Karwar
History
Karwar was an ancient site of sea trade visited by the Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese, French and later the British. Ibn Battuta passed through this route during one or more of his journeys.
Significant and picturesque, the Sadashivgad fort of historical importance is now a popular tourist destination located by the Kali river bridge, which has been built at the confluence of the river and theArabian Sea.
In 1638 a rival English trading body, the Courteen Association, established a factory at Karwar actually the village named Kadwad, situated 6 km eastwards on the banks of the Kali river. It was a trade port frequented by traders from Arabia and Africa. Baitkhol port the current civil port of Karwar was famous for its natural harbor. The name Baithkhol is an Arabic term, Bait-e-kol, meaning bay of safety. Muslin was the chief commodity purchased but Karwar was also a source for pepper, cardamom, cassier and coarse blue cotton cloth. Situated on India's west coast, 50 miles south-east of Goa, Karwar was noted for its safe harbour. In 1649 the Courteen Association united with the British East India Company and Karwar became a Company factory.
In the Treaty of Mangalore signed in 1784, between Tipu Sultan and the East India Company, one finds reference to Karwar and Sadashivgad written as Carwar and Sadasewgude respectively.
Karwar was a part of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century. After the defeat of the Marathas in theThird Anglo-Maratha War, it became a part of British territory. It was a part of the Bombay Presidency until 1950.
The British made Karwar their district headquarters in 1862. Since 1862, the time from which it came underBombay Presidency, Karwar was described as a first rate harbour between Bombay and Colombo.
The renowned Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who visited Karwar in 1882, dedicated an entire chapter of his memoirs to this town. The 22 year old Rabindranath Tagore stayed with his second brother, Satyendranath Tagore, who was the district judge in Karwar.
Geography
The town is sandwiched between the sea on one side and the Western Ghats on the other. It is rich in flora and fauna.
Kali river (Kalinadi) is a west flowing river which takes its birth at a height of 600 m in the Western Ghats at the village of Bidi. Kali River is a prime source of irrigation in Karnataka and has a total length of 153 km. The Kali river flows through Karwar town and finally empties into theArabian Sea.
Fairs And Festivals
Rabindranath Tagore beach: Karavali Utsav: This is the biggest cultural event in Karwar, held on Rabindranath Tagore beach for four days. Recitals by famous artists lighten up this cultural extravaganza.
Shivaratri: Every year on the day of Shivaratri, Lord Shiva is worshipped at Yana, accompanied by a colorful fair. Thousands of people visit the fair.
