Malkheda
Malkheda originally known as Manyakheta, and also known as Malkhed, is a town in Karnataka, India. It is located on the banks of Kagina river in Sedam Taluk of Kalaburagi district, around 40 km from Kalaburagi.
The city reached the peak of its prosperity during the 9th and 10th centuries, serving as the Imperial capital of the Rashtrakutas and historical heart of Jainism where most Jain present at the time. At Manyakheta, there is a historical fort whose restoration is in progress based on a proposal submitted by HKADB.
Demographics
India census, Malkheda had a population of 11,180 with 5,679 males and 5,501 females and 2,180 households.History
Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakutas was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I. He is said to have built the imperial capital city to "match that of Lord Indra". The capital city was planned to include elaborately designed buildings for the royalty using the finest of workmanship. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050 CE. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in CE 972-73, the year he completed that work.Manyakheta is home to two ancient institutions.
- The Jain Bhattaraka Math. The temple of Neminath. The pillars and walls of the temple date back to between the 9th and 11th centuries. The idols include tirthankaras, choubisi, Nandishwar dvipa and idols of yakshi. There is a famous panchdhatu shrine with 96 images. In the same temple, there are other historical images. The last bhaṭṭāraka of the Malkheda seat who reigned during the year 1950–61, was Bhaṭṭāraka Devendrakīrti.
- The Uttaradi Matha of the Dwaita School of philosophy of Madhvacharya. The remains of one of its most prominent saints, Sri Jayatirtha's Brindavana is here. He wrote many commentaries on Madhvacharya's works but was well known for the commentary on celebrated work "Anuvyakhyana" of Madhvacharya which itself is a commentary upon the "Brahma Sutras". For this commentary called Nyaya Sudha, he is popularly known as Teekacharya.
- The famous Mahapurana was composed here by Acharya Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra in the 9th century. The mathematics text Ganita Saara Sangraha was written here by Mahaviracharya.
From 814 CE to 968 CE Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakuta Empire was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I, who ruled for 64 years and wrote Kavirajamarga the first classical Kannada work. Amoghavarsha I a Jain ruler, patronised several Jain scholars, including the mathematician Mahaviracharya and intellectuals Ajitasenacharya, Gunabhadracharya, and Jinasenacharya, who contributed to the development of Kannada literature during his reign. This period is often regarded as a high point in the development of Kannada literary culture. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in 972–73 CE, the year he completed that work. In the year 1007 CE, Rajendra Chola destroyed the capital as per inscription in Tanjore Big Temple. Most probably the destruction was so much that today nobody knows the exact location where the Rashtrakuta's capital existed. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050 CE. It was later ruled by the Indic Kalyani Chalukyas, Southern Kalachuris, Cholas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas and the Turko-Persian Delhi Sultanate, Bahmani Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bijapur Sultanate, Mughal Empire and Nizam of Hyderabad by 1948.
Economy
Industrial Sector
Malkheda hosts one of the largest industrial establishments in the region—Rajashree Cement Works, operated by UltraTech Cement Limited of the Aditya Birla Group .
The complex comprises four operational units with a fifth under development . The industrial township, known as Adityanagar, functions as a self-contained settlement with a CBSE-affiliated school, branches of HDFC Bank and Canara Bank, staff quarters, gardens, and civic facilities .
The plant is connected by both road and rail and employs roughly 10 percent of the local population . About 400 trucks serve the factory daily .
A smaller unit, South India Cement Limited, has remained closed for more than two years .
Agriculture
Agriculture remains central to Malkheda’s livelihood base .
Mixed and large-scale cropping dominates, with major crops including maize, jowar, cotton, sugarcane, pulses, and sunflower .
The Kagina River, historically linked to the Uttarimath Jain School of Thought , provides irrigation alongside canals and borewells.
Malkheda hosts an agricultural mandi and livestock market active on Tuesdays, drawing traders from nearby taluks .
Livestock and Dairy
Livestock rearing occurs mainly at the household level .
Common species include cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and oxen.
A government veterinary hospital provides animal healthcare .
Milk is mainly retailed through Nandini Milk Parlour and HAP Daily . About 10–25 families rely primarily on livestock income .
Commodity Trade
The mandi trades in maize, jowar, pulses, cotton, and groundnut, marketed via auctions, agents, and direct buyers .
Transport uses trucks, campers, and pickups connecting to Kalaburagi and Sedam .
Storage is limited to small public and private warehouses .
Construction Material Supply
No quarrying exists within Malkheda; materials are imported from nearby areas .
Handling and retail distribution are overseen by the Gram Panchayat .
Infrastructure
The village lies on State Highway 10 , connecting Sedam, Kalaburagi, and Chittapur.
The Malkhaid Road railway station handles passenger and freight traffic .
Power is supplied by GESCOM ; water from Kagina River and borewells .
Telecom by BSNL, Airtel, Jio, VI, and Railwire .
Fuel services include IOCL, BPCL, and Jio-BP .
Overall civic amenities are satisfactory .
Commerce and Local Enterprises
The village sustains numerous furniture, carpentry, welding, fabrication, hardware, lubricant, cement, retail, and service businesses .
These meet most local needs, establishing Malkheda as a self-reliant rural-commercial hub .
Employment and Workforce
Employment divides approximately 50 % agriculture, 30 % industry, 20 % services .
Women work mainly in education and agriculture, men in industry and transport .
Self-employment and small businesses are common .
Unemployment persists among low-educated youth .
Government and Policy Influence
Roughly 60 % of development stems from state programs ; 40 % from central schemes .
Sectors like education and health show satisfactory performance, while agriculture support remains moderate .
Occasional delays occur during administrative transitions .
Challenges and Constraints
Seasonal rainfall variation influences farm output .
Economic reliance on a single industry limits diversification .
Youth debt and credit dependence noted .
Administrative delays manageable through local governance .
Future Prospects
Though no large official projects announced , potential expansion of UltraTech’s operations may enhance employment .
Agriculture expected to modernize gradually, with youth increasingly entering industry and services .
Growing access to digital finance and market awareness indicates steady progress .