Shimoga

Shimoga district is a district in the Karnataka state of India. A major part of Shimoga district lies in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats. Shimoga city is its administrative centre.Shimoga, almost central on the Karnataka map is the rice bowl of the State. The rivers Tungabhadra, Sharavathi, Varada and Kumudavathi inundate the luxuriant greens of the region. Jog Falls is a major tourist attraction. As of 2011 Shimoga district has a population of 1,755,512.

Origin Of Name "Shimoga" :

There are legends about how the name Shivamogga has evolved. According to one, the name Shivamogga is related to the Hindu God Shiva. Shiva-Mukha (Face of Shiva), Shivana-Moogu (Nose of Shiva) or Shivana-Mogge (Flowers to be offered to 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 this legend, Shimoga once had the ashram of the sage Durvasa. He used to boil sweet herbs in an earthen pot. Some cowherds, found this pot and after tasting the sweet beverage named this place Sihi-Moge.

History Of Shimoga :

The Shimoga region formed a part of the Mauryan empire. The district came into the control of Satavahanas. The Satakarni inscription has been found in the Shikaripur taluk. After the fall of the Shatavahana empire around 200 CE, the area came under the control of the Kadambas of Banavasi around 345 CE. The Kadambas were the earliest kingdom to give administrative status to the Kannada language. Later the Kadambas became feudatories of the Badami Chalukyas around 540 CE.

In the 8th century Rashtrakutas ruled this district. The Kalyani Chalukyas overthrew the Rashtrakutas, and the district came into their rule. Balligavi was a prominent city during their rule. In the 12th century, with the weakening of the Kalyani Chalukyas, the Hoysalas annexed this area. 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 the district came into the rule of the Kingdom of Mysore and remained a part of it till India acquired independence from the British.

There are Seven taluks: Bhadravathi, Hosanagara, Sagara, Shimoga, Shikaripura, Soraba, Thirthahalli.

Bhadravathi is an industrial town and taluk in the Shimoga District of Karnataka state, India. It is situated at a distance of about 255 kilometres (158 mi) from the state capital Bangalore and at about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the district headquarters, Shivamogga. The town is spread over an area of 67.0536 square kilometres (25.8895 sq mi) and has a population of 160,392 as per the census held in 2001.

Bhadravathi derives its name from the Bhadra River which flows through the city. It was earlier known as Benkipura (or Venkipura), and earlier Benki Pattana which in English means city of fire. Iron ore from the hill station of Kemmannugundi and water from the Bhadra River helped the establishment of an iron mill in 1918 and a paper mill in 1936. Hoysalas ruled the city. The Goddess "Halldhammadevi & Antargattamadevi" guard the city from past time. The sacred temples was still present in the city.

Hosanagara is a panchayat town in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is nested in western ghats of India. The World Cattle Conference with main emphasis on cow was held in month of April 2007 in

Hosanagara. The different uses of cow ( not the meat ) were exhibited. Near Hosanagara there is a mutt named Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt just 6km from Hosanagara Town.

Sâgara is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in the Western Ghats range, it is known for its proximity to Jog Falls and to the historical places of Ikkeri and Keladi. Varadamoola, the origin of the river Varada, is near Sagara. Honnavar is the nearest seaport, nearly 85 km away. Sagara is one of the main taluk head in Karnataka and an important city in the district. Sagara is one of the fastest growing cities in Karnataka. It is the biggest city in Malnad area.The world famous Jog Falls ís in Sagar taluk.

Shimoga (known locally as Shivamogga) is a city in Shimoga District in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. It lies on the banks of the Tunga River and is the administrative headquarters of the district.

The population of Shimoga is 322,428, consisting of 161,978 males and 160,450 females, as per 2011 census.

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.

Shikaripura (Kannada: ಶಿಕಾರಿಪುರ) is a town in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka. As of 2001 India census, Shikaripura had a population of 31,508. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shikaripura has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 67%. In Shikarpur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The former Chief minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa has been a legislator of this town from many years.

Sorab anglicized version of Soraba is a panchayat town in Sagar taluka in the Indian state of Karnataka.Soraba derives its name from its earlier name Surabhipura meaning Town of Surabhi. Surabhi was the holy cow which used to milk on a stone statue of the god Sri Ranganatha. A temple is built on the same place where the holy cow used to milk and it is now Soraba's famous Sri Ranganatha temple. Story says that the temple was built by a local Gowda(Landlord) from Halesoraba on the bay of river Dandavathi.

Thirthahalli is a panchayat town located in the Shimoga District of the state of Karnataka, India. It lies on the bank of the river Tunga and is also the headquarters of the Thirthahalli Taluk of Shimoga district.

Another legend set in the time of Ramayana, indicates that Maricha, a relative of the Lanka king Ravana came disguised as a golden deer to enchant Sita, the wife of Rama. When Sita asked Rama to get her the deer, Rama followed the deer and killed it. This incident is supposed to have happened near a place called Mrugavadhe in Thirthahalli Taluk. Mrugavadhe means Killing of an animal in the local Sanskrit language.

Thirthahalli has a rich archaeological history with Neolithic sites uncovered in Kundadri Hills near Agumbe and portholed burial chambers found at Arehalli near Thirthahalli.