Belgaum

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Belgaum is a town in northwest Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of Belgaum district. It derives its name from sanskrit 'Venugram' (village of bamboos). The town is situated nearly 2,500 ft (762 m) above sea-level. INDAL (Indian Aluminium Company) is located at Belgaum. Belgaum also has a number of training centres of the Indian Armed Forces, and an air base of the Indian Air Force. The British had a sizable infantry post here, having realised the military importance of its geographic location. Perhaps that is one of the reasons for Belgaum's sobriquet The Cradle of Infantry. Development of a Rail Network for movement of resources and later troops was one of the means employed by both the East India Company and the British to exert control over India. Belgaum's Railway Station, the Mahatma Gandhi Railway Station was established by the British. A signboard declaring the sobriquet can be seen hung on Platform 1 at the Railway Station.

Related Topics:
Karnataka - India - Belgaum district - Indian Air Force - Mahatma Gandhi

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Before 1956, Belgaum was a part of the then Bombay state. Hence, Marathi is the most widely spoken langauge in Belgaum city.

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