Siruguppa Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Siruguppa
City
Nickname(s): ಭತ್ತದ ನಾಡು
Siruguppa Location in Karnataka
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Ballari
Established	April 1910
Government
• Type	City Municipal Council
• Body	Siruguppa City Municipal Council
Area
• Total	31.14 km² (12.02 sq mi)
Elevation	373 m (1,224 ft)
Population (2021)
• Total	72,503
• Density	2,328.3/km² (6,030.2/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Siruguppadavru
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN Code	583 121
Telephone code	(+91) 8396
Vehicle registration	KA 34

Siruguppa is a town in the Karnataka state of India. It is the main town of the Siruguppa area, also known as a 'taluk'. After Hospete, it is the second-largest city in the Ballari district.

What's in a Name?

The name Siruguppa comes from two words in the Kannada language. Siri means 'wealth', and kuppe means 'a pile' or 'a heap'. This area was very rich and successful during the time of the famous Vijayanagara Empire.

A Look Back in Time

The history of Siruguppa goes back a very long time.

Ancient Roots

Evidence shows that people lived here even during the time of the Mauryas. Writings from King Ashoka have been found in a nearby village called Nittur. Just 12 kilometers away, in Tekkalakote, scientists have found very old rock paintings. These paintings were made by people living in the Stone Age, called the Neolithic period. Later, many other famous kingdoms ruled this region. These included the Chalukyas and the powerful Vijayanagara Empire.

Siruguppa as a Taluk Headquarters

During the time of British rule, Siruguppa became an important administrative area. On October 1, 1910, it was made a 'taluk' headquarters. This happened when 46 villages from Bellary and other areas were joined together. However, the Siruguppa taluk was stopped for a few years in 1923. But it was started again on April 15, 1929. More villages were added, and Siruguppa became the main town for the taluk once more.

Where is Siruguppa?

Siruguppa is located at 15°38′N 76°54′E / 15.63°N 76.9°E / 15.63; 76.9. It sits on a high flat land called the Deccan plateau. The town is about 373 meters (1223 feet) above sea level.

Climate and Surroundings

Siruguppa is in a dry part of Karnataka. It gets about 645 millimeters of rain each year. The Siruguppa taluk has other areas around it. To the south are Bellary and Kurugodu. To the west are Hospet and Karatagi. To the north is Sindhanur in the Raichur district. To the east is Adoni in the Andhra Pradesh state.

How the Town Looks

For a long time, Siruguppa was not a big business center. Even after India became independent, the town did not grow much at first. However, it is now a very important place for exporting rice from Karnataka. The town of Siruguppa looks a bit like a bitter gourd on a map. Most of the town is spread out along a main road called NH-150A. New parts of the town have also grown along the Bellary road. This makes the town look long and narrow.

People of Siruguppa

As of 2021, the town of Siruguppa had a population of 72,503 people. About 51% of the people are male, and 49% are female. The average literacy rate in Siruguppa is 51%. This means 51 out of every 100 people can read and write. This is a bit lower than the national average for India. About 15% of the people in Siruguppa are under 6 years old.

The Lifeline River

The Tungabhadra River flows near Siruguppa, to the north-west. This river is very important. It connects the northern and southern parts of Karnataka.

River Attractions

There are some interesting places to visit along the river banks. These include the Vasudhendra teertha vrindavana in Kenchanagudda. You can also find the Shambhulingeshwara temple along Desnur road and the Haragol ghat. The river helps the whole area with farming. It provides water for irrigation, which means watering the crops.

Joining Rivers

The Vedavathi River, also called the Hagari river, also flows through this area. It starts in the Bababudangiri hills and flows through several districts. It joins the Tungabhadra river at Kududarhal or Siddaragonde village in Siruguppa taluk.

Getting Around

Siruguppa is located on NH-150A. This is the longest national highway in Karnataka. It connects Jewargi to Chamrajanagar.

Bus Services

The town has good bus services. Buses are run by the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). This is part of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). Siruguppa is well connected by buses to many cities. These include Ballari, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hyderabad, and many more. The town has its own bus depot. Private bus services are also available.

No Train Station

Siruguppa does not have its own railway station. The closest train station is Adoni in Andhra Pradesh, about 40 kilometers away. Other nearby stations are Ballari (55 km) and Raichur (90 km). Even though the Tungabhadra river is nearby, it is not used for transport. This is because the river is often shallow, and the water levels change a lot. However, there are plans for new railway lines. Surveys have been done for lines connecting Ballari to Lingasugur and Ballari to Gabbur, both passing through Siruguppa.

Learning in Siruguppa

Siruguppa is in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. This area was not as developed in the past, especially in education. For a long time, the town did not even have a college for science studies.

Educational Progress

However, Siruguppa has made great progress in education in the last ten years. Now, it has a science degree college. There are also more than three colleges for arts and commerce. The town has about half a dozen pre-university colleges too. Siruguppa also has up to 20 schools. One of these schools offers the ICSE curriculum. Students from Siruguppa's schools and colleges have gone on to become successful professionals. Many have become doctors, engineers, artists, and even government officers.

Local Businesses

Siruguppa is a major center for industries in Karnataka.

Rice and Sugar

It has the largest number of rice factories in Karnataka, with over 150! Siruguppa, along with Sindhanoor and Gangavati, are among the biggest producers of rice in the state. This is why Siruguppa is often called the Land of paddy. There are also huge fields of paddy (rice) and sugarcane. A sugar factory is located in Deshnur village, about 5 kilometers from the town.

Other Factories

A steel factory was located in Honnarahalli, but it has recently closed. There are also 60 oil factories around Siruguppa.

Famous People from Siruguppa

Beerahalli Rami Reddy - A well-known Kannada Poet and Playwright.
BE Ramaiah - An Educationist and former Minister in the Karnataka Government.
M Shankar Reddy - Known for Social Service and served as an MLA three times.
MS Somalingappa - Known for Social Service and served as an MLA three times.
M Goutham Kumar - Known for Social Service and served as Mayor of BBMP.

Siruguppa facts for kids

Contents