Joann47Q9259 at 08:56, 3 May 2026

2026-05-03T08:56:15Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Balkunje
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Karnataka
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|13.1181|N|74.8430|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Seal of Karnataka.svg|Emblem of Karnataka}} [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name2 = [[Dakshina Kannada]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Tulunaad]] ([[South Canara]])
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 24
| population_total = 1551<ref>https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/41251</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 =[[kannada language|Kannada]], [[Tulu language|Tulu]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]]

| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
574154
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KA]]
| registration_plate = KA-19
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Mangaluru]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency|Dakshina Kannada]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Moodabidri Assembly constituency|Moodabidri]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Balkunje''' is a [[panchayat town]] located at [[Mangalore taluk]] in [[Dakshina Kannada district]] in the Indian [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Karnataka]]. It is on the banks of [[Shambhavi River]]. It is next to the small village of [[Kavathar]], [[Karnire]]. Its nearest town is [[Palimar]] in [[Udupi District]].

==History==
Balkunje, positioned along the [[Shambhavi River]] in the [[Tulu Nadu]] region of coastal Karnataka, owes its early settlement to the fertile alluvial soils suitable for [[paddy field|Paddy]] and [[coconut]] cultivation, characteristic of riverine villages in Dakshina Kannada. Historical patterns in the area suggest habitation by [[Tulu language|Tulu]]-speaking communities, including agrarian tribes like the Billavas and [[Bunt (community)|Bunts]], who established villages for farming and seasonal trade during the medieval period under local dynasties. The proximity to ancient ports like Barkur, a capital of the [[Alupa kingdom]] from the 8th to 14th centuries, contributed to regional stability and land grants that encouraged permanent agrarian communities in Tulu Nadu.
Religious foundations in early Balkunje reflected the indigenous Tulu traditions of bhuta aradhane, involving worship of ancestral spirits and gramadevatas (village deities) through rituals like [[Buta Kola]], which served as communal safeguards against misfortune and emphasized causal links between natural forces and human affairs. These practices predated widespread Hindu temple construction but integrated with Shaivite influences, as seen in regional temples dedicated to Shiva lingas erected under Alupa patronage around the 11th century.
Jainism also left traces in Tulu Nadu through merchant settlements and basadis (Jain temples), though specific evidence in Balkunje remains sparse, with epigraphical records from nearby sites attesting to early medieval religious pluralism.
The transition to formalized [[Christianity]] occurred later amid Portuguese colonial influence in the 16th century, but organized institutions emerged in the 20th century. St. Paul's Church was established on January 1, 1915, as a chapel detached from Kirem and [[Kinnigoli]] parishes to better serve local Catholics, growing to encompass 220 families and 860 parishioners by the early 21st century. This development paralleled the 1930 founding of Providence Convent by the Bethany Sisters, focusing on education and healthcare, marking a shift toward institutional Christianity alongside enduring traditional practices

==Geography==
It has an average elevation of 24 metres.
It is in the [[Kanara|Karavalli]] region of [[karnataka]], where it is suitable for agriculture and building factories. It is next to the River Shambhavi, which originates from [[kudremukh]] and ends at mulki with the [[Arabian Sea]].

==Agriculture==
The major crops grown are paddy and sugar cane.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1121864|title=Mangaluru: Balkunje supplies sugarcane for Ganesh Chaturthi to both DK, Udupi districts|website=daijiworld.com}}</ref>

==Transport==
The town is well connected by roads to [[Palimar]], [[Padubidri]], [[Bajpe]], [[Kateel]],[[Karnire]] and [[Kinnigoli]] by district road. But due to aging structure of the bridge between Balkunje and Palimar, it is closed for heavy vehicles and private buses. Buses used to ply from Balkunje to Palimar and Padubidri and Adve. But due to bridge closing towards Palimar buses ply from Balkunje or either Karnire to towns like Kinnigoli and Kateel.

The nearest airport to this town is [[Mangalore International Airport]], which is around 30 km from the village.

Although the nearest railway station is [[Nandikoor railway station|Nandikur railway station]], people prefer to go at [[Mulki railway station]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/konkan-railway-announce-running-of-special-trains/articleshow/109538300.cms|title=Konkan Railway announce running of special trains|work=The Times of India |date=23 April 2024|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref> as it is the nearest station for people to go to various big cities like [[Mumbai]], [[Murudeshwar]], and [[Mangalore]] while Nandikur does not provide access to these cities.

==Proposed KIABD industrial area ==
There was a proposal for building an industrial area. But people protested against this action.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=967898|title=Mangaluru: Balkunje, Kollur, Ullepady villagers in distress over land acquisition by KIADB|website=daijiworld.com}}</ref> and the government decided not to build the industrial area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/karnataka-budget-has-skipped-it-park-new-industrial-area-for-mangaluru-kcci/article66521599.ece|title=Karnataka Budget has skipped IT park, new industrial area for Mangaluru: KCCI |first= |last= |work=The Hindu |date=17 February 2023 |via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>{{Importance inline|date=January 2025}}

==See also==
*[[Udupi]]
*[[Mulki (disambiguation)|Mulki]]
*[[Konkan railway]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Villages in Dakshina Kannada district]]

Balkunje - Revision history

Joann47Q9259 at 08:56, 3 May 2026