Shimoga
Kannada, locally known as Shivamogga) is a city in west-central Karnataka state, India. Shimoga is the administrative seat of the surrounding Shimoga District. It is situated 275 km northwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka.
History
The name of the city is derived from the term Shiva-Mukha, literally meaning Face of Shiva. An alternative etymology is that the name is derived from the term Sihi-Moge, meaning Sweet Pot. The district formed the southern tip of Emperor Ashoka's Mauryan Empire in the third century BC. It was ruled in later centuries by the Kadambas (4th century AD), Chalukyas (6th century), Gangas, Rashtrakutas (8th century), Hoysalas (11th century), Vijayanagara rulers (15th century). The city got an independent identity under the Keladi Nayakas in the 16th century, reaching its pinnacle under the rule of Shivappa Nayaka. From the late 17th century onwards, the city was a part of the Kingdom of Mysore until the independence of India in 1947, when Mysore merged into the Republic of India.
Shimoga District
Shimoga District is a part of naturally rich Malnad (Malenaadu) region of Karnataka. It has an area of 10,553 sq. km, and a population of 1,639,595 (2001 census), a 12.90% increase from 1991. It is bounded by the districts of Haveri to the northeast, Devangere to the east, Chikmangalur to the southeast, Udupi to the southwest, and Uttara Kannada to the northwest. The Western Ghats or Sahyadri range and the numerous rivers that originate there provide Shimoga with abundant natural beauty. Jog Falls, situated 113 km away from Shimoga, bear witness to nature?s headlong tumble as the Sharavati river makes a spectacular drop of 235 m (810 ft) in four distinct cascades—known locally as Raja, Rani, Rover and Rocket—to create the highest waterfalls in Asia. The falls are at their best during the monsoon, with arching rainbows colouring the mist.
Irrigated by the rivers Tungabhadra, Sharavati, Kumudvati and numerous others, Shimoga is known as the Rice Bowl of Karnataka.
Tourist Attractions
Rivers, dams and water falls
- Jog Falls
- The Linganamakki dam across the Sharavati river
- Vanake-Abbey Falls
- Bhadra River Project, dam across the river Bhadra at Lakkavalli
- Koodli - where the two life rivers Tunga and Bhadra meet and give rise to 'Tunga Bhadra' River
Hills
- Agumbe, famed for its Sunset Point
- Kodachadri, very famous hill for trekking
History and Religion
- Keladi, capital of the Keladi Nayakas
- Nagara, capital of the Bidanur Nayakas
- Balligavi, with its Kedareshvara Temple
- Shivappa Nayaka's palace
- Church of the Sacred Heart, second largest in India
Wildlife
- Tavarekoppa, Lion and Tiger Safari
- Sakkarebailu, Elephant training camp
- Mandagadde, Bird sanctuary
Noted personalities
- Kuvempu, the national poet
- U R Ananthamurthy, Kannada novelist and Jnanpith award winner
- Prafulla Chandra, agricultural experimenter
- P. Lankesh, writer-journalist
- S Bangarappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka
