Huliyaru

The Kunchitigas (also known as Kunchatiga, Kanchitiga, Kanchitigar, Kunchitigar, Kunchidigar, Kunchigar, Kunchu Okkaliga, Kunju Okkaliga, Kurichigar, Kunchiliyan, Kappiliyan) are a community of people from Karnataka, India. They are mostly concentrated in the Tumkur, Bangalore, Shivamogga and Chitradurga districts. They are also found in Andhra Pradesh. While the Kunchitigas are considered a sub-division of Vokkaligas, they are listed separately by the government. Some Kunchitigas were Veerashaivas who embraced Lingayatism to become a separate division. The Kunchitigas are classified under the General/Unreserved Category by the Central Government of India. The Kunchitigas were historically a landholding community of cultivators and merchants. They formed part of the administrative and warrior classes in ancient times. Their chiefs were called "Gowda" and "Nayaka" in Karnataka, and "Gounder"