Athani

Athani is a major town and administrative taluk headquarter in the Belagavi (Belgaum) district of Karnataka. Situated in the northern part of the state near the Maharashtra border, it is the geographically largest taluk in the Belagavi district and is known as a commercial and agricultural center for Northern Karnataka.
​Key Information & Demographics
​Pincode: 591304
​Vehicle Registration: KA-71 (Athani) / KA-23 (Chikkodi)
​Primary Language: Kannada (Marathi is also widely spoken given its border location).
​Local Governance: Managed as a City Municipal Council. Historically, it is one of the oldest municipal towns in Karnataka, established back in 1853.
​Geography & Connectivity
​Location: Situated approximately 140 km northeast of Belagavi city, 70 km west of Vijayapura, and 55 km from Miraj (Maharashtra).
​Rivers: The Krishna River and its tributary, the Agrani River, flow through the taluk, driving extensive agricultural irrigation via projects like the Hipparagi Barrage.
​Connectivity:
​Road: Well connected via NH 548B (Sankeshwar–Athani–Vijayapura) and State Highways (SH 31, SH 72).
​Rail: Nearest major railway junctions are Ugar Khurd (~25 km) and Miraj Junction (~55 km).
​Air: Nearest regional airports are in Belagavi (IXG) and Kolhapur (NOP).
​Economy & Industry
​Sugarcane & Sugar Mills: Athani is one of Karnataka's leading sugarcane production centers, boasting over 1,50,000 acres under cultivation. The taluk houses multiple large-scale sugar factories and ethanol plants (e.g., Ugar Sugar Works, Athani Sugars).
​Agriculture: Other key crops include Jowar, Wheat, Grapes, Cotton, and Sunflower.
​Cottage Industries & Crafts: Athani is renowned across the region for traditional handcrafted Kolhapuri-style leather chappals (footwear) made by local artisan communities.
​Major Religious & Cultural Landmarks
​Gachchina Matha: A prominent Lingayat pilgrimage site dedicated to Shri Murugendra Shivayogi.
​Amrutlingeshwar Temple: An ancient temple dating back to the Chalukya period.
​Raghavendra Swamy Matha (Abhinav Mantralaya): Established by Shri Bhimdas.
​Kokatnur Yellamma Temple: Located in Kokatnur village, drawing thousands of devotees during regional fairs.
​Khilegavi Basaveshwar Temple: Historical site situated nearby in Khilegavi village.