population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 6.88%. Shimoga has a sex ratio of 995 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 80.5%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 17.58% and 3.73% of the population respectively. Shimoga taluk has the highest population with Hosanagara taluk having the lowest. The district has a sex ratio of 977 females to 1000 males. Shimoga Taluk having 991 females to 1000 males has the lowest sex-ratio. At the time of the 2011 census, 70.20% of the population spoke Kannada, 12.71% Urdu, 4.17% Tamil, 4.07% Telugu, 2.95% Lambadi, 2.10% Marathi and 1.47% Konkani as their first language. Culture Heritage and architecture Ballegavi, also known as 'Dakshina kedara' was the capital of Banavasi rulers during the 12th century CE. There are many temples in Ballegavi, some constructed as per Late Chalukyan architecture: Kedareshvara temple, Tripurantakeshvara temple, and Prabhudeva temple. They are known for architecture and sculpture. Shivappa Naik palace is located in Shimoga on the banks of river Tunga; it was constructed by Shivappa nayaka of Keladi. The Lakshminarsimha temple in Bhadravathi was built as per Hoysala architecture. Keladi and Ikkeri were the capital cities during the time of Keladi Nayakas. There are three temples in Keldai: Rameshvara temple, Veerbhadreshvara temple, and Parvati temple. The Aghoreshvara temple is in Ikkeri. The Sacred Heart church, constructed in the 1990s, is second largest church of Asia. Poetry and literature Shimoga district has produced several Kannada writers and poets: Kuvempu was born in the village Kuppalli in Thirthahalli Taluk. G. S. Shivarudrappa born in Shikaripur. U.R. Ananthamurthy was born in Melige village in Thirthahalli Taluk. P. Lankesh born in Konagavalli. K. V. Subbanna from Sagara M. K. Indira Na D'Souza from Sagara H. M. Nayak from Thirthahalli Poornachandra Tejaswi, the son of Kuvempu. In December 2006, the 73rd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana took place in Shimoga. K.S.Nissar Ahmed was the president of the event. This was the third Kannada Sahiya Sammelana held at Shimoga: The first one was held in 1946 (president: Da.Ra.Bendre) and second one in 1976 (president: S.V.Ranganna). Ninasam Nilakanteshwara Natya Seva Sangha is located in a village called Heggodu in Sagara. It was established by K. V. Subbanna in 1958. Ninasam is a drama institute. The headquarters is in Heggodu. It has a library, rehearsal hall, guesthouse and theatre. Shivarama Karantha Rangamandira is an auditorium for Ninasam. It was opened in 1972. Ninasam