Tuluva

Tuluva refers to people from Tulu Nadu, a coastal region in southwestern India that lies largely in present-day Karnataka and parts of Kerala, and to things connected with that region. The term also denotes the Tuluva dynasty, a ruling branch of the Vijayanagara Empire that dominated southern India from the early 16th century until the late 16th century. The Tuluva rulers are part of the broader Vijayanagara lineage; Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529) is the most celebrated king of this dynasty, renowned for military expansion, patronage of the arts, and literary production in Kannada and Telugu.

Geographically, Tulu Nadu covers portions of present-day Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in Karnataka and parts of Kasaragod district in Kerala. The people, who identify as Tuluvas, traditionally speak the Tulu language, a Dravidian language with a rich oral and literary heritage. Today it is commonly written in the Kannada script, though there are efforts to promote a distinct Tulu script.

Culturally, Tuluva influence is prominent in regional traditions, including Yakshagana, a theatrical form blending dance, music and storytelling, as well as temple architecture, folklore, and cuisine reflecting coastal Karnataka’s practices. The term also appears in references to Tuluva noble families, merchants and communities such as the Bunts and others.

Historically, the Tuluva dynasty presided over a period of renewed cultural and economic vitality at Vijayanagara, before the empire’s decline and the rise of the Aravidu dynasty. The name Tuluva thus anchors both a linguistic-cultural region (Tulu Nadu) and a specific dynastic chapter within Vijayanagara history.