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Kannada

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An ancient Hindu temple in Lakshmeswar, Karnataka, showcasing detailed stone architecture and historic carvings.

Kannada

Kannada is a special language spoken by many people in the state of Karnataka in southwest India. It is the main language there and is used in schools, government offices, and many other places.

People have used Kannada for a very long time. It came from old kingdoms in South India, Central India, and the Deccan Plateau. Some of these kingdoms include the Kadamba dynasty, Western Ganga dynasty, Chalukya dynasty, Rashtrakutas, and the Vijayanagara Empire.

Kannada has its own special way of writing called a script. This script helps people write and read Kannada easily. The language has been written for over 1,200 years! Kannada stories and poems are very famous and have won big awards.

Kannada is mainly spoken in Karnataka, but people who speak it also live in nearby states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Goa. There are even Kannada speakers in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Images

An ancient Kannada inscription from Halmidi village, dating back to 450 CE, showcasing early Kannada script and history.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the year 578 CE found in a cave temple in Badami, India.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the temples of Talakad in Karnataka, dating back to 1915.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the 9th century at the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site in India.
An ancient memorial stone from 949 C.E. featuring a Kannada inscription that tells stories from history, including a brave dog's tale and a king's victory in battle.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the Kalleshvara temple, built in 1057 AD, showcasing historical writing from India.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the year 1112 CE, carved in honor of King Vikramaditya VI at the Mahadeva Temple in Itagi, Karnataka, India.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the year 1220 CE, showcasing the art and history of the Hoysala Empire at the Ishwara Temple in Karnataka, India.
A 500-year-old Kannada inscription by King Krishnadeva Raya at the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, India.
An ancient Kannada inscription from the 17th century at the Gaurishvara Temple in Yelandur, Karnataka, India.
Map showing different Kannada dialects in Karnataka state.

Related articles

India
South India
Tamil Nadu
Maharashtra
Kerala

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Kannada, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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