Breeds of Tumakuru and the Hallikar country
The dry country north-west of Bengaluru where the Hallikar, mother of the Mysore draught breeds, is still bred and traded.
Breeds of this place
Best time: December to March, the season of the temple fairs.
Tumakuru district, with its neighbours Hassan, Mandya and Mysuru, is the home of the Hallikar, a grey draught breed with long horns swept back over the neck. The Hallikar is known as the mother of the Mysore breeds, the source of the Amrit Mahal and a parent of others. It was these bullocks that hauled guns and supplies for the armies of Mysore in the eighteenth century.
The Hallikar
Hallikar cattle are medium-sized, grey to dark grey, with a compact body, a narrow face and long vertical horns that curve backwards. They are known for speed and stamina at the plough and the cart. Farmers in the region still keep pairs for field work and for racing in village contests.
Temple cattle fairs
Southern Karnataka is known for cattle fairs held at temple festivals. The fair at Siddaganga, near Tumakuru, and the winter fair at Ghati Subramanya, north of Bengaluru, draw thousands of bullocks, with Hallikar pairs among the most prized. Buyers inspect teeth, horns and gait, and deals are made by hand under cloth, as they have been for generations.
A trail idea for Tumakuru and the Hallikar country
- Siddaganga The hill monastery near Tumakuru that hosts a large cattle fair.
- Ghati Subramanya A temple north of Bengaluru with a well-known winter cattle fair.
- Devarayanadurga Forested hills and temples above Tumakuru.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Tumkur" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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