History
The name of the city is derived from the term Shiva-Mukha, 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 during later centuries by the
Kadambas (4th century),
Chalukyas (6th
century),
Gangas,
Rashtrakutas
(8th century),
Hoysalas (11th century), and the
Vijayanagara rulers (15th century). The city got
an independent identity under the
Keladi Nayaka rule during 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.
On 1 November 2006, the government of Karnataka announced the renaming of
Shimoga to Shivamogga, along with nine other cities in the state, but the
renaming is yet to get approval from the Central Government.
[1]
Geography
According to the Shimoga City Municipal Corporation,
[2] the
city has a total area of about 50 km² (19 sq mi). The climate is tropical wet
and dry (
Koppen climate classification)
summer average temperature 20–35°C. This means that the winter and the early
part of summer are typically dry periods. The majority of the rainfall occurs
between June and early October. Shimoga is a part of a region vernacularly known
as Malnad (land of hills) in Karnataka. Most/all these hills are part of the
Western Ghats, a region
famous for plentiful rainfall and lush greenery.
The Shimoga District has seven distinct rivers flowing through it.
Education
Shimoga is an important center for high school and pre-university education
(classes 11th and 12th) in Karnataka, along with many other major cities in
Karnataka. Bhadravathi is also major education centre of district. Notable
institutes in Shimoga for pre-university (PU) education are Sri Aurobindo
Pre-University (Ind.) college, PACE Ultra-modern P.U. College, Vidya Bharathi PU
College, National College, Vidyanikethan College, Sacred Heart, Adichunchangiri
P.U. College, DVS P.U. Independent college, DVS Composite College, PES P.U.
College. The city gains its importance in part because of lack of good
institutes in other parts of the district; students are forced to get their
pre-university education in the city.
The village of
Gajanur hosts a
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (central
school) which is a
boarding school.
Kuvempu University is located in Shimoga at
Shankarghatta.
Notable schools of Shimoga are Jnanadeepa, Saandeepani, Vikasa, Swami
Vivekananda, Oxford, Adi Chunchanagiri, PES, Sarvodaya, Mary Immaculate, Vasavi,
Sacred Heart, Loyola, Ramakrishna, Rotary, Educare, Mahaveer, DVS.
Shimoga
Institute of Medical Sciences is the prestigious medical sciences college at
Shimoga. Shimoga also has engineering colleges like
Jawaharlal Nehru
National College of Engineering run by the National Education Society (NES)
and
PES Institute of
Technology and Management. Sharavathi Dental College also operates from
Shimoga. Sahyadri College for Science, Commerce and Arts is one of the oldest in
Karnataka. TAMES Ayurvedic medical is in nearby Bhadravathi. It has also a
veterinary college, which is one among the 4 colleges present in karnataka
Arts
Yakshagana, a dance drama, is
popular in the
Thirthahalli,
Hosanagara, Sagar, Sorab regions of the district. There are many professional
and amateur troupes performing the dance drama across India and the state of
Karnataka. People like Hosatota Manjunatha Bagavatha, who is the author of more
than 160 Yakshagana prasangas, actively teach Yakshagana here.
Shimoga is known as cultural capital of Karnataka and is also called 'the
Rice Bowl of Karnataka'.
[3] It’s a modern,
progressive city with strong cultural roots and warmhearted people.
"Kuvempu Rangamandira" and "Karnataka Sangha" are the major platforms for
cultural activities.
Shimoga has the biggest areca nut market and famous for producing high
quality areca nuts.
Shimoga-Bhadravathi
twin cities
There is a 20-year-old plan to make Shimoga and Bhadravathi twin cities and
to establish Shimoga-Bhadravathi Mahanagara Palike and thereby develop both
cities. Shimoga is the headquarters of the district and all other equipment are
in Bhadravathi such as VISL, MPM, AIR-Bhadravathi. Bhadravathi is just 20 km
from Shimoga; the four-lane road is constructed between the cities which takes
only 15 minutes between the cities. Both are well connected to all metropolitan
cities.
Around 200 buses daily travel between Shimoga and Bhadravathi. Many people
from Shimoga have been working in Bhadravathi industries for a long time, hence
there are frequent buses from VISL and MPM to Shimoga. Town service buses are
present in both cities: green colour in Shimoga and blue in Bhadravathi. Just
like twin rivers Thunga-Bhadra, Shimoga and Bhadravathi will be twin cities in
future.
Shimoga
Airport and Bhadravathi FM together launch their service in future days.
Many IT & BT parks are established in Bhadravathi-Shimoga Industrial area
(Machenahalli).
Demographics
As of 2001
[update]
India
census, Shimoga had a population
of 274,105. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shimoga has
an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male
literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 70%. In Shivamogga, 12% of the
population is under 6 years of age
[citation
needed].
Kannada
is widely spoken in the city.
The main occupation is agriculture, especially the cultivation of
areca nut and rice.
Transportation
By road
From the state capital
Bangalore, Shivamogga can be reached on road by car
or bus by taking the National Highway, NH-206 via Tumkur, Arsikere, Banavara,
Kadur, Birur, Tarikere, and Bhadravathi. KSRTC, the Karnataka State Road
Transport Corporation has recently introduced Volvo buses from Bangalore.
Shimoga is around 274 km by road from Bangalore. By the coastal route, one can
reach Shimoga by bus or car. From Udupi, there are a number of mini-buses which
take about four hours. Car journey from Udupi to Shimoga may be around three
hours. This route passes through Agumbe Ghat with sharp hairpin curves and is
quite popular among the tourists coming from Mangalore and Udupi.
There is one more road from Kundapur, another coastal town, which takes about
four and a half hours. From Sringeri, it is a four-hour journey by bus. Hubli,
another important city of Karnataka state is connected to Shimoga by road by a
number of buses; the journey is around four hours. Shimoga is better connected
with roads from all directions and as such, it is an important bus junction. All
major and minor towns of Karnataka have bus access to Shimoga. It is also a hub
which connects Northern Karnataka to Dharmasthala.
Shimoga Bus Terminal
The new bus station is very spacious and can cater to 882 departures and
carry 1 lakh passengers per day. It is one of the biggest bus terminals in the
state. It offers all modern facilities like parking bays, spacious waiting
lounges, restaurants, etc. This high tech terminal, spread over five acres, has
police outpost, computerized reservation counter and waiting rooms.
By rail
Shimoga Town has a railway station and there are frequent trains that run to
and from
Bangalore and
Mysore. Direct trains to Shimoga from other
parts of
India are non-existent or
infrequent.
Birur Junction, which is well
connected to most parts of India by rail (especially from
Mumbai), is approximately 70 km from Shimoga and can be
used as an alternative. Currently under construction are railway lines
connecting Shivamogga to Honnavar and Goa in the Konkan region. The most popular
trains from Shivamogga to Bangalore are the Shimoga Express and the Inter City
Express Connection train. Starting December 8, 2009, an intercity express
service was introduced between Bangalore and Shimoga. Recently the intercity
train has been introduced between Mysore and Talaguppa after Sagar Town (about
98 km from Shimoga and about 12 km from famous Jog Falls). Also there is a New
Railway Line between Shimoga and Harihar under construction.
By air
Shimoga Airport
is under construction in Sogane, 6 km from Shivamogga.
[4]
Airports at
Bangalore (275 km),
Mangalore (180 km) or
Hubli (195 km) can be used as transits to Shivamogga.
[5]
Nearby attractions
- Agumbe, 90 km south-west, is
unforgettable for its glorious sunset.
- Jog Falls are a spectacular
series of waterfalls, located
105 km away from Shimoga in Sagar taluk. The Sharavathi River
takes a spectacular jump from a height of 292 m in four distinct falls to form
the highest waterfalls in India. The best time to visit is soon after the monsoon season during July and August.
- Kodachadri is a beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats. It is 120 km
from Shimoga.
- Gajanur lies 15 km to the southwest. The dam
built across the Tunga River
is ideal for picnics.
- Koodli lies 15 km away and is the
place where the Tunga and Bhadra rivers meet and flow together as Tungabhadra.
- Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger
Safari lies 12 km on the way to Sagara. Safari drives are conducted by
forest department in cage vans to get closer glimpse of wild animals.
- B R P Dam is 28 km from the city on the way to Lakkavalli. It is tbuilt on
the Bhadra river with a maximum height of 186 feet (57 m).
- Kavaledurga is a trekking spot around 80 km from Shimoga. A fort built on
the hill top and the enchanting view of the western ghats can be seen from this
place.
- Mrugavadhe lies in Thirthahalli taluk and is famous for its
Mallikarjuna Temple and its scenic beauty.
- Sigandooru is 108 km from Shimoga in Sagar taluk. This place is famous for
Sigandhoor Sridevi temple and to reach this place one has to go in a launch (due
to backwaters of river Sharavathi) run by the state government.
- Sringeri is
105 km from Shimoga. This place is famous for the Sharada Temple and Sringeri
Mutt.
- Sakkare Bayalu is a nice elephant camp 2 km away from Gajanur Dam on the way
to Thirthahalli.
- Ikkeri near Sagara city is
known for huge rock temple of Aghoreshwara.
- Keladi also has rock temple; both of
these temples belong to the Shivappa Nayaka period.
Rameshwara
Temple in Keladi
- Sagara town
is known for wood carving articles, particularly of sandalwood, which can be
handy for presentation/memento.
- The village of Ambuthirtha is about 16 km northwest of Thirthahalli. The Sharavathi River
originates here and a Shivalinga is installed at the spot.
- Kemmannagundi is a popular hill station near
Shimoga though it lies in Chickmagalur district.
- Chibbalagude, Thirthahalli, is famous for Siddhivinayaka Temple
and fish in Tunga river, (like Sringeri).
- A Shiva statue made of concrete is installed at Harakere, near Shivamogga.
- Gudavi
Bird Sanctuary is spread almost over an area of 0.7 km in Soraba Taluk of
Shimoga District.
- Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is also home to wide variety of birds.
- Guddekal has Subrahmanya Temple near Tunga River on Holehonnur Road.
- Kuppalli, near Thirthahalli, is
famous for its historic Kavishaila and Kavimane.
- Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary, in Sagara Taluk, is home to mammals, reptiles
and birds.
- Nagara was the last capital of the
Keladi rulers. Shivappa Nayaka Palace, Fort, Devaganga Tank, Neelakanteshwara
Temple and Gudde Venkataramana Swamy Temple are worth visiting.
- Balligavi, 21 km from
Shikaripura, was the capital of Banavasi rulers. It is also known as 'Dakshina
Kedara' and it has many historic temples like the Kedareshwara temple made out
of soap stone.
- Humcha, a renowned Jain pilgrimage centre has many Jain basadis, temples and
mutts.
Accommodation
There are a number of hotels in Shimoga equipped with all the facilities.
There are some guest houses as well for a comfortable stay. Good hotels in
Shimoga are Hotel Jewel Rock, Royal Orchid Hotel, Hotel Mathura Residency, Hotel
Malnad, Hotel Ashoka Deluxe, Hotel Navarathna International, Athithi Comfort
Hotel, Sri Durga Lodge, Sanman Hotel, Hotel Surya Comforts, Hotel Samrat Ashok,
Pavana Lodge, Ayodhya Lodge, Hotel Panchami, M G Palace Lodge and Woodlands
Hotel.
Notable persons
- Kuvempu, Jnanpith Award winner
- U R Ananthamurthy, Udupi Rajagopalacharya
Ananthamurthy (Kannada: ಯು. ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ; born December 21, 1932) is a
contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language and is considered as one
of the pioneers of the Navya movement. He is a thinker, famous novelist who is well
known among Indian authors by his famous novel Samskara; it was filmed and won many national
awards and international aclaimation. He is the sixth person among seven
recipients of the Jnanpith Award for the Kannada language, the highest literary
honor conferred in India. In 1998, he received the Padma Bhushan award from the
Government of India.
- Girish
Kasaravalli, well-known film director and national award winner
- H Gulam
Abid, District Congress President who held the position for 28 years and
later was SUDA Chairman .
- B.S. Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister of
Karnataka
- Poorna
Chandra Tejaswi, Kuvempu's son and writer
- M. K. Indira is a
well-known novelist; many of her novels have been adopted for Kannada movies.
- P. Lankesh,
writer-journalist and tabloid publisher (Lankesh Patrike)
- Ha. Ma. Nayaka,
well-known columnist and winner of Central Sahitya Academy Award (for his
columns) and personally responsible for the development of Kannada department
(Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe) at the University of Mysore. He was the vice
chancellor of Gulbarga University.
- G. S.
Shivarudrappa, well-known poet and professor, has won many awards and is
renowned as 'Navodaya Poet'
- Gundappa
Viswanath, former India cricket player
- K. V. Subbanna, Magsaysay
award winner
- S.
Bangarappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka
- K.S. Eshwarappa, State BJP President
- J.H Patel J H Patel, former Chief
Minister of Karnataka
- Kadidal
Manjappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka
- Khadi
Shankarappa, veteran Freedom Fighter
- Shantaveri Gopala Gowda, leader of
socialist movement
- N. S. Lakshminarayan Bhat, poet,
winner of Sahitya Academy Award
- Justice M. Rama Jois, former Judge of
Supreme Court and former Governor of Jharkhand
- Shimoga
Subbanna, Kannada Sugama Sangeetha singer and playback singer.
- Sudeep, famous actor and director of
Kannada cinema
- Diganth, the current heartthrob of
Kannada cinema
- Bharat Chipli,
cricketer, has played for Karnataka and Deccan Chargers (in IPL 2011)
Gallery
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Koodli - Sangameshwara Temple
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