Sira, India

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Sira v • d • e Karnataka • India
Sira
District(s)	Tumkur district
Coordinates	13.745° N 76.909° E
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	17.47 km² (7 mi²) • 661 m (2,169 ft)
Population • Density	50,088 (2001) • 2,867.09/km²
Codes • Postal • Telephone • Vehicle	• 572 137 • +08135 • KA-06

Coordinates: 13.745° N 76.909° E

Sira (Kannada: ಶಿರಾ) is a town and taluk headquarters of Sira Taluk of Tumkur district in the state of Karnataka, India. It lies on the National Highway NH-4 (Mumbai - Chennai).

Sira Town was a strategically important place prior to the British Raj. It still has many historic structures. Among them are the Eidgah, Juma Masjid and the dargah or tomb over Mallik Rehan's grave. Mallik Rehan was supposed to be the Governor overlooking the dying Mughal Empire's south Indian domain under Emperor Aurangazeb. In late 1600s Sira became a major province or 'Suba' of the Mughals.

[edit] Geography

Sira is located at 13.75° N 76.91° E^[1]. It has an average elevation of 662 metres (2171 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^GRIndia, Sira had a population of 50,056. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sira has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Sira, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.