Shimoga

Shimoga (locally known as Shivamogga) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Shimoga district is a part of naturally rich Malnad (Malenaadu) region of Karnataka. The town of Shimoga is the district head quarters. It is situated 275 km from the capital of Karnataka, Bangalore.

The Sahyadri Mountains and the numerous rivers that originate there provide Shimoga with abundant natural beauty. The world popular 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.

Welcome to this brief introduction to this city !

Table of contents

1 History
2 Tourist Attractions
3 Noted personalities
4 External links

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.