Shimoga

At a distance of 97 km from Chikmagalur, 94 km from Davanagere, 148 km from Hassan, 208 km from Mangalore, 298 km from Bangalore and 356 km from Panjim, Shimoga, also known as Shivamogga is a city & district headquarters in Karnataka. Famous Jog Falls is situated in Shimoga district, at a distance of 105 km from Shimoga town.

Shimoga district is part of Malnad region and it is also known as the Gateway to Malnad. The district is bounded by the districts of Haveri, Davanagere, Chikmagalur, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. Shivamogga is often referred to as the rice bowl of the Karnataka State. The main rivers of Shimoga are Sharavathi, Varada, Tungabhadra and Kumudavathi, which play a main role in the production of paddy in this region.

There are many legends about the name Shivamogga has evolved. According to one, the name Shivamogga is related to the Hindu God Shiva. Shiva-Mukha meaning Face of Shiva can be the origins of the name Shivamogga. Another legend indicates that the name Shimoga is derived from the word Sihi-Moge which means sweet pot.

According to History, Shimoga region came under the control of the Kadambas of Banavasi around 345 AD. Later Kadambas became feudatories of Badami Chalukyas around 540 AD. In the 8th century Rashtrakutas ruled this region. The Kalyani Chalukyas overthrew the Rashtrakutas, and the district came under their control. In the 12th century, the Hoysalas annexed this area and after the fall of the Hoysalas, the entire region came under the Vijayanagar Empire. When the Vijayanagar Empire was defeated in 1565 CE in the battle of Tallikota, the Keladi Nayakas who were originally feudatory of the Vijayanagar Empire took control, declared sovereignty, and ruled as an independent kingdom for about two centuries. In 1763 Haider Ali captured the capital of Keladi Nayakas and as a result the district came into the rule of the Kingdom of Mysore and remained a part of it till India acquired independence from the British.

Shimoga city is famous for its landscapes, waterfalls and historical places. Jog Falls, Kunchikal Falls, Barkana Falls, Achakanya Falls, Onake Abbey Falls, Hidlumane Falls and Dabbe Falls are some of the popular waterfalls in Shimoga. Jog Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in India is a major attraction of Shimoga. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Agumbe, Kodachadri, Keladi, Tunga dam, Linganmakki dam, Shivappa Naik Palace, the Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary, Gudavi bird sanctuary, Tyarekoppa Lion Safari and Sakrebayalu Elephant Camp are the some of the important Shimoga tourist places.

The nearest airport to Shimoga is Hubli, at a distance of 204 km from Shimoga. It has flights from Bangalore, Mangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and Katmandu. Shimoga Railway Station is well connected with Bangalore, Mysore, Birur, Chikmagalur and Talugappa. Shimoga is well connected by bus with Bangalore, Mysore, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Mangalore, Davanagere, Hubli, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.

October to March is the best time to visit Shimoga.