Bantwal is a taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India. It is also a City by the same name. The adjacent City of B. C. Road (Bantwal Cross Road) serves as the commercial center.Bantwal City is reverentially called as Vatapura Kshetra by some communities. It is situated on the banks of River Nethravati on the National Highway - 73, 25 km east of Mangalore. In the olden days, the City of Bantwal was known for trade. However, flooding caused by the river Netravathi during the monsoons compelled traders and newer settlements to move to the adjacent city of B. C. Road due to its higher altitude. Gradually, most Government offices shifted to B. C. Road. Prior to 1852, Bantwal Taluk was the largest taluk in the entire of Canara Province (then comprising North Canara, Udupi, Mangalore and Kasaragod Districts) with 411 villages and a total population of 1,69,416. In 1852, a portion of it was formed into the Taluk of Puttur.[2] Bantwal was an enterpot for the produce of the province on its way to the Mysore Country and had derived great benefit of late years from the extension of the coffee trade. It contained about thousand scattered houses inhabited by Billava, Bunts,Bhandary,Ganigas,Kulals, Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Konkani Catholics and a few Jains.[2] As of 2001 India census,[3] Bantwal had a population of 36,829. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bantwal has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 76% of the males and 72% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Tulu is the main language spoken here.In addition to tulu the town also has Konkani and Beary speaking population. According to the 2011 India census, Hindus make up 61.27% of total population, Muslims 32.47% and Christians 5.95%.[4] The town is still considered an important trade center for groceries, tobacco, hardware and most importantly gold. The taluk is flanked by the state of Kerala in the south, and the towns of Belthangady and Puttur in the east, the city of Mangalore in the west and Karkala in the north. It covers an area of about 720 km square. National Highway 73 cuts through B. C. Road. The highway serves as the conduit for several arterial routes leading to neighboring towns with Mangalore. Mangalore is connected with other cities in Karnataka such as Mysore and Bangalore via NH-73. It is well connected to Uppala through Uppala-Mudipu-Bantwal Highway. The Grama Panchayats in Bantwal taluk are Golthamajalu, Kolnadu, Sajipa Muda, Kurnadu, Maani, Navooru, Pudu, Sangabettu, Maavinakatte, Sarapady, Thumbe, Veerakumba and Vittla (Vittal).Many buses ply to nearby places such as Mudipu, Moodabidri, Surathkal, Mulki, Kinnigoli, Vitla operate from the B. C Road bus stand. The railway station at B. C Road is maintained by south western railways. The Mangalore port is about 30 kilometres from here. Mangalore International Airport is about 45 minutes from B.C Road
