History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s1.1

v5.c74.s1.1

The Eastern or Madras Karnatak, which we must distinguish from the Western Karnatak or the Kanarese-speaking division of the Bombay Presidency, extends from near the 15th degree of north latitude to the Kaveri river in the south. In the late 17th century it was divided into two halves by the Palar river, or an imaginary line in the southern part of the North Arcot district, slanting from Vellore to Sadras. These two parts were called Haidarabadi Karnatak and Bijapuri Karnatak respectively, and each of them was further sub-divided into uplands (*balaghat*, in Persian) and plains (*payinghat*). The upland of Haidarabadi Karnatak began south of Nandiyal (a frontier fort of Bijapur territory) and included Sidhout, Gandikota, Guti, Garamkonda and Kadapa,—the last-mentioned town being its seat of government. Bijapuri Balaghat lay west of Haidarabadi Karnatak and included the Sera and Bangalore districts of Mysore and their dependent zamindaris, Sera being the governor's head-quarters.