SULEKERE (Shanthi Sagara) Channagiri Taluk

Shanthi Sagara lake, also called Sulekere is Asia’s second largest irrigation tank. It is located in Channagiri taluk Davanagere district, Karnataka, India. Shanti Sagara lake, created by an embankment with sluice outlets, built in 1128, the lake has a history of 800 years. It took three years to construct the massive lake. The lake, which has a water spread of 6,550 acres (2,651 ha), has a circumference of 30 km (19 mi). It irrigates 4,700 acres (1,900 ha) of land and more than 50 villages are benefited by it.
The construction of the tank dates back to 11th or 12th century, and remains are pointed out.
To the north of the embankment of the Sulekere tank is a small hillock 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 many distinct characteristic craftsmanship like 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 devotee 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 an imitation of Hoysala Empire type.
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.