Pandyan Dynasty
Black granite is abundant in the area, and is in wide use in the local architecture. The name of the town is derived from "kari-kal", meaning black stone/ rocks because of presence of giant Blackstone rocks all over. There is still a place called as 'Kariya Kall' in the city which means 'Black Rock' in Tulu language. 'Kariya Kall/ ಕರಿಯಕಲ್ಲ್' to 'Karikal/ಕರಿಕಲ್' to 'Karkal/ಕರ್ಕಲ್/ಕಾರ್ಕಳ್', then officially made as 'Karkala/ಕಾರ್ಕಳ'. Locals also call in short name or Nick name as 'Karla'. Karkala also hold historic name of 'Pandya Nagari/ಪಾಂಡ್ಯ ನಗರಿ' because of rule of Pandya Kings. History signifies that there is a link between this name and Tamil Pandyan Dynasty. Some assert that the original name was 'Kari Kola' meaning 'elephant lake' in Kannada which is the existing 'Anekere'. Its alternative name, "Jain Tirtha", is the result of 300 years of Jain rule. It was called Karkal by the English; later, it was called Karkala in Kannada. Karkala is on the top of a granite bed that is about 300–500 ft thick.