Vokkaliga Heritage & History
The Vokkaliga people — a proud farming community of Karnataka, India — have a history spanning empires, kingdoms, and millennia.
"The Vokkaliga people are among the principal agricultural communities of Karnataka, whose contributions span the Ganga, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara Empires — including the founding of Bengaluru itself in 1537."— VPA HERITAGE DOCUMENTATION
A Farming Community's Legacy
The Vokkaliga community — encompassing Gowdas, Reddys, Bunts, Gounders, and related sub-communities — are the proud agricultural people of Karnataka, India. The word "Vokkaliga" itself derives from the Kannada term for farmer or cultivator.
Their contributions to Karnataka's history are immense. Kempe Gowda I, a Vokkaliga chieftain, founded Bengaluru (Bangalore) in 1537. The community served prominently in the courts of the Ganga, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara Empires.
Today, Vokkaliga families have spread across the globe — particularly to the United States, where VPA was established in 1991 to preserve and celebrate this rich heritage.
Read the Full History →Tap any era to expand its story.
~900 CEGanga Empire▶
~1100 CEHoysala Era▶
~1400 CEVijayanagara Empire▶
1537Bengaluru Founded▶
1905Vokkaligara Sangha▶
1991VPA Founded▶
2024AmeriCorps Certified▶
One Community, Many Branches
Per the VPA Constitution, the term Vokkaliga includes — but is not limited to — the following sub-communities, all united by a shared agrarian heritage and the cultural traditions of Karnataka.