Gangavati, Karnataka

Gangavati is a city, municipality and taluk in the Koppal district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the main commercial hubs in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. It is also the largest city, in terms of area and population, in the Koppal district.

Geography
Gangavathi lies at an average elevation of 406 m, and is situated close to the Tungabhadra Dam. It is a taluka (administrative division) of Koppal, a district that was previously part of Raichur.

Within Gangavathi Taluk are thirty-eight gram panchayats, or self-governing villages.

Economy
Gangavathi is a commercial center and a major focal point for the Rice Milling industry, with its rural areas being important for Paddy cultivation. Gangavati has Asia's first Rice Technology Park.

Transport
Gangavati is well connected by road.

Rail
Gangavati has a railway station (Gangavathi railway station) and is located on the Mahabubnagar-Munirabad railway line.

Demographics
According to the 2011 India census, Gangavathi had a population of 1,05,529. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Gangavathi had an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 67%, and female literacy 48%. In Gangavathi 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Landmarks
Notable places of historic importance near Gangavathi are Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 14 km south-west of the town, which includes the Virupaksha Temple, the villages of Kanakagiri and Anegundi, and gurus' tombs at Nava Brindavana. The village of Hemagudda is 12 km away – it is the site of the 14th-century safe-haven Hemagudda Fort, and Dasara celebrations within a restored temple.