Shanti Sagara
Encyclopedia
Shanthi Sagara also called Sulekere Asia
’s second largest irrigation tank
. The tank, created by a embankment with sluice outlets
, built in 1128, the tank has a history of 800 years. It took three years to construct the massive tank. The tank, which has a water spread of 6550 acre (2,651 ha), has a circumference
of 30 km (18.6 mi). It has a total drainage basin
of 81483 acre (32,975 ha). It irrigates 4700 acre (1,902 ha) of land and more than 50 villages are benefited by it.
The tank receives the drainage
of twenty square miles. All of which pours into the gorge where it is built,( the main stream bearing the name of Haridra, a tributary of the Tungabhadra). The embankment
is constructed between two hills, and embankment is of no great length, it is around 950 ft (289.6 m), but it is of stupendous width (Max 120 ft (36.6 m),min 70 ft (21.3 m)), height and strength, though not quite straight. The main road connecting between channagiri
and Davanagere
pass through on this embankment. It has resisted successfully the floods of centuries, but owing to the great pressure of the volume of the water in tank.
It has two Sluice
s, that to the north is called the "Sidda", and that to the south the "Basava". It is remarkable fact that notwithstanding the damaged state of the sluices and the great force of the water when escaping through them, the embankment has always remained firm and uninjured, a satisfactory proof of the solidity of the structure.
If required/during drought tank can be fed by surplus water from Bhadra Dam
's right bank canal.
and "kere" tank.
Sulekere renamed to Shathi Sagara, where "shanthi" is first name of princess
Shantava, who constructed this tank. and "sagara" means Ocean
, as this Tank is one of biggest tanks in Asia
, so Tank is compared to Ocean.
This youth received name of Ragi raaya. But a daughter was subsequently born to the king in reward for his devotion to shiva. She was called Shantava, who having formed a connection with some divinity
, built, as an expiatory act, the tank, which submerged the town of her father, who cursed her as a prostitute, so the name "Sulekere".
There is stone to be dated shaka 1311, in the tank.
History also has it that the Lt.General Sir Richard Hieram Sankey
, Chief Engineer of Mysore state, once commented during 1856, that the region (where Sulekere once was) was not ideal for the construction of a tank, but was still built all thanks to the engineering expertise of people of those times. It is indeed remarkable, he commented.
Sulekere tank, 40 mi (64.4 km) round, which receives all the streams from the south, and from which Haridra issues to the north.
The south and west are crossed by lines of hills, as it mentioned in The Imperial Gazetteer of India
in 1903-4.
On 22 September 1952 an adult Eel
(Anguilla bengalensis
) measuring 44 ft (13.4 m) was found in a drag net in the Sulekere reservoir. After the construction of Tungabhadra dam, the migration
of the eel from sea to the upper reaches of the Thungrabhadra is prevented, on 17 April 1955.
, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB) has funded 80 crore to this project.
Presently, Chitradurga city is getting 30 million litres of water a day from the Shanti Sagara Water Supply System.
spot in Davanagere
district. Recently a guesthouse has been built near the tank, the aim of the project would be to attract foreign tourists. Facilities for boating and allied activities would also be provided soon.
designed by Sir M Vishweshwariah which is almost parallel to this embankment, which will carry Bhadra Dam
's right bank canal from one hill to another. The length of aqueduct is around 0.5 km (0.310686368324903 mi), width is around 17 ft (5.2 m). This setup is unique where same two hills are used for embankment for tank and be pillars to pass a canal. This place is beautifully captured in Ninne Preetisuve kannada film song.
Shanthi Sagara is at 40 km (24.9 mi) distance from Davanagere
, and 21 km (13 mi) from Channagiri
on which is situated the temple of Siddeshwara which is approached through a stone gateway supported on either side by a two-handed dvarapala
, having a mace
in one of his hands.
The temple has numerous features as for e g., the pillars, the stepped tower, etc., which preserve the Hoysala Empire
tradition on granite. But the style is not of Hoysala Empire. An inscription placed near the main doorway bears the date S 1468 or 1546 A.D. On the deepastambha is the standing image of a bhakta having the look of a Vijayanagara Empire
period image. It may well be surmised that the temple belongs to the early Vijayanagar Empire period when perhaps the Hoysala Empire tradition was yet lingering.
To the south-west of the main temple is the shrine
of the goddess Durga
having a garbhagriha
and a porch of rude Dravidian
pillars. The doorway is in imitation of Hoysala Empire type. The image however is s rude relieve of Kapalika
form with two hands, the right holding a padma, and left a kapala
. On the pedestal are carved the figures of two lions with that of an elephant between them.
On the bund of the Sulekere, around 10,000 assemble for the Siddesvara rathothsava, held for 3 days in February.
A large festival is held at the temple at the time of Maha Shivaratri
.
There are about 400 fishermen actively engaged in fishing throughout the year.
The present fish production is estimated to be 140 million tonnes valued at 35.00 lakhs at 25/- per kg. The fishermen land their fish catches at Ittige, Somalapura, Kerebilchi, Kagathur, Basavarajapura and embankment site. The average fish catch per day ranges from 150 – 400 kg, the peak fish production is being during the monsoon
months. The indigenous
fish fauna account to 20% only. The average annual fish catch for a fishing unit works-out to about 3.5 million tonnes. The fish harvested, to an extent of 20% is sold locally and rest is supplied to fish merchants which they normally market at Davanagere, Harihar, Channagiri,Santhebennur, etc., The fish is transported in baskets / gunny bags without ice. The fisher women are generally engaged in the marketing of fish locally.
These people are settled to serve tourists and few fishermens.
occurred in 1992. But no information available about loss of property.
And second flood occurred in october 2009, after 17 years. According approximate estimation around 3500 acres of crop has been damaged and many homes, but no casualties reported.
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
’s second largest irrigation tank
Irrigation tank
For etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure...
. The tank, created by a embankment with sluice outlets
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
, built in 1128, the tank has a history of 800 years. It took three years to construct the massive tank. The tank, which has a water spread of 6550 acre (2,651 ha), has a circumference
Circumference
The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
of 30 km (18.6 mi). It has a total drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 81483 acre (32,975 ha). It irrigates 4700 acre (1,902 ha) of land and more than 50 villages are benefited by it.
The tank receives the drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
of twenty square miles. All of which pours into the gorge where it is built,( the main stream bearing the name of Haridra, a tributary of the Tungabhadra). The embankment
Embankment
Embankment may refer to:* A levee or dike, an artificial bank raised above the immediately surrounding land to redirect or prevent flooding by a river, lake or sea...
is constructed between two hills, and embankment is of no great length, it is around 950 ft (289.6 m), but it is of stupendous width (Max 120 ft (36.6 m),min 70 ft (21.3 m)), height and strength, though not quite straight. The main road connecting between channagiri
Channagiri
Channagiri is a panchayat town in Davanagere district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is a taluk headquarters in Davanagere District.-History:...
and Davanagere
Davanagere
Davangere or Davanagere is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Davangere district which lies at the centre of the state of Karnataka. The city is located on National Highway 4 at a distance of about 265 km from the state capital, Bangalore...
pass through on this embankment. It has resisted successfully the floods of centuries, but owing to the great pressure of the volume of the water in tank.
It has two Sluice
Sluice
A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate . For example, a millrace is a sluice that channels water toward a water mill...
s, that to the north is called the "Sidda", and that to the south the "Basava". It is remarkable fact that notwithstanding the damaged state of the sluices and the great force of the water when escaping through them, the embankment has always remained firm and uninjured, a satisfactory proof of the solidity of the structure.
If required/during drought tank can be fed by surplus water from Bhadra Dam
Bhadra Dam
The Bhadra Dam, , which has created the Bhadra Reservoir , is located on the Bhadra River a tributary of Tungabhadra River in Chikkamagaluru district in Tarikere Taluk, in the western part of Karnataka in South India...
's right bank canal.
Etymology
The name is derived from "Sule" courtesanCourtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
and "kere" tank.
Sulekere renamed to Shathi Sagara, where "shanthi" is first name of princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Shantava, who constructed this tank. and "sagara" means Ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
, as this Tank is one of biggest tanks in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, so Tank is compared to Ocean.
History
The construction of the tank is assigned to 11th or 12th century, and remains are pointed out, said have belong to Svargavathi, the city was submerged, its king Vikrama raaya, who have no children, adopted the son of gowda of Billahalli.This youth received name of Ragi raaya. But a daughter was subsequently born to the king in reward for his devotion to shiva. She was called Shantava, who having formed a connection with some divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
, built, as an expiatory act, the tank, which submerged the town of her father, who cursed her as a prostitute, so the name "Sulekere".
There is stone to be dated shaka 1311, in the tank.
History also has it that the Lt.General Sir Richard Hieram Sankey
Richard Hieram Sankey
Lieutenant General Sir Richard Hieram Sankey KCB was an officer in the Royal Engineers in the East India Company's army in British India, later transferring to the British Army after the Indian Mutiny and the assumption of Crown rule in India.See also The Sankey Tank in Bangalore which he...
, Chief Engineer of Mysore state, once commented during 1856, that the region (where Sulekere once was) was not ideal for the construction of a tank, but was still built all thanks to the engineering expertise of people of those times. It is indeed remarkable, he commented.
Sulekere tank, 40 mi (64.4 km) round, which receives all the streams from the south, and from which Haridra issues to the north.
The south and west are crossed by lines of hills, as it mentioned in The Imperial Gazetteer of India
The Imperial Gazetteer of India
The Imperial Gazetteer of India was a gazetteer of the British Indian Empire, and is now a historical reference work. It was first published in 1881...
in 1903-4.
On 22 September 1952 an adult Eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
(Anguilla bengalensis
Anguilla bengalensis
Anguilla bengalensis is a species of eel in the genus Anguilla of the family Anguillidae and consists of two sub-species.-Subspecies:* Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis sometimes known as the Indian mottled eel....
) measuring 44 ft (13.4 m) was found in a drag net in the Sulekere reservoir. After the construction of Tungabhadra dam, the migration
Migration
Migration, Migratory behavior, or Migratory may refer* Gene migration, a process in evolution and population genetics* Animal migration, the travelling of long distances in search of a new habitat...
of the eel from sea to the upper reaches of the Thungrabhadra is prevented, on 17 April 1955.
Drinking Water Supply System
Drinking water is supplied from Shanthi Sagara to ChitradurgaChitradurga
Chitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB) has funded 80 crore to this project.
Presently, Chitradurga city is getting 30 million litres of water a day from the Shanti Sagara Water Supply System.
Tourism
Its one of the best picnicPicnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
spot in Davanagere
Davanagere
Davangere or Davanagere is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Davangere district which lies at the centre of the state of Karnataka. The city is located on National Highway 4 at a distance of about 265 km from the state capital, Bangalore...
district. Recently a guesthouse has been built near the tank, the aim of the project would be to attract foreign tourists. Facilities for boating and allied activities would also be provided soon.
Aqueduct
An aqueductAqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
designed by Sir M Vishweshwariah which is almost parallel to this embankment, which will carry Bhadra Dam
Bhadra Dam
The Bhadra Dam, , which has created the Bhadra Reservoir , is located on the Bhadra River a tributary of Tungabhadra River in Chikkamagaluru district in Tarikere Taluk, in the western part of Karnataka in South India...
's right bank canal from one hill to another. The length of aqueduct is around 0.5 km (0.310686368324903 mi), width is around 17 ft (5.2 m). This setup is unique where same two hills are used for embankment for tank and be pillars to pass a canal. This place is beautifully captured in Ninne Preetisuve kannada film song.
Shanthi Sagara is at 40 km (24.9 mi) distance from Davanagere
Davanagere
Davangere or Davanagere is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Davangere district which lies at the centre of the state of Karnataka. The city is located on National Highway 4 at a distance of about 265 km from the state capital, Bangalore...
, and 21 km (13 mi) from Channagiri
Channagiri
Channagiri is a panchayat town in Davanagere district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is a taluk headquarters in Davanagere District.-History:...
Siddeshwara Temple
To the north of the embankment of the Sulekere tank is a small hillockHillock
A hillock or knoll is a small hill, usually separated from a larger group of hills such as a range. Hillocks are similar in their distribution and size to small mesas or buttes. The term is largely a British one...
on which is situated the temple of Siddeshwara which is approached through a stone gateway supported on either side by a two-handed dvarapala
Dvarapala
Dvarapala is a door or gate guardian often portrayed as warrior or fearsome asura giant, usually armed with a weapon, the most common is gadha mace...
, having a mace
Mace
A mace is a blunt weapon, a type of club or virge—that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows. A development of the club, the military mace differs from a hammer in that the head of a mace is radially symmetric so that a blow can be delivered just as effectively with any...
in one of his hands.
The temple has numerous features as for e g., the pillars, the stepped tower, etc., which preserve the Hoysala Empire
Hoysala Empire
The Hoysala Empire was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga empire that ruled most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu....
tradition on granite. But the style is not of Hoysala Empire. An inscription placed near the main doorway bears the date S 1468 or 1546 A.D. On the deepastambha is the standing image of a bhakta having the look of a Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
period image. It may well be surmised that the temple belongs to the early Vijayanagar Empire period when perhaps the Hoysala Empire tradition was yet lingering.
To the south-west of the main temple is the shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
of the goddess Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
having a garbhagriha
Garbhagriha
Garbhagriha or Garbha griha is the small unlit shrine of a Hindu temple.Garbhagriha or ' is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where resides the murti of the primary deity of the temple...
and a porch of rude Dravidian
Dravidian
-Language and culture:*Dravidian languages, a family of languages spoken mainly in South India and North-Eastern Sri Lanka*Proto-Dravidian, a model of the common ancestor of the above languages*Elamo-Dravidian languages, a proposed language family...
pillars. The doorway is in imitation of Hoysala Empire type. The image however is s rude relieve of Kapalika
Kapalika
In Hindu culture, Kapalika means bearer of the skull-bowl, and refers to Lord Bhairava taking the kapala vow. As penance for cutting off one of the heads of Brahma, Lord Bhairava became Bhikshatana, an outcast and a beggar...
form with two hands, the right holding a padma, and left a kapala
Kapala
A kapala or skullcup is a cup made from a human skull used as a ritual implement in both Hindu Tantra and Buddhist Tantra...
. On the pedestal are carved the figures of two lions with that of an elephant between them.
On the bund of the Sulekere, around 10,000 assemble for the Siddesvara rathothsava, held for 3 days in February.
A large festival is held at the temple at the time of Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivarathri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha or Phalguna...
.
Fish Seed Production
There is a Fish seed Production Farm of the Department of Fisheries, Government of Karnataka, located below the tank which has an area of 4.15 ha (10.3 acre). Majority of the ponds in the farm are in dilapidated condition and are weed infested. Very few ponds, presently, are in use.There are about 400 fishermen actively engaged in fishing throughout the year.
The present fish production is estimated to be 140 million tonnes valued at 35.00 lakhs at 25/- per kg. The fishermen land their fish catches at Ittige, Somalapura, Kerebilchi, Kagathur, Basavarajapura and embankment site. The average fish catch per day ranges from 150 – 400 kg, the peak fish production is being during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
months. The indigenous
Indigenous
Indigenous means: belonging to a certain place.Indigenous may refer to:In Ecology and Geography*Indigenous resources, resources which exist within local geography, that are not imported...
fish fauna account to 20% only. The average annual fish catch for a fishing unit works-out to about 3.5 million tonnes. The fish harvested, to an extent of 20% is sold locally and rest is supplied to fish merchants which they normally market at Davanagere, Harihar, Channagiri,Santhebennur, etc., The fish is transported in baskets / gunny bags without ice. The fisher women are generally engaged in the marketing of fish locally.
Village at the tank
As of 2001 Indian census, Sulekere village has 22 Households, population of 91. Males 44 and females 47.These people are settled to serve tourists and few fishermens.
Recent floods
First floodFlood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
occurred in 1992. But no information available about loss of property.
And second flood occurred in october 2009, after 17 years. According approximate estimation around 3500 acres of crop has been damaged and many homes, but no casualties reported.