Bantwal

History

It is situated on the banks of River Nethravati on the National Highway 73 (India). The adjacent town of B.C. Road (Bantwal Cross Road) serves as the commercial center. Previously, the town of Bantwal was known for trade with the Persian Gulf states, being so close to Mangalore. However, flooding caused by the river Netravathi during the monsoons compelled traders and newer settlements to move to the adjacent city of B.C. Road due to its higher altitude. Gradually, most Government offices shifted to B.C. Road. Prior to 1852, Bantwal Taluk was the largest taluk in the entire of Canara Province (then comprising North Canara, Udupi, Mangalore and Kasaragod Districts) with 411 villages and a total population of 1,69,416. In 1852, a portion of it was formed into the Taluk of Puttur. Bantwal was an entrepot for the produce of the province on its way to the Mysore Country and had derived a great benefit of late years from the extension of the coffee trade. It contained about thousand scattered houses inhabited by Billava, Bunts, Bhandary, Ganigas, Kulals, Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Konkani Catholics and a few Jains.

Geography

Bantwal is located along the coast of river Netravathi. Every year due to heavy rains the river floods. National Highway 73 cuts through B. C. Road. The highway serves as the conduit for several arterial routes leading to neighbouring towns with Mangalore. Mangalore is connected with other cities in Karnataka such as Mysore and Bangalore by National Highway 275 (India) and National Highway 75 (India) respectively. It is well connected to Uppala through Uppala-Mudipu-Bantwal Highway.

Most-observed species

• Red-whiskered Bulbul

  Pycnonotus jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,939
• House Crow

  Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 · Aves
  3,259
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  2,989
• White-cheeked Barbet

  Psilopogon viridis (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  2,738
• Brahminy Kite

  Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  2,707
• Purple-rumped Sunbird

  Leptocoma zeylonica (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,642
• Common Tailorbird

  Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) · Aves
  2,475
• Asian Koel

  Eudynamys scolopaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,227