Government committed to developing Kittur and Kakati as tourist destinations, says Karnataka Minister

Karnataka’s PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi and other residents welcome the Veera Jyoti in Kakati, the native village of Rani Channamma, near Belagavi as part of Kittur Utsav, on October 23, 2026.

The government of Karnataka is committed to developing Kittur and Kakati as Belagavi district tourist destinations.

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is in charge of the district, made the announcement on October 23 after welcoming the Veera Jyoti in in Kakati village, the birthplace of Rani Channamma, as part of the Kittur Utsav.

He said the government was drawing up comprehensive plans to develop the forts in Kakati and Kittur. “I will make sincere efforts to develop them as tourist destinations. That both the places are along the Pune – Bengaluru National Highway will add to their advantage,” he said.

“There are some hurdles in the work as part of the fort comes under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. We are looking for alternative sites for compensatory afforestation. Once that becomes available, steps will be taken to develop the fort and its surrounding areas,” he said.

A view of the Kittur fort in Belagavi district of Karnataka.

He said all steps would be taken with the support of the local residents, by taking them into confidence .

He said PWD officers were working to create a network of all-weather roads in the Yamakanamaradi constituency, that includes Kakati village. He said around 550 school rooms were being built in the constituency, with construction on 250 nearly complete.

“Today, women are at the forefront in every field. If provided with appropriate encouragement and quality education, they can become a valuable asset to society. Women possess the same potential to create history as Kittur Rani Chennamma did. It is the responsibility of society to provide the necessary opportunities for women to achieve success,” he said.

MLA Asif (Raju) Sait urged everyone to not only to remember the history of Rani Channamma’s struggle but also to incorporate her ideals in their own lives.

The guests inaugurated the 202nd ‘Kittur Rani Channamma Vijayotsava’ to commemorate the victory of Rani Channamma over the East India company in 1824. Teams of folk artistes performed along the procession. They included Jaggalige players, puppet dancers, and a Jhanj Pathak team.

Sri Shivasiddha Someshwara Shivacharya Swami, Sri Shivasiddha Rachayya Swami, Belagavi Police Commissioner Prakash Nikkam, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde, Assistant Commissioner Shravanakumar Nayak, and descendants of the Kakati family were present.