Kollegal

Kollegala is one of the major taluks in the Chamrajnagar District of Karnataka State in the south of India. It is also the largest taluk in Karnataka, Kollegala is well known for its silk industry which attracts traders from all over the state.HistoryUntil 1956, Kollegala was part of the Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 moved Kollegala to Karnataka primarily organising it along linguistic lines. Kollegala is the name derived from the names of two hermits namely 'Kauhala' and 'Galava' who were believed to be instrumental in the development of Kollegala. Kollegala, also called "Silk City", is famous for its hand loom silk saree industry. Kollegala is one of the larger taluks in Karnataka and was previously the largest. Plans are underway to divide Kollegala, making Hanur the capital of the new taluk in the Chamrajanagar District. This separation has been ongoing for years is not yet entirely in effect.Kollegala serves as a center for pre-university education in the region. Well known schools in Kollegala include Lions High School, Sree Vasavi Vidya Kendra, St. Francis Assisi High School, Nisarga Independent PU college, Seventh Day Adventist High School, and Mudigundam Gurukaar Subappa Veerappa (MGSV), and Mahadeshwara Degree College.Kollegala was one of the areas which played host to the activities of Veerappan(jan 18,1952-oct 18,2004), a notorious bandit who smuggled sandalwood and poached elephants for their tusks.