Shimoga

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.

Tunga River

The Shimoga District has seven distinct rivers flowing through it.

• Tunga
• Bhadra
• Sharavathi
• Kumudavathi
• Vedavathi
• Varada
• Kushavathi

 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.

Mahisha Mardhini: A monument in the backyard of Shivappa Nayaka's palace

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.
  

  Jog Falls
• 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.
  

  Koodli
• 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.
  

  U R Ananthamurthy
• 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

• 

  Jog Falls during monsoon
• 

  Koodli - Sangameshwara Temple
•