The city of Bellary is one of the major industrial centers of the state of Karnataka. It is spread around two granite hills – Ballari Guddu and Kumbara Guddu, which are an important feature of the city. Kannada is widely spoken here. The total population is more than 4,00,000. According to 2011 census, the total population of Bellary district is 2.4 million out of which 46 percent is the working age population. Out of the total working population, 60 percent are engaged in the agriculture sector while 2 percent work in the household industry and 38 percent work in the industrial and services sector. Because of abundance of iron and manganese ore, the city has a strong industrial base supporting the economy with the presence of steel plants, power generation plants, textile and rice industry, and bustling trade and commerce. It is traditionally held that Bellary takes its name from the word Balari, referring to Goddess Durugamma, who is believed to have manifested herself in the town. Several events in the epic Ramayana are related to Bellary.
