Challakere is a city municipality (taluk) in

Chitradurga district Chitradurga district is an administrative district of Karnataka state in southern India. The city of Chitradurga is the district headquarters. Chitradurga gets its name from Chitrakaldurga, an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found there. Tradition ...

in the state of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is called Oil City with numerous edible oil mills around the city and also Science City as several science and research organizations such as

IISc The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The institute wa ...

DRDO The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (IAST: ''Raksā Anūsandhān Evam Vikās Sangaṭhan'') is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, ...

, BARC and

ISRO The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO; ) is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS) which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman ...

have set up their establishments here.

Geography

Challakere is located at . It has an average elevation of 585 metres (1919 ft).

Demographics

Challakere is the largest taluk of Chitradurga District. India

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

, Challakere has a population of 55,194.

Science and research organizations

Challakere is 200 km from Bangalore where an integrated township spread over has been set up by

Indian Space Research Organization The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO; ) is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS) which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman ...

(ISRO),

Defence Research and Development Organization The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (IAST: ''Raksā Anūsandhān Evam Vikās Sangaṭhan'') is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, ...

(DRDO),

Indian Institute of Science The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The institute wa ...

(IISc) and

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in January 195 ...

(BARC).

Oil industry

Challakere is also known as the 'oil city' or "second mumbai" of India because it is the second largest producer/supplier of edible oil after

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

. There are as many as 60+ oil industries in Challakere. Not only oil, several other industries like dal, fried gram, rice, etc. are also present. The commercial activity in the town is comparable to that of a standard district and the district enjoys a huge business turnover out of town's business.

Kambali business

Challkere is known for the kambali (woven blankets) made by the local Kuruba people. Challakere kambali are sent to various markets across India. Challakere weekly market Sunday market has the good turnover in the state. Challakere, Chitradurga district (1)

Spiritual places

* Datta Mandira - located in Tyagaraja Nagar, and traditional practices of Datta Sampradaya, can be seen at this temple. * Jagalurajja temple (Ajjana Gudi) - located beside the Ajjana Kere, which is the main water source for surrounding wells and drinking water for challakere. * Challekeramma temple - Challakeramma Jathre is conducted once every five years. * Bhavani Shankara temple - situated at Lakshmipura, was bought from Varanasi more than 200 years back without being kept on the floor to maintain the sanctity of the idol.

Transport

Road connection

Challakere is well connected to Bangalore, Bellary, Pavagada, and Chitradurga by road. NH 150A which connects Chamarajanagara and Jevargi passes through the city. Chitradurga, which is the district headquarters, is 30 km from this city.

Education

* Government Engineering College * Government First Grade College * Government P. U. College * Warriors English School * Warriors P. U. College

Notable people

* Ta Ra Subba Rao - renowned Kannada novelist *

Challakere Brothers The Challakere Brothers, M.S.Venugopal and M.S.Srinivasan, are a Vedic chant, Vedic Chanting duo originally from Challakere, Karnataka, India. Vedic chanting The brothers have been chanting vedas since childhood, having learnt from their father ...

- known for chanting of Vedas

Gallery

File:Challakere, Chitradurga district (2).jpg, Challakere Town File:Challakere, Chitradurga district (3).jpg, Rose Cafe File:Challakere, Chitradurga district (4).jpg, Bamboo Craft File:Challakere, Chitradurga district (5).jpg, Railway Station File:Veerabhadraswamy Jaathre Rathotsava.jpg, Rathotsava File:Warrior School, Challakere, Chitradurga.jpg, Warriors School File:School Inspector Office, Challakere, Chitradurga.jpg, School Inspector Office File:Challakere Town, Chitradurga district.jpg, Gandharva Cafe

References

External links

{{authority control Cities and towns in Chitradurga district