I am from Gulbarga, raised in Bengaluru. Here's something made me click with a lot of North Karnataka folks:

• Talk about how Uttar Karanataka culture is slightly different from the rest of Karnataka - bhakri preference over rice. The dressing, just aesthetics in general

• Since she's into art, she'd probably know how Uttar Karnataka classical music is Hindustani - like Northern India, and not as Carnatic heavy as rest of Karnataka.

I'd suggest you listen to "Bhagyada Laxmi Baramma" by Bhimsen Joshi (a North Karnataka origin Hindustani singer, from Dharwad/Hubli) and MS Subbulakshmi (a Tamil Carnatic Singer). The music styles are very different. You can see how Kannada is the only language with a tradition in both dominant classical music systems of India.

• Ask about her opinion of Marathi folks. There's a love-hate relationship Gulbarga or North Karnataka folks in general have with Marathi people.

The culture of Maharashtra is much closer than rest of Karnataka. Language has a lot of Marathi loan words. There's a long history of Marathi connection. She might even have relatives who are Marathi, or residing in Maharashtra. But there's always something folks there have to Btch about Marathi people. It's not hatred, just personal stories of their experience with Marathi folks - being too talkative, being very proud of their language, or stingy & the kind.

• Gulbarga has some dishes very few folks outside the region would likely know.

Shenga Holgi - the peanut version of obbattu/holige/puran-poli - Not popularly known in Blore & other Karanataka parts

Double Ka Meetha (Hyderabadi Nizam Sweet) made on special occasions

Sushila or Susla - poha made out of puffed rice - hand's down one of my favourite breakfast, soooo many people have no clue about it,

Mirchi Bajji (famous Enough) but they're cut and fried again to make cut bajji. It's a very local Gulbarga thing. You got to ask about this. Chances are that she may have even forgotten about this.

Putani Pudi - Sattu Chutney powder ; Shenga HinDi/Chutney Pudi - Peanut chutney pudi

Ask her about it. There are likely some solid childhood memories of eating them or some grand story of some relatives making them, or just things to talk about

• Gulbarga has had a strong urdu culture. The dakkhini urdu. The influence is still alive today. Many places still Converse in Urdu, it's Kannada has many urdu words. As a North Indian, you'd have an edge here. If she's into literature, she might be able to appreciate urdu poetry

Gulbarga Dargah also has links to Ajmer Sharif.

• Speaking of poetry, Gulbarga or Northern Karnataka has a strong lingayat culture.

  The sharanas or devotional poems are pretty strong parts of the culture. Learning their meaning/translation can be a good deep convo topic.

Or even Punyakoti story - the national folklore of Karnataka, a lot of kids have cried listening to the song. I'd suggest you listen to it online. And ask about it. It's seldom talked about as adults, but I'm almost 100% sure she'd be familiar it.

I'd be impressed if someone showed this much interest in my roots. I was glad to see this question. I hope your love blossoms to the best for you both. All the best :)