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Ramanagara
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Ramanagara is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is approximately 50 kilometres from Bengaluru.
Key Information
The Bollywood movie Sholay was shot in 1975 at the surrounding hills of Ramanagara now called Ramagiri hills but also has nickname of Sholay hills. Also the 2022 Malayalam film Jana Gana Mana was also shot here.
The town was known as Shamsherabad or Ramserpuram at the ruling time of the Mysorean emperor, Tipu Sultan. It was called Closepet, after Sir Barry Close (1756–1813) in pre-independence times. This name is retained in geology. Then Rahim Nagar or Shamserabad was called Ramanagara. Ramanagara's name was based on the historical story of the Ramayana.[citation needed]
Demographics
[edit]As of 2011[update] India census, Ramanagara had a population of 95,167.[2] Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.[3] Ramanagara has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 58%.[3] In Ramanagara, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.[3]
Figures for the district, which was carved out of Bangalore Rural in September 2007, are not available as yet.[when?][citation needed] Now it is changed to Ramanagara district.[clarification needed]
Economy
[edit]
Ramanagara is well known for its sericulture, and is nicknamed Silk Town and Silk City. The silk produced in this region forms the input for the famous Mysore Silk. Ramanagara is the largest market for silk cocoons in Asia.[5] 50 tonnes of cocoon a day arrive at the town.[6] Ramanagara has extensive granite sites.
Closepet granites
[edit]

The Closepet granites are a major geological feature of this region and are from the Lower Proterozoic era. This belt of rocks extends in the north-south direction in 50 km belt. This belt has younger potassic granites and is believed to separate two distinct crustal blocks of Archaean age. The block to the west has low-grade granite-greenstone belts with iron-manganese ores and to the east are younger gneisses of granitic and granodioritic composition with gold-bearing schist belts.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ http://www.ramanagaracity.mrc.gov.in/en/council-members
- ^ a b "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Karnataka". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- ^ a b c "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "Language – India, States and Union Territories" (PDF). Census of India 2011. Office of the Registrar General. pp. 12–14, 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "The Times Group". Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ Archive (2017-06-20). "cocoon market". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ Atomic minerals directorate Archived December 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]Ramanagara
View on GrokipediaEtymology and History
Etymology
The name Ramanagara derives from the Sanskrit words "Rama" and "nagara," translating to "Rama's town," rooted in local legends from the Ramayana epic associating the area with Lord Rama's exile (vanavasa). According to tradition, Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, is believed to have resided in the region's hills, particularly around Ramagiri or Ramadevara Betta, during their forest wanderings, lending the town its mythological significance.[7][8] During the rule of Tipu Sultan (1782–1799), the town was known as Shamsherabad or alternatively Ramserpuram, names reflecting Islamic influences prevalent in the Mysore Kingdom at the time.[9] This nomenclature shifted following the fall of Srirangapatna in 1799. In 1800, under British colonial administration, the town was renamed Closepet in honor of Sir Barry Close (1756–1813), a prominent East India Company officer who played a key role in the Anglo-Mysore Wars and subsequent treaties. The name Closepet persists in geological contexts, referring to the ancient Closepet Granites formation in the area.[10][11] Post-independence, during the tenure of Kengal Hanumanthaiah as Chief Minister (1952–1956), the town was officially renamed Ramanagara to revive its cultural and mythological heritage tied to the Ramayana. This change symbolized a return to indigenous naming conventions after colonial rule.[9][12]Historical Development
Ramanagara's historical roots are intertwined with ancient Hindu epics, particularly the Ramayana. Local traditions associate the region with Lord Rama's forest exile, believing it formed part of his route through southern India; the Rama Temple near the town is revered as a site where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana rested during their journey.[13] In the medieval period, the area came under the influence of the Hoysala Empire from the 10th to 14th centuries, followed by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th to 16th centuries, during which local chieftains administered the territory amid the broader Kannadiga kingdoms' expansions.[14] Structures reflecting Vijayanagara architectural legacy in the region highlight this era's influence. By the 18th century, the region was incorporated into the Mysore Kingdom under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, who renamed the town Shamsherabad and fortified hilltop structures, including strengthening a local fort into an arms and ammunition storehouse in 1791 ahead of the Third Anglo-Mysore War.[15] The British colonial era began in 1799 after Tipu Sultan's defeat at Srirangapatna, integrating the area into the Madras Presidency; the town was renamed Closepet in honor of Sir Barry Close (1756–1813), a British East India Company general who served in the Mysore campaigns.[12] This period saw administrative consolidation under British rule until India's independence in 1947. Post-independence, the region became part of Mysore State, formed on November 1, 1956, via the States Reorganisation Act, which unified Kannada-speaking areas; the state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.[14] Administrative evolution continued with Ramanagara's elevation to district status on August 23, 2007, through bifurcation from Bangalore Rural District, incorporating Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura, and Magadi taluks to improve governance and regional development. This district was renamed Bengaluru South on May 23, 2025.[10][16] This change marked a significant step in decentralizing administration in southern Karnataka.Geography and Geology
Location and Climate
Ramanagara is situated approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Bengaluru, serving as the headquarters of Bengaluru South district (formerly Ramanagara district) within the Bangalore division of Karnataka.[17][18] The town lies at geographic coordinates of 12°43′N 77°17′E and has an average elevation of 747 meters above sea level.[19] The topography of Ramanagara features hilly terrain characteristic of the Deccan Plateau, with rocky uplands, plateaus, and flat-topped hills rising to around 900 meters in some areas.[20] The region is encircled by seven prominent hills—Shivaramagiri, Yatirajagiri, Somagiri, Krishnagiri, Revanasiddeshwara Betta, Sidilakallu Betta, and Jala Siddeshwara Betta—which contribute to its undulating landscape and make it a notable area for outdoor activities.[21] The Ramanagara taluk covers an administrative area of approximately 625 square kilometers.[12] Ramanagara experiences a tropical savanna climate, marked by distinct wet and dry seasons influenced by the southwest monsoon.[22] The average annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 900 millimeters, with the majority occurring during the monsoon period from June to September; for instance, the Ramanagara taluk records an average of 920.9 millimeters based on 1990–2014 data.[23] Temperatures typically vary between 20°C and 35°C throughout the year, with maximums reaching up to 34°C in April and May and minimums dropping to around 16°C during cooler months.[12]Geological Features
Ramanagara's geological landscape is dominated by the Closepet Granite, a significant intrusive formation that characterizes the region's rocky terrain. This granite belt, part of the larger Dharwar Craton in southern India, extends approximately 50 km from Ramanagara southward toward the Closepet area, forming a prominent feature amid the Peninsular Shield. The Closepet Granite is dated to the late Archaean era, with emplacement occurring between 2520 and 2510 million years ago, marking it as one of the ancient crustal components in the region.[24][18] The primary rock type consists of coarse-grained, potassium-rich granite outcrops, intruded into older Peninsular Gneiss complexes and influenced by nearby charnockite formations, which add to the area's metamorphic diversity. These granites resulted from syntectonic magmatic activity during the late Archaean, involving partial melting of the lower crust and mantle interactions under high-temperature conditions, leading to the uplift and exposure of resistant rock masses over billions of years. The resulting geology features rugged, weathered granite domes and inselbergs, contributing to the district's distinctive undulating topography with isolated hills.[25][26] This geological heritage earns Ramanagara the nickname "Rock City" due to its numerous granite hillocks and massive boulders, which create a dramatic skyline of over 100 such formations ideal for rock climbing and bouldering. Prominent examples include Ramadevara Betta, a monolithic hill rising to 1,164 meters above sea level that exemplifies the durable granite structures.[27] The fractured and jointed nature of these outcrops fosters microhabitats, supporting unique biodiversity hotspots with specialized flora and fauna adapted to the rocky substrates, such as endemic lichens and scrub vegetation.[3][9][28]Demographics
Population Statistics
According to the 2011 Census of India, the town of Ramanagara had a total population of 95,167, comprising 48,224 males and 46,943 females.[4] This marked a decadal growth of 19.95% from the 2001 Census figure of 79,365, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of approximately 1.84%.[4] The population density stood at about 6,549 persons per square kilometer, based on the town's municipal area of 14.53 square kilometers.[2] The age distribution indicated a relatively youthful demographic, with children under 6 years accounting for 12.25% of the population, or 11,657 individuals (5,927 males and 5,730 females).[4] The sex ratio was 973 females per 1,000 males, slightly below the state average, while the child sex ratio (for ages 0-6) was 967 females per 1,000 males.[29] Literacy rates in the town reflected urban advantages, with an overall rate of 79.92%, including 83.08% for males and 76.68% for females; this compared favorably to rural areas in the region, where literacy was lower due to limited access to education.[4] In the broader context of Bengaluru South district (formerly known as Ramanagara district until May 2025), the 2011 Census recorded a total population of 1,082,636 (548,008 males and 534,628 females), with a decadal growth rate of 5.05% from 2001 and a density of 308 persons per square kilometer across 3,516 square kilometers.[30] The district's sex ratio was 976 females per 1,000 males, and children under 6 years comprised 9.96% of the population (107,841 individuals).[30] Overall literacy was 69.22%, with males at 76.76% and females at 61.50%, highlighting a notable urban-rural divide where urban literacy exceeded 80% in key areas like the town.[30] Projections based on census trends estimate the district's population at approximately 1,140,000 as of 2025, reflecting continued modest growth influenced by migration and economic factors.[31]| Key Demographic Indicators (2011 Census) | Ramanagara Town | Bengaluru South District (formerly Ramanagara District) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 95,167 | 1,082,636 |
| Decadal Growth Rate (2001-2011) | 19.95% | 5.05% |
| Population Density (per sq km) | 6,549 | 308 |
| Sex Ratio (females per 1,000 males) | 973 | 976 |
| Child Population (0-6 years, %) | 12.25% | 9.96% |
| Literacy Rate (overall) | 79.92% | 69.22% |