacy rate of 79.30%, with male literacy at 85.95% and female literacy at 72.74%. In Hospet, 13.46% of the population is under 6 years of age.
References
- "District Census Handbook – Bellary" (PDF). Census of India. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- "Slr Metaliks Limited", Connect2India, 2020,
Since its inception in 2005 in Hospet; the steel city of Karnataka; SLR Metaliks has invested in innovation and has emerged as a touchstone of quality.
- "Mine lessees slug it out in Vijayanagar". The Hindu. 2 May 2013.
- Probhu, Nagesh (1 November 2014). "Good morning, Bengaluru. 12 cities in State to have new names from today". The Hindu.
- Maralihalli, Basavaraj (15 August 2022). "Karnataka: Tricolour to be hoisted on 405-foot pole on Independence Day". The Times of India.
- "Hosapete to Hubli Trains Details". Hospet.xyz. Retrieved 27 June 2019.