Yadgir (Yadgiri) is a town and the administrative headquarters of Yadgir district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the administrative headquarters of Yadgir Taluka, one of the three talukas of the district.
The town covers an area of 5.6 square kilometres. The Bhima River flows through Yadgir town. Yadagiri, historically known as "Yetagiri", is dotted with many historical monuments and has a majestic hill fort with three rounds of fortifications. There are three ancient temples, medieval mosques, tanks and wells on top of the hill. The barren landscape below offers a magnificent view. A tank, the "Sanna Kere" is located in the heart of the town.
In 2011, Yadgir had population of 1,172,985 of which male and female were 591,104 and 581,881 respectively. In 2001 census, Yadgir had a population of 956,180 of which males were 482,347 and remaining 473,933 were females. Yadgir District population constituted 1.92 percent of total Maharashtra population. In 2001 census, this figure for Yadgir District was at 1.81 percent of Maharashtra population.
There was change of 22.67 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Yadgir District recorded increase of 20.12 percent to its population compared to 1991.
The initial provisional data released by census India 2011, shows that density of Yadgir district for 2011 is 224 people per square km. In 2001, Yadgir district density was at 183 people per square km. Yadgir district administers 5,225 square kilometres of areas.
Average literacy rate of Yadgir in 2011 were 52.36 compared to 39.90 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 63.33 and 41.31 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 51.35 and 28.32 in Yadgir District. Total literate in Yadgir District were 516,940 of which male and female were 313,797 and 203,143 respectively. In 2001, Yadgir District had 310,614 in its district.
In Yadgir several religious places are located like Mayllapur Mallayya. The famous temple of Sri Kshetra Mouneshwar Tinthani in Shorapur Taluka attracts lakhs of devotees every year. In Gurmitakal Mata Manikeshawri Yadgir is one of the spiritual heritages.
Agriculture in the district mainly depends upon the rainfall and the net area irrigated to net area sown is 14%, which is below the state average of 24%. Krishna River and Bhima rivers flow in the district. The medium irrigation projects in the district are Hattikuni and Soudha ghar. There are 36 lift irrigation schemes and 445 minor irrigation tanks in the district.
The town was part of the empire of the Western Chalukyas from the 10th to 12th centuries. The name Yadgir (historically Yetagiri) is derived from its early medieval rulers, `Yadavas`, who ruled with their establishments on a mountain known as `giri` in Kannada. A certain Mohammed Kasim was said to be a strong chieftain who ruled Yadgir for a long period after defeating the Yadavas, though there is no historical evidence to support it. Later, it came under the reign of the Bahamani Sultanate, the Bijapur Sultanate and finally, the Nizams of Hyderabad. A major economic development of the city took place under Philip Meadows Taylor, the administrator of the principality of Shorapur.
