Gokak city has its own history. Nature did its best for Gokak. It has been kind to this place with the ranges of hills on one side and the vast black soil on the other. The river Ghataprabha rushes forth in a majestic manner on the north side of the city. Before she passes through Gokak city, she dashes down through a height of 167 ft, to form a famous Gokak Falls. The water of this river has been harnessed thereby hydroelectric power is generated to run the well-known Gokak Mills. Historically speaking, the hydel project installed by the British way back in 1883 has been the first of its kind in whole of Asia. The hanging bridge across the river adds to the deamy charm of the beautiful picture painted by Mother Nature. Another dancing river Markendaya joins river Ghataprabha to form “Holy Sangam” on north-west side of the Gokak city. The river Markandeya, near village Godachinmalaki, dashes down through 43 ft step wise hill plates to form another beautiful Godachinmalaki Falls.
Hidkal Dam and Dhupdal Barrage are constructed across river Ghataprabha to facilitate agriculture in this area. The area of Dhupdal barrage later attracted beautiful birds thus forming Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary. Nearly twenty types of birds visit this sanctuary during different seasons of the year.
Gokak is famous for unique sweet Kardant relished and enjoyed by many across India and World. Handicraft organizations in this city prepare artificial fruits from light weight coral wood and paint them nearly o mimic natural ones. These fruit boxes are traditional gift items and decorate the show cases of many in this region.
Gokak Taluka is the birth place of eminent persons like Padma Bhushan Wrangler Dr. D. C. Pavate, Shri. B. B Mamadapur founder member of KLE Society, Shri. S. N. Angadi, Prof. Patravali, the first registrar of Karnataka University Dr. Dharmatti and some others. Gokak is the mother land of famous literary luminaries like Dr. K. G. Kundanagar, Shri. Krishnamurthy Puranik, Shri. Betageri Krishnasharma, Dr. S. C. Nandimath, Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar, Raghavendra Patil, Dr. C. K. Navalagi, Dr. N. N. Sannakki and others.
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