Ballekere is a village near Kadur of

Chikkamagaluru district Chikmagalur, officially Chikkamagaluru is an administrative district in the Malnad subregion of Karnataka, India. Coffee was first cultivated in India in Chikmagalur. The hills of Chikmagalur are parts of the Western Ghauts and the source of ...

of Karnataka, India. It is known for being visited by Former Prime Minister

Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (; Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was elected as third prime minister of India in 1966 ...

during her election campaign, where she contested by-election from the Chickmagaluru constituency following Indian emergency. The village now belongs to the

Hassan Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to: People *Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name *Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scottis ...

constituency . Every March the religious and cultural event Anjaneya Jatra Mahothsava is organized by the people of Ballekere.

2011 Census details

Population Census Parameter Census Data Total Population 1157 Total No of Houses 288 Female Population 49.4% ( 572) Total Literacy rate 67.0% ( 775) Female Literacy rate 29.2% ( 338) Scheduled Tribes Population 0.0% ( 0) Scheduled Caste Population 22.5% ( 260) Working Population 53.6% Child(0 -6) Population by 2011 81 Ballekere's Local Language is Kannada. Ballekere's total population is 1157, and the number of houses is 288. Females account for 49.4% of the population.

Local governance and amenities

The village is governed by the village panchayat headed by a Sarpanch (Head of Village) along with Panchayti members who are the elected representatives of the village. They are assisted by the local bureaucrats, the PDO and bill collector, who were appointed by the Government of Karnataka. The village offers a Government-run primary school up to grade 7. Also available is a primary health care centre, located close to the Sri Anjaneya Swami Temple.

Agriculture & Irrigation

The main occupation of the people is agriculture, with the main crops being Ragi,

Jowar ''Sorghum bicolor'', commonly called sorghum () and also known as great millet, broomcorn, guinea corn, durra, imphee, jowar, or milo, is a grass species cultivated for its grain, which is used for food for humans, animal feed, and ethanol produc ...

Groundnut Groundnut may refer to: * Seeds that ripen underground, of the following plants, all in the Faboideae subfamily of the legumes: ** '' Best Basketball Player'', Obinna Udunni ** '' Arachis villosulicarpa'', a perennial peanut species ** ''Vigna sub ...

, and

Sunflower The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a large annual forb of the genus ''Helianthus'' grown as a crop for its edible oily seeds. Apart from cooking oil production, it is also used as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), as ...

. These low water demanding crops are preferred by the farmers, since the farming practice of the area is rainfed agriculture. Presently there is no irrigation available in the village however; a small reservoir is available in close proximity which is rain-dependent. There are plans to connect this reservoir with

Ayyanakere Ayyanakere is a lake near Sakharayapatna village of Karnataka, India and it is located at a distance of from Chickmagalur Chikmagalur, known officially as Chikkamagaluru, is a city and the headquarters of Chikmagalur district in the India ...

to assist farmers. The area is prone to droughts, as the village is situated

geographically Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...

in the

rain shadow A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. Evaporated moisture from water bodies (such as oceans and large lakes) is carrie ...

region of the Western Ghats.

Transport

Ballekere is about 7 km away from Kadur. The railway station is located approximately 1 km from the village, where it connects to cities such as

Bengaluru Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

, Mysuru, Shimoga, and Hubli.

Languages

The primary local language is Kannada.

Schools in Ballekere

G.h.p.s. Ballekere Address : ballekere, kadur, chikkamangalore, Karnataka . PIN- 577548, Post - Kadur Town

Government Health Centers near Ballekere

1) Located near Anjaneya Swami Temple.

Cultural rituals

Traditionally, the village celebrates "Sri Anjaneya Swamy Ratotsava" every year, along with the locally played drama "Sri Shani Mahatme Pouranika Nataka". And also holi is happening after the completion of Jatra mahotsava Other vital rituals like "Hanuma Mala" during the Sankranti period, and "Ambu" during the Navarathri period, are also celebrated annually.

References

{{reflist Villages in Chikkamagaluru district