It is situated on branch of River Ghataprabha, The population of the urban agglomeration was 111,933[3] according to the provisional results of 2011 national census of India, the city is spread over an area of 49.06 square kilometres (18.94 sq mi)[3] with an average elevation of 532 m (1,745 ft) above MSL.

According to legend, the town was given to the Bhajantries (musicians) by Ravana, the king of Lanka who ruled this area.

One of the Bijapur Adil Shahi king Ibrahim Adil Shah II is said to have presented the town to his daughter as bangle money (a tradition in which the daughter is given money to buy bangles, sarees, and gold ornaments from her parents after the marriage).

[4] Bagalkot remained under successive dominions of Vijayanagar emperors, Bijapur Adil Shahi, Peshwas, Kingdom of Mysore, Maratha rulers, and finally the British in 1818.

Bagalkot city has a sex ratio of 985 females to males and a literacy rate of 85.40%.