Karnataka is unique in many things. I will share few points which I know. List would be definitely longer than this.
- Biggest Coffee producer in India
Coffee in India is grown mainly in South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu with Karnataka alone accounting for 70% of the total coffee production. It is grown in Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Kodagu districts.
Coffee estate
- Hub of Sandalwood
Karnataka has abundance of Sandalwood tress in India. It is for this reason Kannada film industry is also named as Sandalwood. Many sandal products are manufactured and exported all over the world like Sandal soap and oil.
- Highest producer of silk in India.
Karnataka produces 9,000 metric tons of mulberry silk of a total of 14,000 metric tons produced in the country, thus contributing to nearly 70% of the country's total mulberry silk. In Karnataka, silk is mainly grown in the Mysore district.
- The Oriental Research Institute
The oldest surviving manuscript of the Arthashastra is in the Oriental Research Institute, originally set up as the Mysore Oriental Library in 18th century.
It has around 50,000 palm leaf manuscripts.
- Highest number of Tigers in India
Karnataka has the highest number of tigers with more than 408. Other states with significant populations included Uttarakhand (340), Madhya Pradesh (308), Tamil Nadu (229), Maharashtra (190), Assam (167), Kerala (136) and Uttar Pradesh (117).
- Only state where election ink is manufactured.
Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited located in Mysore is the only authorised centres having rights to manufacture the indelible black ink used to cast vote during Elections in India. So when you vote next time and see the ink on your finger, remember Karnataka :P.
- Only state to have an official permission to manufacture and supply Indian flags.
Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukhta Sangha in Hubli is the only unit in India that has an official permission to manufacture and supply Indian flags. It is in Bengeri in Hubli, is the only unit in India that is authorised to manufacture and supply the Flag of India.
official flag manufacturer in India
- Only state which celebrates state formation day in a very grand manner.
Karnataka is the only state which celebrates it’s state formation day in a very grand manner compared to other states with official holiday and numerous cultural activities. It is also called as Karnataka Rajyotsava which literally means festival of state. It is celebrated on Nov 1st every year.
We can see Karnataka flags on almost every vehicle and so many activities.
Karnataka Rajyotsava - Wikipedia
- Only state where a state flag is used.
Karnataka has unofficial state flag and it is used and respected by all. It is very common to see the flag on vehicles, flag polls in many streets.
- Only state where state anthem has the word Bharata.
Karnataka is one of the few states in India to have it’s own state anthem and it is the only state anthem to have the word Bharata (India). The anthem invokes Mother India first and then invokes Mother Karnataka.
ಜಯ ಭಾರತ ಜನನಿಯ ತನುಜಾತೆ,
ಜಯ ಹೇ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮಾತೆ!
Jaya bharata jananiya tanujate
Jai he Karnataka mate
Victory to you Mother Karnataka, the daughter of Mother India! is the meaning.
- Sanskrit speaking villages
There are two villages in Karnataka, Matturu and hosahalli, where Sanskrit is used for speaking.
- Sanskrit newspaper
Mysore in Karnataka is the only place in India where Sanskrit newspaper is published.
- Has the best quality buses run by the government.
KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) is the best when it comes to quality of buses in India. It is praised by non Karnataka people also. It has one of the best ticket booking websites.
- IT capital
Karnataka with Bangalore is the IT capital and has the maximum software exports.
- Rave Idli.
Karnataka is the only state where idly is made from both rice and rave. During the world war 2 when there was a lack of rice to prepare the idlis, MTR used Semolina(rave) instead of rice and in that experiment we got this delicious breakfast item called Rave Idli.