Jainil Prajapati at 12:23, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T12:23:43Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Benegal
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Karnataka, India
| coordinates = {{coord|13.4472451|N|74.8089229|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Udupi]]
| 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 = 33
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Spoken
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]], [[Tulu language|Tulu]]
| timezone1 = [[India Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0820
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Benegal''' is a village in [[Brahmavar|Brahmavar taluk]] of [[Udupi District]] of [[Karnataka]] State in [[India]].<ref name="Mangalore Today">{{cite news |last= Shetty|first= Dr.Anil|date=1 March 2019|title=A Mangalorean PM and his RBI Governor Brother: The Extraordinary story of the Benegal Brothers|url=https://www.mangaloretoday.com/opinion/A-Mangalorean-PM-and-his-RBI-Governor-Brother-The-Extraordinary-story-of-the-Benegal-Brothers.html|newspaper=Mangalore Today}}</ref><ref name="DH">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=9 August 2019|title=Heavy rain claims one life, damages properties|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/mangaluru/heavy-rain-claims-one-life-damages-properties-753098.html|newspaper=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

== History ==
===Ancient and Medieval Era (Alupa Dynasty) ===
Before the rise of the [[Keladi Nayaka]]s, the region encompassing Benegal was part of the Barkur Rajya, one of the two main administrative divisions of the [[Alupa dynasty]] (the other being [[Mangalore]]).<ref name="Kamath2001">{{cite book |last=Kamath |first=Suryanath U. |title=A Concise History of Karnataka from Pre-historic Times to the Present |publisher=Jupiter Books |year=2001 |pages=160-165 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Concise_History_of_Karnataka.html?id=c1-mzQEACAAJ}}</ref>

Maritime Trade: Due to its proximity to the [[Seetha River]], the [[Varahi River]] and the Arabian Sea, villages like Benegal were integral to the agrarian economy that supplied rice and coconut to the bustling ports of [[Barkur]] and Hangarkatte.<ref name="Kamath2001"/>

Inscriptions: The area is known for several [[hero stone]]s (''Veeragallu'') and inscriptions from the 10th to 14th centuries, which detail land grants to local temples and the bravery of local chieftains defending against coastal raids.<ref name="Kamath2001"/><ref name="Ramesh1970">{{cite book |last=Ramesh |first=K.V. |title=A History of South Kanara |publisher=Karnatak University |year=1970 |pages=210-215 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/A_History_of_South_Kanara.html?id=f_U7AAAAIAAJ}}</ref>

=== The Vijayanagara and Keladi Periods ===
Following the decline of the Alupas, the region came under the [[Vijayanagara Empire]]. Benegal was part of the strategic "Barakuru Rajya."<ref name="Chitnis1974">{{cite book |last=Chitnis |first=K.N. |title=Keladi Polity |publisher=Karnatak University |year=1974 |pages=35-40 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Keladi_Polity.html?id=Xm0BAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

Keladi Consolidation: In the 16th century, the Nayakas of Keladi (specifically Sadasiva Nayaka and Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka) consolidated their hold over the Kanara coast.<ref name="Chitnis1974"/>

The Pepper Trade: Benegal, being in the fertile belt between the coast and the [[Malnad]] foothills, contributed to the production of high-quality [[Black pepper]] and [[areca nut]], which the Keladi rulers traded with the [[Portuguese East India Company]] and later the [[Dutch East India Company]].<ref name="Chitnis1974"/>

Religious Patronage: During this era, many local shrines and Basadis ([[Jain temple]]s) in the vicinity received state patronage, reflecting the pluralistic religious culture of the Keladi kings.<ref name="Chitnis1974"/>

=== Modern Era: British and Post-Independence ===
In 1799, after the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the death of [[Tipu Sultan]], the region was annexed by the British [[East India Company]]. Benegal became part of the [[South Canara]] (Kanara) district under the [[Madras Presidency]]. In 1956, during the [[Reorganization of States]], the village became part of the [[Mysore State]] (now [[Karnataka]]).<ref name="Ramesh1970"/>

==Notable people==
*[[Benegal Rama Rau]] - Fourth Governor of the [[Reserve Bank of India]]<ref name="NIE">{{cite news|last=|first=|date=2 March 2010|title=Band of brothers|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2010/mar/02/band-of-brothers-135856.html|newspaper=New Indian Express|access-date=29 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023042448/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2010/mar/02/band-of-brothers-135856.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[B. N. Rau]] - Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat and statesman known for his key role in drafting the [[Constitution of India]]<ref name="NIE" />
*[[B. Shiva Rao]] - A member of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] and an elected representative of the [[South Kanara]] constituency in the [[First Lok Sabha]]<ref name="NIE" />
*[[Shyam Benegal]] (1934–2024) - Indian [[film director]], [[scriptwriter]] and [[Documentary film|documentary]] filmmaker{{fact|date=December 2022}}
*[[ Ramesh Sakharam Benegal]] - [[Tokyo Boys|Tokyo Boy]] of Azad Hind Fauj. MVC, [[Indian Air Force]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Villages in Udupi district]]
{{Settlements in Udupi district}}
{{Udupi-geo-stub}}

Benegal - Revision history

Jainil Prajapati at 12:23, 7 May 2026