Shantisagara is the second largest lake (from Latin lacus) in Asia. It is also called as soolekere by the local people. Built in the year 1128 (11th or 12th Century), the tank has a history of 800 years. Shantisagara is the largest man made tank in India. It took three years to construct the massive tank. The tank, which has a water spread of 2,651 hectares, has a radius of 65 km. It has a total catchment area of 329.75 square kilometers. It irrigates 1,900 hectares of land and more than 50 villages are benefited by it. Due to heavy Rainfall, Soolekere, has recently breached after 17 years.

There is a temple dedicated to Lord Siddeshwara near the lake. An Aqueduct designed by Sir M Vishweshwariah is also a major tourist attraction. Mallikarjuna Temple (also known as Mallapana Matti), which is situated on a Hill, Shanti Sagara Lake

Bhadhra Right Bank Canal, from Bhadhra Reservoir Project (BRP) flows near this lake. Excess water of Bhadhra will help this lake to be filled with water all over the years. The current ongoing generation has never seen this lake without water. This lake has never got dry for more than 100 years.

This lake comes under the Channagiri Taluk consistency. Even though Shantisagara is Asia’s 2nd largest lake, Government of Karnataka has not taken any proper steps to make this place as a good tourist place.

Recently, elected representatives of Davangere district held a preliminary meeting with regard to the proposed life irrigation scheme near Channagiri. This scheme was envisages lifting of five tmcft of water from the Tungabhadra to the Soolekere tank from where it will be distributed to 10 taluks of Davangere and Chitradurga districts for drinking purposes. Currently it is providing drinking water for Chitradurga and its nearby places.

Soolekere, which is described as the second biggest tank in Asia, has a storage capacity of around 3 tmcft of water. It is proposed to draw five tmcft of water from the Tungabhadra at different stages. It is further planned to retain about 2.5 tmcft of water in the tank all through the year and supply the remaining 2.5 tmcft of water to the two districts. Water from there tank is supplied for irrigation to about 2,900 hectares of land. It is also a source of drinking water to Channagiri and surrounding areas.

Kerebelichi, Hosuru, Hosalli, Kashipura, Alur, Dodda Mallapura, Here Kogalur, Kabbala, Kengapura, Chiradoni, Doddagatta, Tyavanagi, Belalagere, Arehalli, Kashettyhalli, Kariganur, Kathalagere, Arasingatta, Somshetty Halli, Nalluru, Somlapura and various other villages surrounds this lake.

Here main occupation is Agriculture. Most of the land is irrigated by Bhadhra Right Bank Canal, from Bhadhra Reservoir Project(BRP), near Lakkavalli, Tarikere (Taluk), Chikkamagaluru (District) Mainly Paddy, Sugarcane, Betel nut, Coconut.

Major Languages speak near this place are Kannada, Urdu, Hindi.

Many fisher men also live surrounding to this area and gains a huge profit.

Courtesy: Wikipedia