Pauwi

Pauwi is a town and municipality in the Chitradurga district of the Indian state of Karnataka, located in the southern part of the country. It lies approximately 25 kilometres west of the district headquarters, Chitradurga, and is situated along the state highway that connects the larger cities of Shimoga and Hubli. The town sits at an elevation of around 725 metres above sea level, providing a moderate climate that is typical of the Deccan plateau region.

The population of Pauwi was recorded at about 15,000 in the 2011 Census of India, with a demographic composition that includes a mix of Kannada-speaking Hindus, along with small communities of Muslims and Christians. The literacy rate in the town stands at roughly 68 percent, higher than many rural localities in the district. Household households number in the thousands, and the majority of residents are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and small scale trade.

Agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, with crops such as ragi, corn, cotton, and groundnut forming the main staples. Recent years have seen a gradual shift toward horticulture and the cultivation of vegetable crops due to improving irrigation facilities, mainly through tank and canal irrigation systems. Small industries, including cotton ginning and textile weaving, supplement the agrarian livelihood, while local markets provide a trading hub for farmers from surrounding villages.

Pauwi hosts several educational institutions ranging from primary schools to a government higher secondary school, and is served by a primary health centre that offers basic medical services. Public transport links, including bus routes operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, connect Pauwi to nearby towns and the district headquarters. The town is also home to cultural and religious sites such as the Sri Veerabhadreshwara temple and an annual festival that attracts visitors from surrounding areas.