Benadi is a village in the North-Western region of Karnataka state near Maharashtra Border in India. It is located in the Chikodi taluka of Belgaum district in Karnataka. Before it was a part of Bombay State and Princely state of Kolhapur. It is famous for its excellent quality of tobacco production. It is a part of Twin Village Aadi-Benadi. People who has origin from this village are known as Benadikar.
Demographics
India census, Benadi had a population of 5,882, with 3,030 males and 2,852 females. Major language is Kannada, but Marathi is spoken widely. Major Crops- Tobacco, Sugarcane, and Jowar. Benadi is located at 15 km from Nipani and 35 km from Kolhapur.
Benadi is a pleasant place with abundant flora. This village is near the Western Ghats and has on one side the Vedganga and Dudhganga rivers and hills on the other side. There is a famous old temple of Lord Siddeshwar in front of a beautiful lake in Benadi. A Basaveshwar Temple in between village. Also, famous Malikarjun Mountain is beside NH-4 highway, which is 3 miles away from Benadi. Auspicious Datta Devastan, Aadi-Benadi. It has immense spiritual, Ayurvedic and Tourist importance. Headed by Holy Pramapujya Shri Rajeevji Maharaj. Situated at famous Malikarjun Mountain, Aadi. The nearest city is Kolhapur, it is just 25 miles away and is well connected by road, rail and air. Benadi has long tradition for education. Presently, it has education facility from Primary schools to Higher Secondary College. Both Marathi and Kannada School are present in village. It has Marathi High School which was established in per-independence period, this was the school where many prominent persons from Benadi took their early education. This High School is now extended to Higher Secondary college which is named after Late. Anandrao Patil, who was one of the prominent social worker from Benadi.
Benadi comes under long going Belgaumborder dispute between Karnataka-Maharashtra states. Mahajan Report has put Benadi in Kannada-speaking region. Maharashtra government has given Border quota for students coming from this region in Engineering and Medical field. Also, Karnataka government is providing education funds and facilities in the region. Recently, there has been increased numbers of Engineers and Medical Student from this region.
Notable people
These include Cooperative & Congress Leader- Gulabrao Patil, Marathi Film Director-Dinkar D patil, Freedom Fighters- Mallapa Chougule, Ganapatrao Babar, 1st Kshatriya Kshatrajagatguru Benadikar Patil, appointed by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj at Mouni Maharaj Math, Patgaon.. Modern Agriculturist- Shivraj Gulabrao Patil & Industrialist Ajit alias Arjun Patil. Famous women such as Sarojinidevi Patil who was wife of V. T. Patil, founder of Tararani Vidyapeeth Kolhapur and Vatsalabai Desai wife of Balasaheb Desai, former Home Minister of Maharashtra had origin from Benadi. Famous Haji Ali Chowk in Mumbai is named Vatsala Bai Desai Chowk
