Mulki

History

Present-day Karnad was historically a riverside settlement. Accounts by foreign travellers indicate that, in 1623 AD, Karnad functioned as a trading centre on the banks of the river. According to the Italian travellers Barbosa (1516 AD) and Della Valle (1623 AD), the area corresponding to present-day Mulki was inundated during that period. Over time, changes in the course of the river led to the emergence of land on which Mulki later developed. The Savant dynasty, which ruled the region from the 14th to the 18th century, initially established its capital at Elingje. The capital was later shifted successively to Seemanthoor and then to Padupanambur, where the royal family continues to reside. The book Mulkiya Savantaru, written by folk scholar Muddu Moodubelle, documents the history of Mulki and the Savant rulers. Historically, the region was known as Volalanke (also spelled Olalanke), a name believed to refer to its geographical character as an "island within a river," as it was once surrounded by the Shambhavi River. Subsequent shifts in the river's course connected the area to the mainland. In the 16th century, the saint and poet Kanakadasa is believed to have visited the town and renamed it Mulki. The name is variously thought to be derived either from the Kannada word moolike (meaning "herb"), reflecting the area's vegetation, or from the Urdu word mulk (meaning "land"). Mulki is also home to the historic Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha Temple, a significant religious and cultural centre in the town. The temple, locally known as SLVT, is dedicated to Lord Venkatesha, a form of Vishnu. It attracts devotees from across the region and is associated with traditional rituals, festivals, and cultural activities.

Geography

Mulki has an average elevation of 7 metres above mean sea level. It is located in the Karavalli region of Karnataka, an area noted for its suitability for agriculture and industrial development. The town lies along the banks of the Shambhavi River, which originates in Kudremukh and flows into the Arabian Sea at Sasthithlu Beach.

Most-observed species

• Brahminy Kite

  Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  1,744
• Red-whiskered Bulbul

  Pycnonotus jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,441
• White-throated Kingfisher

  Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,325
• House Crow

  Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 · Aves
  1,290
• Indian Peafowl

  Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,271
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  1,190
• Indian Pond-Heron

  Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) · Aves
  1,189
• Spotted Dove

  Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  1,152