The
District Headquarters, Belgaum is a picture of contrasts. On one side
is the old town area where the cotton and silk weavers still create magic
with their fingers. And on the other the modern, bustling, tree lined
Cantonment built by the British. In the heart of Belgaum, near the bus
terminus is the Fort. At the Entrance are two shrines, one devoted to
Ganapathi and another to Durga.Inside the Fort are two bastis in the Late Chalukyan style. Of these, the more famous is the Kamala basti, built in 1204. Come out of the Kamala basti and you will find another ruined Jain Temple to its right. Co-existing harmoniously with these temples are two ancient mosques the Safa Masjid and the Jamia Masjid.
Near the 16th century Jamia Masjid is a Dargah of Khanjar Wali. Step out of the Fort and you have a wide choice of temples and churches to visit. The Kapileshwara temple said to be the oldest, the Ananthashyana Temple, the Maruti Temple and the temples of Shiva, Vithoba, Dyamavva and Military Mahadeva. Belgaum also has some very impressive churches. St. Mary's Church, St. Xavier's Church (the oldest), St. Anthony's Church, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Methodist Church.
