Kunchitiga

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, Mysore, Ramanagara, Shivamogga and Chitradurga districts. They are also found in Tamil Nadu.

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" in Tamil Nadu.