Arkalgud, also known as Arakalagudu is a panchayat town and is one among the eight taluks of Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India.

It occupies sixth place in the District in terms of geographical area.

The soil is red sandy derived from granites, gneiss and schists.

The soil is red to brownish in colour, shallow to fairly deep shallow, loamy to sandy loamy in texture intermixed with fairly large amounts of coarse gravel and pebbles.

It is suitable for growing ragi, millets, pulses, groundnut, potato and maize under rain-fed conditions.

An Anicut called Krishnarajakatte has been constructed across the river in the Taluk from which two channels viz.

This taluk enjoys dry and cold climate during the year as the central part of the Taluk borders the Malenadu region and south-eastern portions form the southern maidan region.