Hubli is a centre of textile industry in Karnataka and a twin city along with Dharwad, which is 16 km away from Hubli. Hubli and Dharwad together constitute the 2 nd largest city in Karnataka. Hubli and Dharwad are just east of the Western Ghats and are surrounded by hills and lakes. Dharwad has been an important education centre in Karnataka from the time of British rule. Dharwad is also famous for the milk based sweet called Dharwad Pedha. Dharwad is the administrative capital of Dharwad district and Hubli is the commerce capital of Dharwad district. The twin cities have a long history dating back to the Hoysala period and are quiet, pleasant and fast growing cities of Karnataka. Dharwad has been an important centre of Hindustani classical music and poetry. Musicians of fame like Mallikarjun Mansur, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi, Basavaraj Rajguru hail from this place.
The twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad are located at a distance of around 430 kms from Bangalore- the capital of Karnataka state. The climate is hot and wet during the summer and rainy seasons and pleasant during winter. The twin cities have a history behind them dating back to the Hoysala period. Dharwad is the administrative capital of the Dharwad district and Hubli serves as the commerce center. Dharwad is a quiet, pleasant, and fast growing city in the northern part of Karnataka. Together with Hubli , which is a city twenty-two kilometers away, Dharwad forms a twin city.
Dharwad is known for its prestigious educational institutions. It houses the Karnataka University, which caters to graduate and research students. Karnataka College offers educational services to students just out of high school who aspire to make a career either in the arts or the sciences. S.D.M. Engineering College a more recent addition to the list of educational institutions offers education in Engineering. Hubli has an Engineering college (B.V.B College of Engineering and Technology), the Karnataka Medical College and other institutions.
Dharwad is perhaps best known for its "Pedhas", a sweet made out of milk, and is a must-buy for any tourist visiting the city. Today, Dharwad has grown beyond its borders, with industries dotting both its northern and southern boundaries. In years ahead, it promises to be a beehive of commercial activity. The location of the city on the NH4 makes it equidistant from 2 of the most industrialised centers in the country - Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state and Pune the 2nd most industrialised city in Maharshtra.
The historic town of Hubli was formerly known as Raya Hubli and also as Elaya Puravada Halli. It was during the reign of the Vijaynagara Empire that Hubli transformed into an important cotton and iron trade center.
Air - The airport is 8km from the center of town. Air Deccan operates flights from Hubli connecting to Bangalore.
Rail - Hubli is a major rail junction on the Mumbai to Banglore route and for trains to Bijapur and Hospet. If you are heading for Goa the No 237 Gadag to Miraj Link Express at 8.30 pm has a 2nd class three tier sleeping coach and another combined 1st and 2nd class two tier sleeping coach attached to the train, and these go all the way to Vasco Da Gama, thus avoiding the need to change at Londa. At Londa these coaches are detached from 237 and addded to the 7806 Miraj to Vasco Gomantak Express at about 3.30am
Bus - There are regular buses to Bangalore (9 hr) and Hospet (4 hr). KSRTC (five daily) and Goa Kadamba bus company buses go to Goa daily. There are also buses to Mumbai (15 hr), Mangalore (10 hr), Jog Falls, Gokarna, Mysore (10 hr), and Bijapur. Across from the bus stand are private bus companies offering deluxe buses to Goa, Bangalore, Pune, Mangalore, Mumbai, and Bijapur. Hubli has a large and busy bus station. Buses to Panaji take 11 hours and leave 3 times a day.