[en] The objective of this study was to establish baseline data on radiation levels and radionuclide concentrations in environmental matrices around the Challakere region, a town in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. This region is poised to become a major zone with the setting up of several scientific and industrial projects and therefore, a baseline study on radiation level and radionuclides distribution was very essential. In this paper we present the results of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K. Soil samples collected from the study area with a diameter of around 60 km. Soil samples were analysed by gamma spectrometry method employing a 37% nominal efficiency p-type broad energy germanium (BeGe-HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soil varied in the ranges 8.3-47.6 Bq kg^-1, 8.6-160.8 Bq kg^-1, 325.8-1392.0 Bq kg^-1 with corresponding mean values of 21.8 Bq kg^-1, 54.5 Bq kg^-1 and 687.8 Bq kg^-1 respectively. These values are comparable to those reported for other parts of India as well as with the worldwide values reported in UNSCEAR (2000). (author)